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TRALA-Supported DMV Legislation Enacted In South Carolina

TRALA-proposed amended language surrounding an International Registration Plan (IRP) issue with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) has been included in a bill that recently became law in South Carolina. 

TRALA has been working with its ally, the South Carolina Trucking Association (SCTA) to address changes the SCDMV had implemented regarding the IRP while specifically trying to provide a legislative fix over the concern of “owner” versus “registrant”.
 
On May 7, 2021, Governor Henry McMaster (R) signed House Bill 3689 into law which restructures all renewal, fee, and registration services for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) within the SCDMV, making the DMV a 1-Stop-Shop for all CMVs needs. Of particular interest to TRALA members in the legislation is the amendments made to Section 56-3-190 of the 1976 Code which includes language proposed by TRALA that rectifies the concerns over the IRP issue. The language states:
 
(B) If a commercial motor vehicle is registered through the International Registration Plan and is operated under a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number assigned to a person other than the vehicle's owner, then the person to whom the USDOT number is assigned may register the commercial motor vehicle by submitting the appropriate application and fees to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
 
In addition to the above language change, TRALA and SCTA are now lobbying the House budget writers to include necessary funding for the SCDMV in order to provide the critical resources needed to upgrade their CMV systems and to hire more staff in order to comply with the provisions within House Bill 3689.
 
TRALA would like to thank its friend Rick Todd of SCTA for all his efforts in ensuring the TRALA-proposed language was included in the enacted version of House Bill 3689.
 
You may view House Bill 3689 by clicking here.
 
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Elizabeth Hyers at ehyers@trala.org or Andrew Stasiowski at astasiowski@trala.org
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