South Carolina § 56-1-440 Penalties for driving without license; summary court jurisdiction.

South Carolina Statutes

§ 56-1-440 — Penalties for driving without license; summary court jurisdiction.

South Carolina § 56-1-440

Title 56MOTOR VEHICLES

Ch. 1DRIVER'S LICENSE

This text of South Carolina § 56-1-440 (Penalties for driving without license; summary court jurisdiction.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-440 (2026).

Text

(A)A person who drives a motor vehicle on a public highway of this State without a driver's license in violation of Section 56-1-20 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction of a first offense, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days and, upon conviction of a second offense, be fined five hundred dollars or imprisoned for forty-five days, or both, and for a third and subsequent offense must be imprisoned for not less than forty-five days nor more than six months. However, a charge of driving a motor vehicle without a driver's license must be dismissed if the person provides proof of being a licensed driver at the time of the violation to the court on or before the date this matter is set to be disposed of by the court

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(A) A person who drives a motor vehicle on a public highway of this State without a driver's license in violation of Section 56-1-20 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction of a first offense, must be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days and, upon conviction of a second offense, be fined five hundred dollars or imprisoned for forty-five days, or both, and for a third and subsequent offense must be imprisoned for not less than forty-five days nor more than six months. However, a charge of driving a motor vehicle without a driver's license must be dismissed if the person provides proof of being a licensed driver at the time of the violation to the court on or before the date this matter is set to be disposed of by the court. (B) The summary courts are vested with jurisdiction to hear and dispose of cases involving a violation of this section.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 46-191; 1952 Code SECTION 46-181; 1942 Code SECTION 1637; 1932 Code SECTION 1637; Cr. C. '22 SECTION 590; 1920 (31) 895; 1933 (38) 214; 1959 (51) 421; 1988 Act No. 532, SECTION 2; 1999 Act No. 100, Part II, SECTION 103A; 2001 Act No. 90, SECTION 1; 2010 Act No. 273, SECTION 14.A, eff June 2, 2010.