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TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-50 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO BEGINNER'S PERMITS, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO HOLDS A MOTORCYCLE BEGINNER'S PERMIT WHO HAS FAILED THE MOTORCYCLE DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST THREE OR MORE TIMES MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE A SOUTH CAROLINA TECHNICAL COLLEGE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY COURSE, OR ITS EQUIVALENT, IN LIEU OF PASSING THE MOTORCYCLE DRIVER'S LICENSE TEST, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-770, RELATING TO POINTS REDUCED FOR COMPLETING A DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE, TO PROVIDE THAT 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, TO PROVIDE FOR THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE COURSE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO PERSON'S POINTS MAY BE REDUCED MORE THAN ONE TIME IN ANY THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-1-50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately lettered new section to read:
"( ) A person who holds a motorcycle beginner's permit who has failed the motorcycle driver's license test three or more times must successfully complete a South Carolina Technical College motorcycle safety course, or its equivalent, in lieu of passing the motorcycle driver's license test, in order to obtain a motorcycle license. All courses 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. All courses must include successful completion of an examination equivalent to the Department of Motor Vehicles motorcycle skills test. These programs are subject to Section 56-1-15."
SECTION 2. Section 56-1-770 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-1-770. (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 '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.
(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."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on February 22, 2017 at 12:12 PM