SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
S
TATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT
WWW.RFA.SC.GOV • (803)734-3793
This fiscal impact statement is produced in compliance with the South Carolina Code of Laws and House and Senate rules. The focus of
the analysis is on governmental expenditure and revenue impacts and may not provide a comprehensive summary of the legislation.
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H. 3127
Fiscal Impact Summary
This bill provides that when a motor vehicle driver fails to stop after being signaled by a law
enforcement vehicle and certain aggravating circumstances occur, the offender is guilty of a
felony. Upon conviction, the offender must be imprisoned not more than ten years and have his
driver’s license suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for one year from the
date of conviction.
The bill charges DMV with additional responsibilities that the agency will accomplish with
existing staff and resources. Therefore, there is no expenditure impact to DMV. However,
DMV indicates that the complex coding changes to its IT system will require at least twelve
months to implement and test.
This bill changes the offense of failing to stop after being signaled by a law enforcement vehicle
from a misdemeanor to a felony when certain aggravating circumstances occur. As this is an
existing offense with more severe penalties in certain circumstances, this bill may result in an
increase in caseload in General Sessions court and potentially the number of incarcerations,
which may increase the workload of the court system and the Commission on Indigent Defense,
the Commission for Prosecution Coordination, the Department of Corrections, and the
Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services (PPP). The potential increase in expenses
for each agency will depend upon the increase in the number of cases and number of
incarcerations. These agencies anticipate that the potential increase in work can be managed
within existing appropriations.
This bill may result in a change in the fines and fees collected in court. Court fines and fees are
distributed to the General Fund, Other Funds, and local funds. Therefore, the Revenue and
Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) anticipates this bill may result in a change to General Fund, Other
Funds, and local revenue due to any change in fines and fees collections in court.
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on January 14, 2025
State Expenditure
This bill provides that when a motor vehicle driver fails to stop after being signaled by a law
enforcement vehicle and certain aggravating circumstances occur, the offender is guilty of a
Bill Number: H. 3127 Introduced on Januar
y 14, 2025
Subject: Failure to Stop a Motor Vehicle
Requestor: House Judiciary
RFA Analyst(s): Griffith
Impact Date: February 4, 2025
__________________________________
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
DISCLAIMER: THIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPRESENTS THE OPINION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO APPROVED AND SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
Page 2 of 2
H. 3127
felony. Upon conviction, the offender must be imprisoned not more than ten years and have his
driver’s license suspended by DMV for one year from the date of conviction.
This bill changes the offense of failing to stop after being signaled by a law enforcement vehicle
from a misdemeanor to a felony when certain aggravating circumstances occur. As this is an
existing offense with more severe penalties in certain circumstances, this bill may result in an
increase caseload in General Sessions court and potentially the number of incarcerations, which
may increase the workload of the court system and the Commission on Indigent Defense, the
Commission for Prosecution Coordination, the Department of Corrections, and PPP. The
potential increase in expenses for each agency will depend upon the increase in the number of
cases and number of incarcerations. These agencies anticipate that the potential increase in work
can be managed within existing appropriations. For information, according to Corrections, in FY
2023-24, the annual total cost per inmate was $40,429, of which $36,553 was state funded.
The bill charges DMV with additional responsibilities that the agency will accomplish with
existing staff and resources. Therefore, the bill will have no expenditure impact on DMV.
However, DMV indicates that the complex coding changes to its IT system will require at least
twelve months to implement and test.
State Revenue
This bill may result in a change in the fines and fees collected in court. Court fines and fees are
distributed to the General Fund, Other Funds, and local funds. Therefore, RFA anticipates this
bill may result in a change to General Fund and Other Funds revenue due to any change in fines
and fees collections in court.
Local Expenditure
N/A
Local Revenue
This bill may result in a change in the fines and fees collected in court. Court fines and fees are
distributed to the General Fund, Other Funds, and local funds. Therefore, RFA anticipates this
bill may result in a change to local revenue due to any change in fines and fees collections in
court.