A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 56-5-4905 so as to PROVIDE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO OPERATE MOTOR VEHICLEs ALONG a HIGHWAY WITHOUT SPEEDOMETERs MAINTAINED IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONs OF THIS PROVISION, AND TO PROVIDe PERSONS CHARGED WITH OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLEs TWENTY MILES AN HOUR OR LESS IN EXCESS OF THE POSTED SPEED LIMITs that CAN PROVE THEIR VEHICLEs' SPEEDOMETERs Were NOT IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, MUST BE CHARGED WITH OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLEs WITHOUT SPEEDOMETERs THAT are MAINTAINED IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

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

SECTION 1.   Article 35, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

   Section 56-5-4905.   (A) Every motor vehicle when operated on a highway must be equipped with a speedometer which must be maintained in good working order.

   (B) A person who violates this section must be charged with the offense of "Improper Equipment - Speedometer" and upon conviction must be fined not more than twenty-five dollars.

   (C) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a person who is charged with operating a motor vehicle twenty miles an hour or less in excess of the posted speed limit and can prove that his vehicle's speedometer was not in good working order at the time of being charged, must be charged with violating subsection (A).

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

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