Title 58, Public Utilities, Services and Carriers

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a motor vehicle carrier from making occasional detours from his regular route or from replacing in an emergency any such vehicle by a substitute vehicle in order to maintain an approved schedule, or from operating temporarily …

Motor carriers shall be responsible for loss or damage to baggage only when such baggage has been checked with the operator of the vehicle.

The provisions of Articles 1 to 11 of this chapter as to motor vehicles carrying property shall not apply to the baggage of passengers transported by holders of certificates A, B or C.

The Commission may promulgate such rules and regulations as it finds necessary and expedient relating to the issuing of licenses for motor vehicles used for hire, either for express or passengers or both, when operated at beach and summer resorts in this State.

The Office of Regulatory Staff, upon the presentation of a certificate authorizing the motor vehicle carrier to operate and upon payment of the proper license, may furnish the motor vehicle carrier with a distinguishing plate or marker.

When any reserve or substitute vehicle maintained by a motor carrier holding a certificate D, or a certificate A or a certificate B for passenger vehicles, to be used only in emergencies, is in use it may be designated by a special marker to be furnished by the Office of Regulato…

(A) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a provision, clause, covenant, or agreement contained in, collateral to, or affecting a motor carrier transportation contract that purports to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless, or has the effect of indemnifying, defending, or holdi…

As used in this article: (1) The term "corporation" means a corporation, company, association, or joint stock association. (2) The term "person" means an individual, a firm, or a partnership. (3) The term "commission" means the Public Service Commission of South Carolina. (4) The…

Each for-hire motor carrier of household goods or hazardous waste for disposal must comply with orders and regulations prescribed by the Public Service Commission. The Office of Regulatory Staff may employ the necessary law enforcement personnel to enforce the provisions which ap…

The commission may make those regulations not inconsistent with law as may be proper in the exercise of its powers or for the performance of its duties under this article.

The Public Service Commission and the Office of Regulatory Staff have no jurisdiction for safety purposes over persons engaged in transporting farm products or forest products from the farm to the first market.

The governing body of a county or city may license taxis only in the county or city where the taxi principally is operated at the time of application for a license. The owner of a taxi or his agent annually during the month of July shall register the taxi with the governing body …

A person who provides transportation services in a private passenger motor vehicle or van for a specific group of people to a specific destination over a continuing period of time, where these transportation services are not available to the general public, is not considered to b…

Before the issuance of any such license card or plate, the owner of the taxi shall procure and file with the governing body of the county a liability insurance policy, together with a receipt showing the payment of the premium therefor, issued by a good and responsible insurance …

In lieu of an insurance policy as required by Section 58-23-1220 a bond or bonds may be filed with the governing body of the county in the sum of not less than five thousand dollars for personal injuries and one thousand dollars for property damages in any one accident, such bond…

The owner of a taxi must obtain and cause to be affixed at all times to the rear of the taxi in a conspicuous place a metal plate or sticker, the dimensions of which must be approved by the city where the taxi principally operates, which shall have on it the words "Taxi", and be …

All persons driving, operating or controlling taxis shall post therein, in a conspicuous place where it may be easily and conveniently read by any passenger, a card upon which shall be printed in plain legible type the name of the owner of such taxi and the rates charged by the t…

The owner of any such taxi shall display in plain view of anyone entering such vehicle a card of such size and design as may be designated by the governing body of the county which shall be signed by the owner of the vehicle and shall state the name, address, sex, color and age o…

In such counties, operators, chauffeurs and other persons driving a commercial public taxi for hire shall be at least eighteen years of age and of good moral character and shall have no physical defects or handicaps which would hinder their safe operation of a vehicle under any d…

It shall be unlawful for operators of vehicles for hire to solicit fares or passengers except within five feet of the vehicle which they operate and in no case shall one driver interfere between another driver and his passengers.

All public vehicles for hire shall respond promptly to calls in the order in which they are received.

When answering a call a public vehicle for hire shall contain no one other than the driver except with the permission of the person so calling.

No driver of any such taxi or other person shall lay hold upon or take possession of any trunk, baggage or other article belonging to any traveler or person without the consent of the owner of such trunk, baggage or other article.

It shall be unlawful for the driver of any such taxi to permit any person to occupy or use such taxi for the purpose of prostitution or for any other lewd or indecent act, knowing or having reasonable cause to know that it is being used or is to be used for any such purpose, or t…

No owner, driver or other person having charge of a public vehicle for hire shall knowingly receive or permit to be placed or conveyed in any manner on or upon any such taxi any person sick or infected with smallpox or any other contagious disease. The body of any person who has …

All vehicles for hire shall be kept clean, neat and orderly.

Drivers shall not permit such taxis to be used as sleeping quarters or lounging places or for the unnecessary gathering of persons other than passengers.

In the event that any public taxi for which a license shall have been issued shall be permanently replaced by another car the owner shall within twenty-four hours after such replacement report it to the governing body of such county giving the necessary information to identify th…

The operation of any such taxi shall be constantly under the surveillance of the governing body of the county, which shall refuse permission to operate such taxi and revoke the license of any driver when in its judgment the driver's physical condition or record for violation of t…

In the event of cancellation of the policy of insurance or bond required under the provisions of this article, then the license card or plate to be displayed in the taxi and also the metal plates to be affixed to the taxi shall become null and void and shall immediately be surren…

Should the owner or operator of a taxi permit the taxi to be operated without such license affixed as required by Section 58-23-1210 or by any person not duly qualified as provided in this article or should such owner or operator permit such taxi to be used for any purpose other …

When any such policy of insurance or bond lapses by cancellation or for any other reason or when notice of intention to cause a lapse has been given by the surety or bondsman and such notice has been recorded on the records of the county police department, such notice shall be wi…

The violation of any of the provisions of this article shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding thirty days.

For purposes of this article: (1) "Transportation Network Company" or "TNC" means a person, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity operating in this State that uses a digital network, platform, or Internet-enabled application to connect a passenger to a tr…

(A) Before a person, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or other entity that uses a digital network, platform, or Internet-enabled application to provide transportation for compensation using a personal vehicle commences to advertise or operate in South Carolina as a …

(A) Insurers that write automobile insurance in the State may exclude any and all coverage afforded under the owner's insurance policy for any loss or injury that occurs while a TNC driver is logged on a TNC's digital network or while the driver provides a prearranged ride. This …

(A) A TNC driver or TNC on the driver's behalf shall maintain primary automobile insurance that recognizes that the driver is a TNC driver or otherwise uses a personal vehicle to transport riders for compensation and covers the driver: (1) while the driver is logged on the TNC's …

(A) Before TNC drivers are allowed to accept a request for a prearranged ride on the TNC's digital network, the TNC shall disclose to the drivers, in writing, the following information: (1) the insurance coverage, including the types of coverage and the limits for each coverage, …

(A) The TNC driver shall have a certified mechanic licensed in South Carolina conduct a safety inspection of a TNC vehicle within thirty days of the vehicle first providing TNC services. (B) The TNC shall not permit a TNC driver to provide TNC services if the TNC vehicle does not…

(A) The TNC shall obtain certain background and qualification information from a TNC driver before the TNC driver is approved by the TNC to provide TNC services. (B) The TNC driver qualification information shall include: (1) a valid driver's license issued by the South Carolina …

(A) A TNC operating in this State shall comply with the following standards: (1) A TNC driver shall not provide TNC services or otherwise operate as a passenger vehicle for hire unless a TNC has matched the TNC driver to the TNC passenger through the digital network. A TNC driver…

(A) A TNC shall maintain a record of all TNC services provided in South Carolina for a period of three years from the date of the TNC service. The records shall include: (1) the time at which a TNC driver logs into the digital network; (2) the time and place of commencement of TN…

(A) A certified South Carolina law enforcement officer is authorized to enforce the requirements of this article. (B) An officer, agent, or employee of a TNC or TNC driver who fails to comply with any requirement contained in this article must be assessed a civil penalty of not l…

(A) The Office of Regulatory Staff may assess each TNC an annual fee in an amount necessary to permit the Office of Regulatory Staff to carry out the requirements of this article. (B) The annual assessment of fees will be pursuant to Section 58-4-60(B).

(A) For the purposes of this section: (1) "Gross trip fare" means the sum of the base fare charge, distance charge, and time charge for the complete trip at rates published on the TNC's website. (2) "Local assessment fee" means one percent of the gross trip fare. (3) "Municipalit…

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, TNC's and TNC drivers are governed exclusively by this article and by any regulations promulgated by the Office of Regulatory Staff consistent with this article. TNC drivers remain subject to all local ordinances outside the scope…