South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

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S. 775

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Grooms and Knotts
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5905ac09.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 3347

Introduced in the Senate on April 30, 2009
Introduced in the House on May 14, 2009
Currently residing in the House Committee on Education and Public Works

Summary: Driver's license

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4/30/2009  Senate  Introduced and read first time SJ-11
   4/30/2009  Senate  Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-11
    5/7/2009  Senate  Committee report: Favorable with amendment 
                        Transportation SJ-15
    5/8/2009          Scrivener's error corrected
   5/12/2009  Senate  Committee Amendment Adopted SJ-23
   5/12/2009  Senate  Read second time SJ-23
   5/13/2009  Senate  Read third time and sent to House SJ-21
   5/14/2009  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-16
   5/14/2009  House   Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works HJ-16

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

4/30/2009
5/7/2009
5/8/2009
5/12/2009

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

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED

May 12, 2009

S. 775

Introduced by Senators Grooms and Knotts

S. Printed 5/12/09--S.

Read the first time April 30, 2009.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-130, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CLASSIFIED DRIVER'S LICENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AN OPERATOR OF A MOTORCYCLE THREE-WHEEL VEHICLE IS ONLY REQUIRED TO HAVE A BASIC DRIVER'S LICENSE OR A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE, RATHER THAN A MOTORCYCLE LICENSE WITH A SPECIAL ENDORSEMENT.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-1-130 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 347 of 2008 is further amended to read:

"Section 56-1-130.        (A)    The Department of Motor Vehicles shall examine every applicant for a driver's license, except as otherwise provided in this article. The examination shall include a test of the applicant's eyesight, his ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic, and his knowledge of the traffic laws of this State and shall include an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of the type motor vehicle, including motorcycles, for which a license is sought. The department may require a further physical and mental examination as it considers necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways, the further examination to be at the applicant's expense. The department shall make provisions for giving an examination in the county where the applicant resides, except for motorcycle three-wheel vehicles. The motorcycle three-wheel vehicle examination must be provided at the sites where the knowledge and skill examination for the commercial driver's license is offered. The department shall charge an appropriate fee for each complete examination or reexamination required in this article.

(B)    No persons, except those exempted under Section 56-1-30 and Section 56-1-60 or those holding beginner's permits under Section 56-1-50, shall operate any classification of motor vehicle without first being examined and duly licensed by the driver examiner as a qualified driver of that classification of motor vehicle.

(C)    A basic driver's license authorizes the licensee to operate motor vehicles, automotive three-wheel vehicles, motorcycle three-wheel vehicles, excluding a motorcycle with a detachable side car, or combinations of vehicles which do not exceed twenty-six thousand pounds gross vehicle weight rating; provided, that the driver has successfully demonstrated the ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle in this category. A basic driver's license also authorizes the licensee to operate farm trucks provided for in Sections 56-3-670, 56-3-680, and 56-3-690, which are used exclusively by the owner for agricultural, horticultural, and dairying operations or livestock and poultry raising.     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the holder of a conditional license, or special restricted license operating a farm truck for the purposes provided in this subsection, may operate the farm truck without an accompanying adult after six o'clock a.m. and no later than nine o'clock p.m., but may not operate a farm truck on a freeway. A person operating a farm truck while holding a conditional driver's license or a special restricted license may not use the farm truck for ordinary domestic purposes or general transportation.

A classified driver's license shall authorize the licensee to operate a motorcycle, motorcycle three-wheel vehicle, including a motorcycle with a detachable side car, or those vehicles in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds gross vehicle weight rating which are indicated by endorsement on the license. The endorsement may include classifications such as: motorcycle, motorcycle three-wheel vehicle, two-axle truck, three- or more axle truck, combination of vehicles, motor busses, or oversize or overweight vehicles. The department shall determine from the driving demonstration the endorsements to be indicated on the license.

(D)    The department shall include a noncommercial endorsement to the motorcycle classification license to indicate the type of motorcycle to be operated. The "M" classification is for motorcycle operation only. The 'D' endorsement to the "M" classification is for motorcycle three-wheel vehicle and motorcycle with detachable side car. The "C" endorsement to the "M" classification is for motorcycle, motorcycle three-wheel vehicle, and motorcycle with detachable side car."

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

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