S 448

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
Bill 448
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)
A bill
TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
56-1-560 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP AN
"ELECTRONIC DRIVER'S LICENSE SYSTEM" FOR AUTHORIZING PERSONS TO PRESENT OR
SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF VALID DRIVER'S LICENSES IN OPTIONAL ELECTRONIC FORMATS IN
LIEU OF PHYSICAL DRIVER'S LICENSES.
Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is
amended by adding:
    Section
56-1-560.  (A) The Department of Motor
Vehicles is authorized to develop a secure and uniform system, to be known as
the "Electronic Driver's License System," for authorizing a person to present
or submit evidence of a valid driver's license in an optional electronic format
in lieu of a physical driver's license. An acceptable electronic format
includes display of electronic images on a cellular telephone or any other type
of portable electronic device. The department may contract with one or more
entities to develop the electronic driver's license system. The department or
entity may develop a mobile software application capable of being utilized
through a person's electronic device to access an electronic image of his
driver's license.
    (B) In
lieu of a physical driver's license, a person who participates in the system
may present or submit evidence of possession of a valid driver's license in an
electronic format, which must be accepted as evidence for identification and
other purposes, including upon the request of a law enforcement officer or a
seller of alcoholic beverages. The electronic driver's license system shall
allow law enforcement officers to verify the authenticity of the driver's
license. If a person displays his driver's license in an electronic format
pursuant to this subsection, the person is not consenting for a law enforcement
officer to access any other content of the electronic device.
    (C)
The department shall disable, suspend, or terminate a person's participation in
the electronic driver's license system if:
       (1)
the physical driver's license issued to the participant has been cancelled,
revoked, or suspended; or
       (2)
the participant reports that his electronic device has been lost or stolen.
SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.
----XX----
This web page was last updated on March 19, 2025 at 09:01 AM