South Carolina S 699: A SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE GENE BRANHAM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT, TO COMMEND HIM FOR HIS YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE TO KERSHAW COUNTY AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 699 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 10, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 699

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates 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 BY AMENDING 
SECTION 56-5-1538, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS PERTAINING TO EMERGENCY SCENE 
MANAGEMENT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION APPLY TO 
EMERGENCY SCENES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-1539 SO AS TO REQUIRE A DRIVER TO 
MOVE OR SLOW THE VEHICLE WHEN PASSING AN AUTHORIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE 
THAT IS PARKED OR STANDING WITHIN FIVE FEET OF A ROADWAY, CONDUCTING A TRAFFIC 
RELATED STOP OR INVESTIGATION, AND GIVING WARNING SIGNAL BY APPROPRIATE LIGHT.

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

SECTION 1. Section 56-5-1538(I) of the S.C. Code is amended to 
read:

 (I) For purposes of this section:

 (1) 
"Authorized emergency vehicle" means any ambulance, police, fire, rescue, 
recovery, or towing vehicle authorized by this State, county, or municipality 
to respond to a traffic incidentan emergency scene.

 (2) 
"Emergency services personnel" means fire, police, or emergency medical 
services personnel (EMS) responding to an emergency incidentscene.

SECTION 2. Chapter 5, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

 Section 
56-5-1539. When an authorized law enforcement 
vehicle is parked or standing within five feet of a roadway, conducting a 
traffic related stop or investigation, and giving a warning signal by 
appropriate light, the driver of every other approaching vehicle shall, as soon 
as it is safe and when not otherwise directed by an individual lawfully 
directing traffic:

 (A) move 
the vehicle into a lane that is not the lane nearest to the parked or standing 
authorized law enforcement vehicle and continue traveling in that lane until 
safely clear of the authorized law enforcement vehicle. This only applies if 
the roadway has at least two lanes for traffic proceeding in the direction of 
the approaching vehicle and if the approaching vehicle may change lanes safely 
without interfering with any other vehicular traffic; or

 (B) slow 
the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for traffic conditions, and operate the 
vehicle at a reduced speed and be prepared to stop until completely past the 
authorized law enforcement vehicle. This only applies if the roadway has only 
one lane for traffic proceeding in the direction of the approaching vehicle or 
if the approaching vehicle may not change lanes safely and without interfering 
with any other vehicular traffic.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval 
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 10, 2025 at 02:20 PM