S 90 — South Carolina Hands-free Act

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11, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online South Carolina General Assembly126th Session, 2025-2026Bill 90Indicates Matter StrickenIndicates 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 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA HANDS-FREE AND DISTRACTED DRIVING ACT";

BY AMENDING SECTION 56-5-3890, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL USE OF A WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, SO AS TO REVISE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO USE A WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF DISTRACTED DRIVING AND PROVIDE PENALTIES, AND TO MAKE TECHNICAL REVISIONS;

AND BY AMENDING SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO POINTS THAT MAY BE ASSESSED AGAINST A PERSON'S DRIVING RECORD FOR MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVING VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE OF DISTRACTED DRIVING IS A TWO-POINT VIOLATION, TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL NOTIFY MOTORISTS OF THE HANDS-FREE REQUIREMENTS AT CERTAIN POINTS ALONG THE STATE'S INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.

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

  SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act".

  SECTION 2.  Section 56-5-3890 of the S.C.

Code is amended to read:

      Section 56-5-3890.

(A) For purposes of this section:,        (1) "Hands-free wireless electronic communication device" means an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, a text-messaging device, or a computer, which allows a person to wirelessly communicate with another person without holding the device in either hand by utilizing an internal feature or function of the device, an attachment, or an additional device.

A hands-free wireless electronic communication device may require the use of either hand to activate or deactivate an internal feature or function of the device.

       (2) "Text-based communication" means a communication using text-based information, including, but not limited to, a text message, an SMS message, an instant message, or an electronic mail message.

       (3) "Wireless electronic communication device" means an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, a personal digital assistant, a text-messaging device, or a computer, which allows a person to wirelessly communicate with another person.

    "Mobile electronic device" means a cellular telephone, portable computer, GPS receiver, electronic game, or any substantially similar stand-alone electronic device used to communicate, display, or record digital content.

"Mobile electronic device" does not include a citizens band radio, amateur radio, ham radio, commercial two way radio or its functional equivalent, subscription-based emergency communication device, or prescribed medical device.

    (B) It is unlawful for a person to use a wireless electronic communication device to compose, send, or read a text-based communication while operating a motor vehicle on the public streets and highways of this State.

While operating a motor vehicle on any public highway of this State, a person shall not:

       (1) hold or support, with any part of the body, a mobile electronic device.

This provision does not prohibit the use of an earpiece or device worn on a wrist to conduct voice-based communication;

       (2) read, compose, or transmit any text including, but not limited to, a text message, email, application interaction, or website information on a mobile electronic device;

       (3) watch motion including, but not limited to, a video, movie, game, or video call on a mobile electronic device.

    (C) This section does not apply to a person motor vehicle operator who is:

       (1) lawfully parked or stopped;

       (2) using a hands-free wireless electronic communication device initiating a voice based communication that is automatically converted by the device and sent as text, provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator;

       (3) summoning emergency assistance reporting an accident, emergency, or safety hazard to a public safety official;

       (4) transmitting or receiving data as part of a digital dispatch system while performing occupational duties;

       (5) a public safety official while in the performance of the person's person's a first responder while performing official duties;  or        (6) using a global positioning system device or an internal global positioning system feature or function of a wireless electronic communication mobile electronic device for the purpose of            (a) navigation, listening to audio-based content, or obtaining related traffic and road condition information.

in a manner that does not require the operator to type, provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator;

           (b) initiating or ending a cellular call in a manner that does not require the operator to type, provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator;

or            (c) unlocking the device for a purpose listed in subitems (a) or (b), provided that the device is not held by the operator or supported with any part of the body by the operator;

or        (7) using equipment or services installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle.

    (D)(1) A person who is adjudicated to be in violation of the provisions of this section is guilty of distracted driving and, upon conviction:

           (a) for a first offense, must be fined not more than twenty-five one hundred dollars, no part of which may be suspended.;

and            (b) for a second or subsequent offense, must be fined two hundred dollars, no part of which may be suspended, and must have two points assessed against his motor vehicle operating record.

       (2) Only those offenses which occurred within three years, including and immediately preceding the date of the last offense, shall constitute prior offenses within the meaning of this subsection.

No court costs, assessments, or surcharges may be assessed against a person who violates a provision of this section.

A person must not be fined more than fifty dollars for any one incident of one or more violations of the provisions of this section.

A custodial arrest for a violation of this section must not be made, except upon a warrant issued for failure to appear in court when summoned or for failure to pay an imposed fine.

A violation of this section does not constitute a criminal offense.