South Carolina General Assembly
107th Session, 1987-1988

Bill 3747

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3747
Ratification Number:       710
Act Number                 612
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Defensive driving course completion for
                           reduction in points
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A612, R710, H3747)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-1-770 AND 56-23-60, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REDUCTION OF POINTS ASSIGNED TO DRIVERS FOR VARIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS FOR COMPLETION OF A DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE AND MINIMUM STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS OF OPERATION FOR DRIVER TRAINING SCHOOLS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR THE APPROVAL OF DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES OFFERED BY DRIVER TRAINING SCHOOLS WHICH WILL QUALIFY THOSE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE COURSE FOR A REDUCTION OF POINTS, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE COURSES WHICH MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS, AND INCLUDE AMONG THE MINIMUM STANDARDS A REQUIREMENT THAT DRIVER TRAINING SCHOOLS HAVE OR HAVE ACCESS TO SUFFICIENT FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT TO CONDUCT A DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE OF EIGHT HOURS DURATION AND FOR A MINIMUM OF TEN STUDENTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Defensive driving course completion for reduction in points

SECTION 1. Section 56-1-770 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-1-770. 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 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 '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. No person's points may be reduced more than one time in any three-year period by the method provided for in this section."

Minimum standards for driver training schools revised

SECTION 2. Section 56-23-60 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-23-60. The Department may establish minimum standards for the operation of driver training schools authorized to be licensed under the provisions of this chapter and prescribe conditions of operation of the schools. The minimum standards must include but are not limited to a requirement that driver training schools have or have access to sufficient facilities and equipment to conduct an eight-hour defensive driving course for a minimum of ten students. All activities and operations of licensed driver training schools are at all times subject to inspection or examination by authorized representatives of the Department."

Time effective

SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and Section 2 takes effect January 1, 1989.