South Carolina H 3129: Personal Delivery Devices

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 3129 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 14, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 3129

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

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

Amended

April 10, 2025

H. 3129

Introduced 
by Rep. Rutherford 

S. Printed 4/10/25--H. [SEC 
4/14/2025 8:55 AM]

Read the first time January 14, 2025

________

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING ARTICLE 
5 TO CHAPTER 2, TITLE 56 SO AS TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS AND TO PROVIDE PROVISIONS 
FOR THE OPERATION OF PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES.

 Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by 
adding:

Article 5

Personal Delivery Devices

 Section 
56-2-5000. As contained in this article:

 (1) 
"Personal delivery device" means an electrically powered device intended for 
transporting cargo that is equipped with automated driving technology that 
enables device operation with or without the remote support and supervision of 
a human and that does not exceed: (a) a weight of one hundred fifty pounds, 
excluding cargo; (b) a length of thirty-six inches; and (c) a width of thirty 
inches. 

 (2) 
"Agent" means a director, officer, employee, or other person authorized to act 
on behalf of a business entity.

 (3) 
"Business entity" means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, 
sole proprietorship, or other legal entity authorized to conduct business under 
the laws of this State.

 (4) 
"Operator" means an agent who is at least sixteen years old and is charged with 
the responsibility of monitoring and operating a personal delivery device.

 (5) 
"Pedestrian area" means a sidewalk, crosswalk, school crosswalk, school 
crossing zone, or safety zone.

 Section 
56-2-5010. (A) A business entity 
may operate a personal delivery device in a pedestrian area, sidewalk, or 
crosswalk in this State, with the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian, 
subject to the requirements and restrictions contained in this article. Except 
as authorized in this article, a person shall not operate a personal delivery 
device in a pedestrian area, sidewalk, or crosswalk, State or local road in 
this State. 

 (B) 
Operation of a personal delivery device must:

 (1) 
be monitored by an operator who is able to exercise remote control over the 
navigation and operation of the personal delivery device;

 (2) 
not be operated in a pedestrian area at a speed greater than eight miles an 
hour under normal operation, or a speed no greater than ten miles an hour for 
emergency purposes; and

 (3) 
not be operated on a State or local road except as necessary to cross a State 
or local road at a designated crosswalk.

 (C) The personal delivery device shall:

 (1) 
obey all traffic- and pedestrian-control devices and signs;

 (2) 
yield the right of way to all human pedestrians;

 (3) 
not unreasonably interfere with any vehicle or pedestrian; and

 (4) 
not transport materials regulated under the federal Hazardous Materials 
Transportation Act.

 (D) A personal delivery device shall be 
equipped with:

 (1) 
a marker that clearly states the name and contact information of the owner;

 (2) 
a braking system that enables the device to come to a controlled stop; and

 (3) 
when operated at night, lights on the front and rear that are visible and 
recognizable under normal atmospheric conditions from at least five hundred 
feet on all sides of the personal delivery device.

 Section 
56-2-5020. For the purpose of assuring the safety of persons using highways and 
sidewalks, a local government having jurisdiction over public streets, 
sidewalks, alleys, bridges, and other ways of public passage may, by ordinance, 
regulate the time and place of the operation of a personal delivery device, but 
shall not prohibit its use.

 Section 
56-2-5030. A business entity that operates a personal delivery device shall 
maintain an insurance policy that includes general liability coverage of not 
less than five hundred thousand dollars per claim for damages arising from its 
operation.

SECTION 2. The 
provisions contained in SECTION 1 of this act are repealed three years after 
their enactment.

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

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