(A) It is unlawful for a person to operate a vehicle that is upfitted as an ambulance or no longer permitted and licensed as an ambulance pursuant to Article 1, Chapter 61 of Title 44, unless the vehicle’s exterior equipment and markings including, but not limited to, emergency lights, sirens, and decals that distinguish it as an ambulance are removed. A person who violates this subsection, except as provided in subsections (B) and (C), is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(B) A person who operates a vehicle in violation of subsection (A) with the intent to commit a felony, or in the commission of a felony, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

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Terms Used In South Carolina Code 56-5-4975

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

(C) A person who operates a vehicle in violation of subsection (A) with the intent to commit a terrorist act, or in the commission of a terrorist act, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined ten thousand dollars and imprisoned for a mandatory minimum of ten years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted. For purposes of this section, "terrorist act" means activities that:

(1) involve acts dangerous to human life, which are a violation of the criminal laws of this State;

(2) appear to be intended to:

(a) intimidate or coerce a civilian population;

(b) influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or

(c) affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and

(3) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of this State.

(D) The provisions of this section do not apply to:

(1) eleemosynary or not-for-profit organizations that operate an ambulance that is no longer permitted and licensed and whose exterior markings have been removed for use in parades, fundraising activities, and other official functions;

(2) a person operating a vehicle that is going from the place of purchase to his home or his fixed place of business;

(3) a person operating a vehicle going to a location for the purpose of removing the vehicle’s exterior equipment or markings; or

(4) a person operating an antique vehicle as defined by § 56-3-2210.

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