Committee adopts amendment to DMV cleanup bill, advances expedited-fee measure for mailed IDs

At a meeting of the House Education and Public Works Committee, members adopted an amendment to House Bill 3856, a Department of Motor Vehicles cleanup bill, that removes a statutory requirement for random retesting of applicants certified by licensed driving schools. The committee also gave a favorable report to Bill 4011, which creates a temporary driver’s certificate for use while the official hard card is centrally produced and permits an expedited $90 fee for overnight mailing of licenses and ID cards.

The amendment to HB 3856 struck language in Section 56-1-15(c) that required the DMV to randomly retest applicants who had passed driving school-administered examinations to ensure instructors were properly certifying students. Representative Tippel, who introduced the amendment, said the current practice imposes “a significant amount of undue burden of time and money on our constituents,” describing a constituent who passed, was randomly selected for a retest, and was given an appointment three weeks later that delayed a job start. After debate the amendment was adopted by voice vote; members recorded in favor included Representative Duncan, Representative Frank, Representative Grant, Representative Rivers, Representative Teeple, Chairman Gillum and Chair Lady Erickson. The committee announced the amendment was adopted.

Pedro Adamasky, representing the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, defended the DMV’s randomized audits as a standard accountability measure used in other states to “reduce fraud, waste, and abuse,” and said the agency is open to exploring alternative review procedures. Adamasky confirmed DMV’s willingness to pursue less intrusive audit methods while preserving tools to hold third‑party testers accountable.

HB 3856 includes other technical changes the DMV requested: amending the definition of “bus” to match Title 12; adding the optional inclusion of blood type to state identification cards (previously authorized for driver licenses by Act 167); clarifying that certain motorcycle-size license plates may be used for rental trailers; aligning wholesale auction dealer license validity periods with dealer licenses (three years); and clarifying dealer-penalty and license‑suspension provisions, including notice procedures.

On Bill 4011, committee members discussed the DMV’s move to central issuance of driver licenses and identification cards, which will mean applicants generally receive a paper temporary certificate and their official hard card in the mail several days later from an issuance facility in Virginia. Committee members and DMV staff said central issuance is already used by more than 45 states and is intended to improve security and reduce fraudulent issuance. The bill authorizes the DMV to collect an expedited fee to cover overnight mailing costs for customers who need a hard card immediately; committee testimony put the expedited fee at $90 in addition to the standard card fee (about $25). The DMV said the $90 charge is intended to cover postage and contract costs and that the agency will reconcile and adjust the fee in its annual reporting cycle if required.

Representative Lee and other members noted central issuance increases identity-verification checks before a hard card is produced, which supporters argued will reduce instances of fraud where individuals obtained multiple licenses using different documents. Members also discussed implementation details — including how temporary certificates will include verified information and a photo, and that the state Election Commission has indicated such temporary certificates can be used for voting — and the limits of the DMV’s current technical systems.

The committee voted by voice vote to give Bill 4011 a favorable report. The clerk stated the result as seven ayes and one member absent; Representative Deepal was noted as not present for the vote.

The committee did not take a final vote on the remainder of HB 3856 at this meeting; committee members said they would resume consideration on a later date.

Votes at a glance: - Amendment 1 to HB 3856 (strike Section 56-1-15(c) random retest requirement): adopted (voice vote). Named recorded ayes included Representative Duncan, Representative Frank, Representative Grant, Representative Rivers, Representative Teeple, Chairman Gillum and Chair Lady Erickson. - Bill 4011 (central issuance/temporary certificate and expedited mailing fee): favorable report (voice vote); clerk recorded seven ayes, one absent (Representative Deepal).

The committee adjourned after completing the votes and agreed to return at a later session to continue work on HB 3856.