H 3853 General Bill, By Davenport, Leach, Lee and Tripp
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE CHILD
 AUTOMOBILE SAFETY ACT OF 1997 BY ADDING SECTION 56-15-135 SO AS TO MAKE IT
 UNLAWFUL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER TO SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE A MOTOR VEHICLE
 UNLESS THERE IS A PERMANENTLY AFFIXED LABEL ON THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER
 DOORS STATING "LOCK VEHICLE TO PREVENT DANGER TO CHILDREN" AND TO PROVIDE
 PENALTIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL
 CONDUCT TOWARDS CHILDREN, SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO LEAVE A CHILD UNDER THE
 AGE OF TWELVE UNATTENDED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

   04/09/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-23
   04/09/97  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-23

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE CHILD AUTOMOBILE SAFETY ACT OF 1997 BY ADDING SECTION 56-15-135 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE DEALER TO SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE A MOTOR VEHICLE UNLESS THERE IS A PERMANENTLY AFFIXED LABEL ON THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOORS STATING "LOCK VEHICLE TO PREVENT DANGER TO CHILDREN" AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-7-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TOWARDS CHILDREN, SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO LEAVE A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF TWELVE UNATTENDED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

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

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the "Child Automobile Safety Act of 1997".

SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-15-135. (A) It is unlawful for a motor vehicle dealer to offer for sale or sell a motor vehicle in this State unless a label is permanently affixed adjacent to the lock on the driver and front passenger doors on the motor vehicle stating in clearly legible type: 'Lock vehicle to prevent danger to children'.

(B) A person who violates subsection (A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined no less than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned no more than one year. Each violation is a separate offense."

SECTION 3. Section 20-7-50(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 450 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(A) It is unlawful for a person who has charge or custody of a child, who is the parent or guardian of a child, or who is responsible for the care and support of a child to:

(1) place the child at unreasonable risk of harm affecting the child's life, physical or mental health, or safety;

(2) do or cause to be done unlawfully or maliciously any bodily harm to the child so that the life or health of the child is endangered or likely to be endangered; or

(3) wilfully abandon the child; or

(4) leave a child under the age of twelve unattended in a motor vehicle."

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.