South Carolina Code 44-61-70. Suspension or revocation of license or permit; penalty
(B) Grounds for an enforcement action against an authorization, license, or permit exist for violation of a regulation promulgated pursuant to this article. The department may suspend a license pending an investigation of an alleged violation or complaint. The department may impose a civil monetary penalty up to five hundred dollars per offense per day to a maximum of ten thousand dollars and revoke or suspend the provider’s license or permit if the department finds that a service has:
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 44-61-70
- Ambulance: means a vehicle maintained or operated by a licensed provider who has obtained the necessary permits and licenses for the transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
- Authorized agent: means any individual designated to represent the department. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
- Board: means the governing body of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or its designated representative. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Department: means the administrative agency known as the Department of Health and Environmental Control. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
- 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.
- License: means an authorization to a person, firm, corporation, or governmental division or agency to provide emergency medical services in the State. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
- Patient: means an individual who is sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
- Permit: means an authorization issued for an ambulance vehicle which meets the standards adopted pursuant to this article. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
- Standards: means the required measurable components of an emergency medical service system having permanent and recognized value that provide adequate emergency health care delivery. See South Carolina Code 44-61-20
(1) allowed uncertified personnel to perform patient care;
(2) falsified required forms or paperwork as required by the department;
(3) failed to maintain required equipment as evidenced by past compliance history;
(4) failed to maintain a medical control physician;
(5) failed to maintain equipment in working order; or
(6) failed to respond to a call within the response area of the service without providing for response by an alternate service.
(C) Whoever hinders, obstructs, or interferes with a duly authorized agent of the department while in the performance of his duties or violates a provision of this article or regulation of the board promulgated pursuant to this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars and not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not less than ten days nor more than six months for each offense. Information pertaining to the license or permit is admissible in evidence in all prosecutions under this article if it is consistent with applicable statutory provisions.
(D) If a permitted ambulance or licensed emergency medical responder service fails inspection or loses points upon initial inspection, a civil monetary penalty must not be levied. Instead, a copy of the inspection report will be given to the service indicating deficiencies found and a request for a letter of compliance and a time period by which to correct the deficiencies will be issued. Upon reinspection, any deficiencies found will be assigned a point value and fine schedule or the permit will be revoked, or both. The fine schedule is found in Regulation 61-7.