South Carolina Offers Amnesty to Drivers with Suspended Licenses

Thousands of South Carolina drivers will be able to legally get back behind the wheel through a one-week amnesty program for suspended licenses.

The Department of Motor Vehicles said that the amnesty applies to residents who lost their driving privileges for violations that don’t involve drugs or alcohol.

Agency spokeswoman Beth Parks said nearly 10,500 drivers qualify. About 20 percent of those drivers have two suspensions.

Their driving privileges will be restored if they pay the required fees and have insurance. Most reinstatement fees are $100.

The program will be offered May 16-20 at 17 offices around the state. It was required as part of a sentencing reform measure passed by the Legislature last year.