South Carolina H 3122: Beach Vehicle Operation Restriction Act

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3122 Text of Previous Version (Dec. 06, 2024) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3122

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 ADDING SECTION 
16-17-780 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE OPERATION OF VEHICLES ON THE BEACHES OF THIS 
STATE, WITH EXCEPTIONS, AND TO CREATE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 
48-39-370 SO AS TO RESTRICT THE USE OF VEHICLES BY AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENTAL 
EMPLOYEES DURING CERTAIN MONTHS OF THE YEAR.

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

SECTION 1. Article 7, Chapter 17, Title 16 of the S.C. Code is 
amended by adding:

 Section 
16-17-780. (A) No person, except an 
authorized governmental employee as provided for in Section 48-39-370, shall 
operate any type of vehicle on the beaches in the State.

 (B) A 
person convicted of violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a 
misdemeanor and upon conviction must be:

 (1) 
for a first offense, fined not less than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not 
more than thirty days, or both.

 (2) 
for a second offense, fined not less than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not 
more than sixty days, or both.

 (3) 
for a third or subsequent offense, fined not less than five hundred dollars or 
imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both.

SECTION 2. Chapter 39, Title 48 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

 Section 
48-39-370. (A) Except as provided 
for in subsection (B), authorized governmental employees may operate vehicles 
on the beaches of the State within their jurisdiction to the extent required to 
perform employment or contractual duties.

 (B) 
From May first to October first each year between the hours of 10:00 am and 
4:00 pm, the only vehicles that may be operated by authorized governmental 
employees on the beaches of the State within their jurisdiction are all-terrain 
vehicles, utility-terrain vehicles, golf carts, and any vehicle that is similar 
in size, dimension, and weight to such vehicles. However, the provisions of 
this subsection do not apply to first responders responding to an active 
emergency provided the vehicle's emergency sirens and rotating lights are being 
operated.

 (C)(1) Any local government that violates 
the provisions of this subsection may be subject to the forfeiture of funds for 
beach projects, including renourishing and drainage repairs, and may be 
ineligible for future funding related to such projects.

 (2) 
An authorized governmental employee who violates the provisions of this section 
may be subject to the criminal penalties provided for in Section 16-17-780.

 (D) 
For purposes of this section, "authorized governmental employee" means any authorized 
governmental employee and any independent contractor that is under contract 
with and approved by the local governmental jurisdiction.

 SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025.

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This web page was last updated on December 06, 2024 at 10:10 AM