South Carolina § 56-1-770 - Points reduced for completing defensive driving course.

§ 56-1-770. Points reduced for completing defensive driving course.

(A) Any driver who has accumulated points under the provisions of this article shall have the number of his points reduced by four upon proving to the satisfaction of the Department of Motor Vehicles that he has completed the National Safety Council's "Defensive Driving Course" or its equivalent, if the course is completed after the points have been assessed. The course must be taught by an instructor accredited by the National Safety Council whose procedures for accreditation are set forth in the "Manual of Rules and Procedures" published by the National Safety Council or equivalent accreditation procedures. The department shall establish procedures by which driver training schools may apply to the department for approval of a defensive driving course which will qualify those successfully completing the course for a reduction in points pursuant to this section. The department shall approve the National Safety Council's "Defensive Driving Course" or its equivalent when offered by driver training schools and taught by an instructor accredited by the National Safety Council or equivalent accreditation procedures.

(B) Any driver with a Class M (motorcycle) endorsement who has accumulated points under the provisions of this article shall have the number of his points reduced by four upon proving to the satisfaction of the Department of Motor Vehicles that he has successfully completed a South Carolina technical college motorcycle safety course or its equivalent. All courses offered for point reduction must be at least eight hours in length and be taught by an instructor accredited through a training program in which the procedures for accreditation are equivalent to those set forth in "Manual of Rules and Procedures" published by the National Safety Council.

(C) No person's points may be reduced more than one time in any three-year period, pursuant to the provisions contained in this section.

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 46-196.4:1; 1974 (58) 2067; 1979 Act No. 49; 1988 Act No. 612, SECTION 1; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 1333; 1996 Act No. 459, SECTION 107; 2018 Act No. 127 (S.456), SECTION 2, eff February 5, 2018.

Effect of Amendment

2018 Act No. 127, SECTION 2, in (A), added the paragraph identifier and deleted the fifth sentence, which had provided that no person's points may be reduced more than one time in any three-year period; and added (B) and (C).