The "South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act" aims to enhance road safety by prohibiting the use of wireless electronic communication devices while operating a motor vehicle. The bill amends Section 56-5-3890 to define unlawful uses of such devices, including composing, sending, or reading text-based communications, and establishes the offense of distracted driving with corresponding penalties. Notably, a second or subsequent offense of distracted driving will incur a two-point violation on the driver's record, as outlined in the amendments to Section 56-1-720. The act also specifies exceptions for certain situations, such as when a driver is lawfully parked or using hands-free technology.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for law enforcement, stating that officers may only issue warnings for the first 180 days after the act's effective date and must have probable cause to stop a driver for violations. It preempts local ordinances regarding distracted driving and mandates the Department of Public Safety to report demographic data on citations issued under this act. The act will take effect 90 days after being approved by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 56-5-3890, 56-1-720
Latest Version: 56-5-3890, 56-1-720
12/06/2024: 56-5-3890, 56-1-720