MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – South Carolina lawmakers passed a bill to again require a vision test to get your driver’s license renewed. The bill is waiting for the governor’s signature and will take effect October 1, 2020.
The goal is to make South Carolina roads safer.
“At night sometimes I can’t see all the things, so I think vision test will probably be a good thing,” said SC driver, Thomas Hemmingway.
Critics say it’s just going to clog up DMV lines even more.
“I’ve been by here twice before today and it’s always full. I don’t know how they could make it more complicated than it already is. We wait in line here for a long time. Everybody’s busy,” said Patsy Griffith.
There still will be a way to renew your license online.
“Because of this electronic portal if you will, we will still be able to renew driver’s licenses online like we’re doing right now,” said Lauren Phillips, chief of strategic communications for SCDMV.
Drivers can waive screening if they provide a certificate of vision exam for from a certified ophthalmologist or optometrist. It must be performed within a year and submitted electronically to the DMV.
I don’t know if it can make it worse than it already is. Not that it’s a super bad thing, but the lines are long anyway so you’ve just got to take patience,” said Hemmingway.
There are some instances where you will always be required to have a vision test:
That includes applying for your first South Carolina drivers license, transferring from another state, or getting or renewing a commercial license.
