South Carolina DMV Announces Driver Suspension Amnesty Week

South Carolina DMV Announces Driver Suspension Amnesty Week (Added: January 30, 2012)

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Credit: Robert Kittle

Some South Carolinians who've had their drivers licenses suspended could get them back early, under a statewide amnesty program. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced Monday that this year's amnesty week will be March 5-9 at all DMV offices across the state and March 10th in the six DMV offices open on Saturdays. WJBF News Channel 6's South Carolina Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has the story.

By: Robert Kittle | WSPA-TV
Published: January 30, 2012

Columbia, SC --

Some South Carolinians who've had their drivers licenses suspended could get them back early, under a statewide amnesty program. The SC DMV announced Monday that this year's amnesty week will be March 5-9 at all DMV offices across the state and March 10th in the six DMV offices open on Saturdays.

State lawmakers required the amnesty week as part of the "Omnibus Crime Reduction and Sentencing Act of 2010." Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, main sponsor of that bill, said last year, "We thought that getting drivers licenses for those non-violent offenders would give them an opportunity to get back to work and we also set up an installment plan so that they could pay these fees."

Only certain suspensions are eligible for early reinstatement:

--Underage drivers suspended for excessive points.

--Those suspended for operating an unlicensed taxi or vehicle.

--Drivers suspended for operating an uninsured vehicle that they did not own.

--Those suspended for operating or allowing operation of an uninsured vehicle.

--Those suspended for driving under suspension, not including alcohol or drug-related convictions.

Last year's amnesty week took place May 16-20 in only 17 DMV offices around the state.

"233 individuals participated in the program and there were 371 suspensions cleared," says SC DMV executive director Kevin Shwedo. Some people had more than one suspension. "This year, we will offer driver suspension eligibility week statewide. We will have all of our offices participating and, as a result, we expect a significantly greater turnout."

To qualify, drivers have to meet all the qualifications of their suspensions, pay all fines and fees and show proof of insurance.

Johnny Brown of Columbia was at the DMV Monday to get his driver's license reinstated. "My license got suspended for cancellation of insurance," he says. He had to wait until he had served his entire suspension period, so he thinks this amnesty week will help a lot of people."

"I've got to get back to work now," he says. "I'm ready to get back to work, 'cause sitting at home, not doing anything 'cause I ain't got no license to do anything, it gets boring."