South Carolina General Assembly
110th Session, 1993-1994

Bill 3602


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Introducing Body:               House
Bill Number:                    3602
Primary Sponsor:                Gamble
Committee Number:               21
Type of Legislation:            GB
Subject:                        Motor vehicle license plates
Residing Body:                  House
Current Committee:              Education and Public Works
Computer Document Number:       CYY/15193SD.93
Introduced Date:                19930303    
Last History Body:              House
Last History Date:              19930303    
Last History Type:              Introduced, read first time,
                                referred to Committee
Scope of Legislation:           Statewide
All Sponsors:                   Gamble
                                     Spearman
                                     Phillips
                                     McCraw
Type of Legislation:            General Bill



History


Bill  Body    Date          Action Description              CMN  Leg Involved
____  ______  ____________  ______________________________  ___  ____________

3602  House   19930303      Introduced, read first time,    21
                            referred to Committee

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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1230, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SHALL ISSUE TWO LICENSE PLATES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES REGISTERED AND LICENSED ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 1994, AND THEREAFTER SHALL ISSUE TWO LICENSE PLATES OR TWO VALIDATION STICKERS AS APPROPRIATE FOR THESE VEHICLES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1240, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DISPLAY OF MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO REQUIRE LICENSE PLATES TO BE ATTACHED TO FRONT AND REAR OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE ON AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 1994, AND TO REPEAL ARTICLE 37, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, RELATING TO THE INSPECTION OF VEHICLES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 56-3-1230 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-3-1230. License plates must be at least six inches wide and not less than twelve inches in length and must show in bold characters the year of registration, serial number, and either the full name or the abbreviation of the name of the State and other distinctive markings as the department may consider advisable to indicate the class of the weight of the vehicle for which the license plate was issued. The plate must be of a strength and quality to provide a minimum service period of five years. A new license plate including personalized and special plates must be provided by the department at intervals the department considers appropriate but at least every six years. License plates issued for vehicles in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds must be issued annually and no revalidation sticker may be issued for the plates.

The face of the license plate must be treated completely with a retroreflective material which increases the nighttime visibility and legibility of the plate. The department shall prepare the specifications for the retroreflective material. In those years in which a metal plate is not issued, a revalidation sticker with a distinctive serial number or other suitable means prescribed by the department must be issued and affixed in the space provided on the license plate assigned to the vehicle upon payment of the fee prescribed for registration and licensing, including fees for personalized or special license plates.

Notwithstanding the above provisions of this section, the department shall issue two license plates for motor vehicles registered and licensed on and after January 1, 1994, and thereafter shall issue two license plates or two validation stickers as appropriate for these vehicles."

SECTION 2. Section 56-3-1240 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 46 of 1991, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-3-1240. License plates issued for motor vehicles must be attached to the outside front and rear of the vehicle, open to view, except that on truck tractors and road tractors the plates only one plate must be issued and it must be attached to the outside front of the vehicle. Every license plate, at all times, must be fastened securely in a horizontal and upright position to the vehicle for which it was issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging. The bottom of the plate must be at a height of not less than twelve inches from the ground in a place and position clearly visible as provided in Section 56-5-4530, and it must be maintained free from foreign materials and in a clearly legible condition. No other license plate, lighting equipment, except as permitted in Section 56-5-4350, tag, sign, monogram, tinted cover, or inscription of metal or other material may be displayed above, around, or upon the plate other than that which is authorized and issued by the department for the purpose of validating the plate. It is not unlawful to place a decal on the license plate if it does not obscure any letters or numbers. A motor vehicle owner may attach a trailer hitch to a motor vehicle provided the hitch does not obscure more than two inches of the license plate issued to the motor vehicle. It is unlawful to operate or drive a motor vehicle with the license plate missing and a person who is convicted for violating this section must be punished as provided by Section 56-3-2520."

SECTION 3. Article 37, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION 4. The amendment to Section 56-3-1240 of the 1976 Code, contained in Section 2 of this act, is effective on and after January 1, 1994.

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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