Current Status Bill Number:497 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19970306 Primary Sponsor:Reese All Sponsors:Reese Drafted Document Number:gjk\2028cm.97 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Transportation Committee 15 ST Subject:Motor vehicle license plates, placards that allow free parking for handicapped, period valid
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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Senate 19970306 Introduced, read first time, 15 ST
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1960, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE AND DISPLAY OF LICENSE PLATES AND PLACARDS THAT ALLOW FREE PARKING FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE PERIOD THAT A PERMANENT PLACARD IS VALID.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-3-1960(2) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 82 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"(2) An agency, organization, or facility that transports a disabled or handicapped person or any person who is handicapped as defined in this article may apply to the department for issuance of a temporary or permanent distinguishing placard to be designed by the department. The department, if necessary, may design another distinguishing placard for an agency, organization, or facility that is eligible for a placard, however, all placards must be at least three inches by nine and one-half inches in size and must hang from the rearview mirror of a vehicle or be displayed on the driver's side dashboard when there is no hanging apparatus. The placard must be used on vehicles transporting the disabled person in lieu of the distinguishing license plate issued pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. When the placard is displayed on the driver's side dashboard of a vehicle, all parking rights and privileges extended to vehicles displaying a distinguishing license plate issued pursuant to subsection (1) of this section are applicable to the vehicle. The department shall establish procedures for the issuance of distinguishing placards, and the procedures shall permit applicants to apply by mail. Each application must be accompanied by a certificate from a licensed physician as defined in Section 40-47-5 that the applicant is handicapped as defined in this article, except that a physician's certificate is not required for applications by an agency, organization, or facility which must include sufficient documentation as may be prescribed by the department that the applying agency, organization, or facility transports handicapped or disabled persons. The physician shall state on the certificate whether the applicant is handicapped temporarily or permanently. If the applicant is temporarily handicapped, the physician shall state the length of time for which the applicant is temporarily handicapped. A placard issued for a temporary disability is valid only for the anticipated length of time of the disability specified by the physician in the certificate. No applicant may be denied a placard if the applicant follows the procedures established by the department and if the completed application is accompanied by a certificate from a licensed physician as defined in Section 40-47-5, as required by this subsection. The department shall charge a fee of one dollar a placard and may issue two placards to an individual applicant upon request. An agency, organization, or facility may receive a placard for each vehicle registered upon payment of the appropriate fees.
The permanent placards may be issued and renewed only for a maximum period of four five years renewable on the owner's birth date; however. However, placards issued to an agency, organization, or facility must be renewed every four five years. The placards must be of a color as determined by the department which is easily recognizable by law enforcement personnel. The placard shall indicate on its face when it expires."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.