BLYTHEWOOD, SC (WBTW) – Trackable temporary license plates will now be placed on newly-purchased vehicles in South Carolina, according to the SC Department of Motor Vehicles.
The plates will be used starting Wednesday, SCDMV said in a press release.
“Each trackable, temporary license plate will have a unique alpha-numeric code that will be tied to the purchaser of the vehicle and issued when the vehicle is sold,” the press release stated. “The numerals will represent the date on which the plate will expire, while the alpha characters will differentiate one car owner from another. All temporary plates will follow the same alpha-numeric sequence, yet the images around the plate may change based on any dealer advertising.”
The plates will become mandatory for new vehicle purchases starting on November 11, 2019.
The plates don’t apply to moped or commercial motor vehicles.
SC DMV said once a permanent, metal license plate is received, the temporary plate becomes invalid and should be disposed of.
“Prior to the passage of Senate Bill 1083 in 2018, whose primary sponsor was Sen. Larry Grooms, a temporary license plate placed on the back of a vehicle simply included an expiration date written with a marker,” said the release. “These plates were easily forged and left law enforcement officers without any knowledge about the vehicle and its owner during traffic stops.”
“The introduction of the trackable temporary license plate will prove critical in ensuring the safety of our law enforcement officers,” said Kevin Shwedo, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, in the release. “It will also be very helpful in making sure automobile dealers are following the laws governing how quickly they need to submit the registration and titling paperwork to the agency.”
