South Carolina § 56-1-2110 - Disqualification from driving commercial motor vehicle.

§ 56-1-2110. Disqualification from driving commercial motor vehicle.

(A) A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for not less than one year if convicted of a first violation of:

(1) driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a drug which impairs driving ability as prescribed by state law;

(2) driving a commercial motor vehicle while the alcohol concentration of the person's blood or breath or other bodily substance is four one-hundredths or more;

(3) leaving the scene of an accident involving a motor vehicle driven by the person;

(4) using a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony as defined in this article;

(5) refusal to submit to a test to determine the driver's alcohol concentration while driving a motor vehicle;

(6) driving a commercial motor vehicle when, as a result of prior violations committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle, the driver's commercial driver's license is revoked, suspended, or canceled, or the driver is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle;

(7) causing a fatality through the negligent operation of a commercial motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, the crimes of motor vehicle manslaughter, homicide by a motor vehicle, and negligent homicide. If any of the above violations occur while transporting a hazardous material required to be placarded, the person is disqualified for not less than three years.

(B) A person is disqualified for life if convicted of two or more violations of any of the offenses specified in subsection (A) or a combination of those offenses, arising from two or more separate incidents.

(C) Only offenses committed after the effective date of this article may be considered in applying this subsection.

(D) The department may issue regulations establishing guidelines, including conditions, under which a disqualification for life under subsection (B) may be reduced to not less than ten years.

(E) A commercial driver's license holder is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for life who uses a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving the manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance.

(F) A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for not less than sixty days if convicted of two serious traffic violations or one hundred twenty days if convicted of three serious traffic violations committed in a motor vehicle arising from separate incidents occurring within a three-year period.

(G) A person is disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle if a report pursuant to Section 56-1-2220 has been received by the Department of Motor Vehicles that the person has received a verified positive drug test or positive alcohol confirmation test, or refused to take a drug or alcohol test. A disqualification under this subsection remains in effect until the person undergoes a drug and alcohol assessment by a substance abuse professional meeting the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 40, and the substance abuse professional certified in a manner approved by the Office of Substance Use Services that the person has successfully completed a drug or alcohol treatment or education program as recommended by the substance abuse professional. A person who is disqualified under this subsection more than three times in a five-year period is disqualified for life.

(H) After suspending, revoking, or canceling a commercial driver's license, the department shall update its records to reflect that action immediately. After suspending, revoking, or canceling a nonresident commercial driver's privilege, the department shall notify the licensing authority of the state which issued the commercial driver's license or commercial driver's instruction permit within ten days.

(I) For purposes of this section, serious traffic violations are those violations contained in Section 56-1-2030(22) and 49 C.F.R. 383.5 and 383.51.

HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 151, SECTION 2; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 1354; 1996 Act No. 459, SECTION 125; 2005 Act No. 42, SECTION 9, eff May 3, 2005; 2008 Act No. 232, SECTION 2, eff May 21, 2008.

Code Commissioner's Note

At the direction of the Code Commissioner, certain references in the S.C. Code to the State Department of Mental Health, South Carolina Mental Health Commission, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission, Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and other related terms were changed to reflect the restructuring of these agencies into component offices under the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, pursuant to 2025 Act No. 3, SECTION 18.