South Carolina H 4249: Emergency Scene Management

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4249 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 15, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4249

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

Committee Report

April 15, 2026

H. 4249

Introduced 
by Rep. Erickson 

S. Printed 4/15/26--S.

Read the first time April 30, 2025

________

The committee on Senate 
Transportation

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4249) to amend 
the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 56-5-1538, relating to the 
definitions of emergency scene management, so as to make technical changes, etc., 
respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered 
the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

LAWRENCE GROOMS for Committee.

_______

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING 
SECTION 56-5-1538, RELATING TO THE DEFINITIONS OF EMERGENCY SCENE MANAGEMENT, 
SO AS TO make technical changes, PROVIDE DRIVERS SHALL ENSURE THEIR VEHICLEs are 
KEPT UNDER CONTROL WHEN APPROACHING OR PASSING other MOTOR VEHICLEs STOPPED ON 
OR NEAR THE RIGHT OF WAY OF STREETs OR HIGHWAYs, TO PROVIDE PERSONS DRIVING 
VEHICLEs APPROACHING other STATIONARY VEHICLEs DISPLAYING FLASHING HAZARD 
LIGHTS SHALL reduce their speed, YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND MAINTAIN SAFE 
SPEEDs when CHANGING LANES IS UNSAFE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

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

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

 Section 
56-5-1538. (A) An emergency scene 
is a location designated by the potential need to provide emergency medical 
care and is identified by emergency vehicles with flashing lights, rescue 
equipment, or emergency personnel on the scene.

 (B) 
An emergency scene is a special hazard.

 (C) 
An emergency scene is under the authority of the first arriving emergency 
personnel, which includes emergency medical services personnel, until the 
arrival of the fire or law enforcement officials having jurisdiction. All motor 
vehicles passing through an emergency scene and pedestrians observing an 
emergency scene must obey and not interfere with the duties of emergency 
personnel. Motor vehicles and bystanders may not block access to or exit from 
an emergency scene.

 (D) 
The management authority of emergency medical services is limited to managing 
patient care and preventing further injury to the patients and on-scene 
personnel. This authority may be delegated by emergency personnel to provide an 
adequate level of safety.

 (E) 
A paid or volunteer worker at an emergency scene has proper authority to be at 
and control the scene in a manner consistent with his training.

 (F) 
The driver of a vehicle shall ensure that the vehicle is kept under control 
when approaching or passing an emergency scene or authorized emergency vehicle 
stopped on or near the right-of-way of a street or highway with emergency 
lights flashing. The exercise of control required for a driver to comply with 
this section is that control possible and necessary by the driver to prevent causing a collision, to prevent causing 
injury to persons or property, and to avoid interference with the 
performance of emergency duties by emergency personnel, or interfering with the 
operation of an authorized emergency vehicle.

 (G) 
A person driving a vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency 
vehicle that is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and 
white, blue, or red and blue lights, or amber or yellow warning lights shall 
proceed with due caution, significantly reduce the speed of the vehicle, and:

 (1) 
yield the right of way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that 
of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and 
traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four lanes with not less 
than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or

 (2) 
maintain a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes is impossible or 
unsafe.

 (H) 
A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of the 
misdemeanor of endangering emergency services personnel or operators of 
authorized emergency vehicles and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than 
three hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.

 (I) The driver of a vehicle shall ensure that the vehicle is kept 
under control when approaching or passing a motor vehicle stopped on or near 
the right of way of a street or highway when the stopped vehicle is displaying 
flashing hazard lights. The exercise of control required for a driver to comply 
with this section is that control possible and necessary by the driver to 
prevent causing a collision or to prevent causing injury to persons or 
property.

 (J) A person driving a vehic