South Carolina Code
S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-750 (2026)
Failure to stop motor vehicle when signaled by law-enforcement vehicle
✓ current as of May 2026
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(A) In the absence of mitigating circumstances, it is unlawful for a motor vehicle driver, while driving on a road, street, or highway of the State, to fail to stop when signaled by a law enforcement vehicle by means of a siren or flashing light. An attempt to increase the speed of a vehicle or in other manner avoid the pursuing law enforcement vehicle when signaled by a siren or flashing light is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. Failure to see the flashing light or hear the siren does not excuse a failure to stop when the distance between the vehicles and other road conditions are such that it would be reasonable for a driver to hear or see the signals from the law enforcement vehicle.
Text of (B) effective until May 12, 2026.
(B) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A):
(1) for a first offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than ninety days nor more than three years. The Department of Motor Vehicles must suspend the person's driver's license for at least thirty days; or
(2) for a second or subsequent offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than five years. The person's driver's license must be suspended by the department for a period of one year from the date of the conviction.
Text of (B) effective May 12, 2026.
(B) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A):
(1) for a first offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years. The Department of Motor Vehicles must suspend the person's driver's license for at least thirty days;
(2) for a second or subsequent offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than ten years. The person's driver's license must be suspended by the department for a period of one year from the date of the conviction; or
(3) where the person is found to have led law enforcement upon a high-speed pursuit, the person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than ten years and the person's driver's license must be suspended for a period of one year from the date of conviction. For the purposes of this section, a high-speed pursuit occurs when the driver of the vehicle increases speed or takes evasive actions to avoid the pursuing law enforcement vehicle.
Text of (C) effective until May 12, 2026.
(C) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A) and when driving performs an act forbidden by law or neglects a duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle:
(1) where great bodily injury resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than ten years; or
(2) where death resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than twenty-five years.
Text of (C) effective May 12, 2026.
(C) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A) and when driving performs an act forbidden by law or neglects a duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle:
(1) where great bodily injury resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than fifteen years; or
(2) where death resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than thirty years.
(D) The department must revoke the driver's license of any person who is convicted pursuant to subsection (C)(1) or (C)(2) for a period to include any term of imprisonment, suspended sentence, parole, or probation, plus three years.
(E) "Great bodily injury" means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss of or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ.
(F) After a conviction pursuant to subsection (B)(1) for a first offense, the person may, after three years from the date of completion of all terms and conditions of his sentence for the first offense, apply, or cause someone acting on his behalf to apply, to the court for an order expunging the records of the arrest and conviction. This provision does not apply to any crime classified as a felony. If the person has had no other conviction during the three-year period following the completion of the terms and conditions of the sentence, the court shall issue an order expunging the records. No person has any rights under this section more than one time. After the expungement, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Motor Vehicles are required to keep a nonpublic record of the offense and the date of its expungement to ensure that no person takes advantage of the rights permitted by this subsection more than once. This nonpublic record is not subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act or any other provision of law except to those authorized law or court officials who need to know this information in order to prevent the rights afforded by this subsection from being taken advantage of more than once.
(G)(1) If a person is employed or enrolled in a college or university at any time while his driver's license is suspended pursuant to subsection (B) of this section, he may apply for a special restricted driver's license permitting him to drive only to and from work or his place of education and in the course of his employment or education during the period of suspension. The department may issue the special restricted driver's license only upon a showing by the person that he is employed or enrolled in a college or university, and that he lives further than one mile from his place of employment or place of education.
(2) If the department issues a special restricted driver's license, it shall designate reasonable restrictions on the times during which and routes on which the person may operate a motor vehicle. A change in the employment hours, place of employment, status as a student, or residence must be reported immediately to the department by the licensee.
(3) The fee for each special restricted driver's license is one hundred dollars, but no additional fee is due because of changes in the place and hours of employment, education, or residence. Of this fee twenty dollars must be distributed to the general fund and eighty dollars must be placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167.
(4) The operation of a motor vehicle outside the time limits and route imposed by a special restricted license by the person issued that license is a violation of Section 56-1-460.
HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 46-359; 1968 (55) 2497; 1988 Act No. 532, SECTION 14; 1993 Act No. 184, SECTION 251; 1995 Act No. 65, SECTION 1; 1996 Act No. 459, SECTION 180; 1999 Act No. 115, SECTION 6; 2001 Act No. 79, SECTION 2.H; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), SECTION 73, eff July 1, 2016; 2025 Act No. 38 (H.3127), SECTION 1, eff May 12, 2026.
Effect of Amendment
2025 Act No. 38, SECTION 1, reenacted (A) with no apparent change; in (B)(1), in the first sentence, substituted "not more than three years" for "not less than ninety days nor more than three years"; in (B)(2), in the first sentence, substituted "ten years" for "five years"; added (B)(3); in (C)(1), substituted "fifteen years" for "ten years"; in (C)(2), substituted "thirty years" for "twenty-five years"; and made other nonsubstantive changes.
Text of (B) effective until May 12, 2026.
(B) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A):
(1) for a first offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than ninety days nor more than three years. The Department of Motor Vehicles must suspend the person's driver's license for at least thirty days; or
(2) for a second or subsequent offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than five years. The person's driver's license must be suspended by the department for a period of one year from the date of the conviction.
Text of (B) effective May 12, 2026.
(B) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A):
(1) for a first offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than three years. The Department of Motor Vehicles must suspend the person's driver's license for at least thirty days;
(2) for a second or subsequent offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than ten years. The person's driver's license must be suspended by the department for a period of one year from the date of the conviction; or
(3) where the person is found to have led law enforcement upon a high-speed pursuit, the person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than ten years and the person's driver's license must be suspended for a period of one year from the date of conviction. For the purposes of this section, a high-speed pursuit occurs when the driver of the vehicle increases speed or takes evasive actions to avoid the pursuing law enforcement vehicle.
Text of (C) effective until May 12, 2026.
(C) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A) and when driving performs an act forbidden by law or neglects a duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle:
(1) where great bodily injury resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than ten years; or
(2) where death resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than twenty-five years.
Text of (C) effective May 12, 2026.
(C) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A) and when driving performs an act forbidden by law or neglects a duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle:
(1) where great bodily injury resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than fifteen years; or
(2) where death resulted, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than thirty years.
(D) The department must revoke the driver's license of any person who is convicted pursuant to subsection (C)(1) or (C)(2) for a period to include any term of imprisonment, suspended sentence, parole, or probation, plus three years.
(E) "Great bodily injury" means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss of or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ.
(F) After a conviction pursuant to subsection (B)(1) for a first offense, the person may, after three years from the date of completion of all terms and conditions of his sentence for the first offense, apply, or cause someone acting on his behalf to apply, to the court for an order expunging the records of the arrest and conviction. This provision does not apply to any crime classified as a felony. If the person has had no other conviction during the three-year period following the completion of the terms and conditions of the sentence, the court shall issue an order expunging the records. No person has any rights under this section more than one time. After the expungement, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Motor Vehicles are required to keep a nonpublic record of the offense and the date of its expungement to ensure that no person takes advantage of the rights permitted by this subsection more than once. This nonpublic record is not subject to release under the Freedom of Information Act or any other provision of law except to those authorized law or court officials who need to know this information in order to prevent the rights afforded by this subsection from being taken advantage of more than once.
(G)(1) If a person is employed or enrolled in a college or university at any time while his driver's license is suspended pursuant to subsection (B) of this section, he may apply for a special restricted driver's license permitting him to drive only to and from work or his place of education and in the course of his employment or education during the period of suspension. The department may issue the special restricted driver's license only upon a showing by the person that he is employed or enrolled in a college or university, and that he lives further than one mile from his place of employment or place of education.
(2) If the department issues a special restricted driver's license, it shall designate reasonable restrictions on the times during which and routes on which the person may operate a motor vehicle. A change in the employment hours, place of employment, status as a student, or residence must be reported immediately to the department by the licensee.
(3) The fee for each special restricted driver's license is one hundred dollars, but no additional fee is due because of changes in the place and hours of employment, education, or residence. Of this fee twenty dollars must be distributed to the general fund and eighty dollars must be placed by the Comptroller General into the State Highway Fund as established by Section 57-11-20, to be distributed as provided in Section 11-43-167.
(4) The operation of a motor vehicle outside the time limits and route imposed by a special restricted license by the person issued that license is a violation of Section 56-1-460.
HISTORY: 1962 Code SECTION 46-359; 1968 (55) 2497; 1988 Act No. 532, SECTION 14; 1993 Act No. 184, SECTION 251; 1995 Act No. 65, SECTION 1; 1996 Act No. 459, SECTION 180; 1999 Act No. 115, SECTION 6; 2001 Act No. 79, SECTION 2.H; 2016 Act No. 275 (S.1258), SECTION 73, eff July 1, 2016; 2025 Act No. 38 (H.3127), SECTION 1, eff May 12, 2026.
Effect of Amendment
2025 Act No. 38, SECTION 1, reenacted (A) with no apparent change; in (B)(1), in the first sentence, substituted "not more than three years" for "not less than ninety days nor more than three years"; in (B)(2), in the first sentence, substituted "ten years" for "five years"; added (B)(3); in (C)(1), substituted "fifteen years" for "ten years"; in (C)(2), substituted "thirty years" for "twenty-five years"; and made other nonsubstantive changes.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18
cases (8 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: United States v. Roseboro, 551 F.3d 226 (4th Cir. 2009).
United States v. Roseboro, 551 F.3d 226 (4th Cir. 2009). “OPINION HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge: The Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) imposes a mandatory minimum fifteen-year sentence on felons who unlawfully possess, among other things, firearms, and who also have three or more previous convictions for committing certain drug crimes…”
United States v. Harrison, 558 F.3d 1280 (11th Cir. 2009). “S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-750(A). 28 . Utah’s statute in West provides: (a) An operator who receives a visual or audible signal from a peace officer to bring the vehicle to a stop may not: (i) operate the vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the signal so as to interfere with or…”
In the Matter of Brooks, 267 S.E.2d 74 (S.C. 1980). “" Section 56-5-750, Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976).”
Newkirk v. Enzor, 240 F. Supp. 3d 426 (D.S.C. 2017). “§ 56-5-750 (providing criminal penalties including imprisonment for a driver’s failure,to stop for law enforcement).”
Esler v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 255 S.E.2d 676 (S.C. 1979). “According -to Code Section 56-11-170 (1976), minimum PIP coverage may exclude from benefits any person who: *262 (•a) intentionally causes the accident resulting in the injury; or (b) is injured while operating or voluntarily riding in a vehicle known by him to be stolen; or (e)…”
United States v. Jason Dix, 64 F.4th 230 (4th Cir. 2023). “1(b)(6)(B) for the use or possession of the firearm “in connection with another felony offense,” namely failure to stop for a blue light, in violation of S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-750 . At sentencing, Dix objected to the enhancement on both procedural and substantive grounds.”
Davis v. South Carolina Dep't of Pub. Saf., 493 S.E.2d 871 (S.C. Ct. App. 1997). “S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-750(D) (Supp.1996) (If a driver fails to stop when signaled by law enforcement vehicle Department must revoke the driver’s license for a period to include “any term of imprisonment, suspended sentence, parole, or probation, plus three years.”
United States v. Johnson, 648 F. Supp. 2d 764 (D.S.C. 2009). “Defendant raises the issue of whether his two convictions for violating South Carolina’s Failure To Stop for a Blue Light statute (“FTSBL”), S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-750, constitute violent felonies for purposes of sentence en *766 hancement under the Armed Career Criminal Act…”
Nationwide v. Walls (S.C. 2021). “See S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-750 (C) (2018). II.”
Nationwide v. Walls (S.C. 2021). “See S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-750 (C) (2018). II.”
State v. Sisler (S.C. Ct. App. 2017). “Because section 56-5-750(A) of the South Carolina Code (2006) requires drivers to stop when signaled by law enforcement, we agree that Deputy Haire seized Sisler when he flashed his blue lights and further activated them as he pulled over behind her.”
Ivory Williams, Topaz Williams-Fripp, & Ivory Williams as Guardian of R.F., a minor v. The Beaufort Cnty. Sheriff’s Off., Deputy Sheriff William Grey, Sergeant Troy Krapf, & the South Carolina High. Patrol (D.S.C. 2026). “Plaintiffs also emphasize that they did not speed while failing to stop; however, as the Magistrate Judge noted movement “in other manner [to] avoid the pursuing law enforcement vehicle when signaled by a siren or flashing light is prima facie evidence of a violation of [S.”
— S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-750(A) — 5 cases
United States v. Roseboro, 551 F.3d 226 (4th Cir. 2009). “OPINION HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge: The Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) imposes a mandatory minimum fifteen-year sentence on felons who unlawfully possess, among other things, firearms, and who also have three or more previous convictions for committing certain drug crimes…”
United States v. Harrison, 558 F.3d 1280 (11th Cir. 2009). “S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-750(A). 28 . Utah’s statute in West provides: (a) An operator who receives a visual or audible signal from a peace officer to bring the vehicle to a stop may not: (i) operate the vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the signal so as to interfere with or…”
State v. Sisler (S.C. Ct. App. 2017). “Because section 56-5-750(A) of the South Carolina Code (2006) requires drivers to stop when signaled by law enforcement, we agree that Deputy Haire seized Sisler when he flashed his blue lights and further activated them as he pulled over behind her.”
Ivory Williams, Topaz Williams-Fripp, & Ivory Williams as Guardian of R.F., a minor v. The Beaufort Cnty. Sheriff’s Off., Deputy Sheriff William Grey, Sergeant Troy Krapf, & the South Carolina High. Patrol (D.S.C. 2026). “Plaintiffs also emphasize that they did not speed while failing to stop; however, as the Magistrate Judge noted movement “in other manner [to] avoid the pursuing law enforcement vehicle when signaled by a siren or flashing light is prima facie evidence of a violation of [S.”
United States v. Johnson, 648 F. Supp. 2d 764 (D.S.C. 2009). “Defendant raises the issue of whether his two convictions for violating South Carolina’s Failure To Stop for a Blue Light statute (“FTSBL”), S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-750, constitute violent felonies for purposes of sentence en *766 hancement under the Armed Career Criminal Act…”
— S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-750(D) — 1 case
Davis v. South Carolina Dep't of Pub. Saf., 493 S.E.2d 871 (S.C. Ct. App. 1997). “S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-750(D) (Supp.1996) (If a driver fails to stop when signaled by law enforcement vehicle Department must revoke the driver’s license for a period to include “any term of imprisonment, suspended sentence, parole, or probation, plus three years.”
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