Proof of financial responsibility may be evidenced by the certificate of the State Treasurer that the person named therein has deposited with him thirty-five thousand dollars in cash or securities such as may legally be purchased by savings banks or for trust funds of a market value of thirty-five thousand dollars. The State Treasurer may not accept the deposit and issue a certificate therefor and the Department of Motor Vehicles may not accept the certificate unless accompanied by evidence that there are no unsatisfied judgments of any character against the depositor in the county where the depositor resides.

The deposit must be held by the State Treasurer to satisfy, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, any execution on a judgment issued against the person making the deposit for damages, including damage for care and loss of service, because of bodily injury to or death of any person or for damages because of injury to or destruction of property, including the loss of use thereof, resulting from the ownership, maintenance, use, or operation of a motor vehicle after the deposit was made. Money or securities deposited are not subject to attachment or execution unless the attachment or execution arises out of a suit for damages which this chapter covers.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 56-9-580

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.