S.C. Code Ann. § 56-3-2250
The Department of Motor Vehicles may provide, upon request, a sample motor vehicle license plate which shall not be displayed on any vehicle registered or required to be registered in this State. Any person displaying such plate is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than thirty days. The license plate shall be of the same size and general design of regular motor vehicle license plates and the fee for issuance of such plate shall be ten dollars. Provided, that the word "sample" shall be imprinted on the license plate.