Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Bill 3967

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      3967
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  19990421
Primary Sponsor:                  J. Smith
All Sponsors:                     J. Smith, Haskins, Barrett, Bowers, 
                                  T. Brown, Cato, Clyburn, Emory, Gourdine, 
                                  J. Hines, Law, Leach, Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, 
                                  Mack, McCraw, McMahand, Moody-Lawrence, Ott, 
                                  Phillips, Robinson, Sandifer, D. Smith, Tripp, 
                                  Whatley and Wilder
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\psd\7375ac99.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Judiciary Committee 25 HJ
Subject:                          Voyeurism, definition and criminal 
                                  penalties for violations; Crimes and Offenses


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   19990421  Introduced, read first time,           25 HJ
                  referred to Committee


                             Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-17-475 SO AS TO CREATE THE FELONY OFFENSE OF VOYEURISM BY PROHIBITING A PERSON FROM PHOTOGRAPHING, VIDEOTAPING, OR FILMING ANOTHER PERSON, WITHOUT CONSENT, IN A PLACE WHERE THE PERSON HAS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY; AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES AND EXCEPTIONS.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-17-475. (A) It is unlawful for a person to photograph, videotape, or film the actions of another person, without that person's consent, in a place where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

(B) A person who violates subsection (A) is guilty of voyeurism, a felony, and must be fined not more than fifteen hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(C) This section does not apply to photographing, videotaping, or filming by:

(1) correctional officers of the Department of Corrections or of a county, municipal, local, or regional jail, detention center, or correctional facility for security purposes or during investigation of alleged misconduct of a person in custody;

(2) law enforcement officers pursuant to a lawful criminal investigation;

(3) a person licensed and bonded pursuant to Chapter 17, Title 40, while lawfully engaging in the private detective business."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

This web page was last updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:26 A.M.