S.C. Code Ann. § 56-1-2070 – Driving commercial motor vehicle without valid license prohibited; exceptions; driving while license suspended, revoked, or cancelled; violations

(A) Except as provided in subsection (C) or when driving under a commercial driver instruction permit and accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver license valid for the vehicle being driven, no person may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways of this State, unless the person has been issued, and is in immediate possession of, a valid commercial driver license and applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle which the person is driving.
(B) A person operating a commercial motor vehicle as defined in Section 56-1-2030 and 49 CFR 383.5, without the proper class commercial license or permit with all applicable endorsements or restrictions as defined in Section 56-1-2100 must be placed out of service and is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction of a first offense, must be fined not less than one hundred fifty dollars and not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days and upon conviction of a second offense or subsequent offense must be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned forty-five days or both.
(C) The following persons may operate commercial motor vehicles without a commercial driver license:
1. (1) active duty military personnel; members of the military reserve; members of the South Carolina National Guard who are on active duty, including personnel on full-time South Carolina National Guard duty; personnel on part-time South Carolina National Guard training and South Carolina National Guard Military technicians required to wear uniforms; and active duty military United States Coast Guard personnel while operating vehicles owned or operated by the United States government or this State for military purposes. This exception does not apply to technicians in the United States Reserves.
2. (2) operators of a farm vehicle which is:
  1. (a) controlled and operated by a farmer;
  2. (b) used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, farm supplies, or a combination of them to or from a farm including the transportation of hazardous materials which do not pose a substantial danger to the public health and safety including fuels, fertilizers, and other agricultural chemicals used in normal farming operations as exempted pursuant to 49 C.F.R Part 173.5;
  3. (c) not used in the operation of a common or contract motor carrier; and
  4. (d) used within one hundred fifty miles of the person's farm.
3. (3) persons operating authorized emergency vehicles as defined in Section 56-5-170;
4. (4) operators of recreational vehicles used solely for personal use.
(D) No person may drive a commercial motor vehicle on the highways of this State while:
1. (1) his commercial driver license or privilege to drive is suspended, revoked, or canceled;
2. (2) subject to a disqualification; or
3. (3) in violation of an out-of-service order.
(E) A person violating the requirements of subsection (D)(3) must be punished as follows, while all other violations of this section must be punished as though convicted of a violation of Section 56-1-460. A person is disqualified for not less than:
1. (1) ninety days nor more than one year if the person is convicted of a first violation of an out-of-service order. Additionally, a person who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order is subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars;
2. (2) one year nor more than five years if during a ten-year period the person is convicted of two violations of out-of-service orders in separate incidents. Additionally, a person who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order is subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars;
3. (3) three years nor more than five years if during a ten-year period the person is convicted of three or more violations of out-of-state service orders in separate incidents. Additionally, a person who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order is subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars;
4. (4) one hundred eighty days nor more than two years if the driver is convicted of a first violation of an out-of-service order while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 5101-5127), or while operating motor vehicles designed to transport more than fifteen passengers, including the driver. A driver is disqualified for a period of not less than three years nor more than five years if during a ten-year period the person is convicted of any subsequent violations of out-of-service orders, in separate incidents, while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, or while operating motor vehicles designed to transport more than fifteen passengers, including the driver. Additionally, a driver who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order is subject to a civil penalty of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than two thousand five hundred dollars.