S*0585(Rat #0402, Act #0358 of 1980)  General Bill, By J.C. Lindsay
 A Bill to amend Section 56-1-50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as
 amended, relating to beginners' permits, so as to increase the fee for such
 permints or renewal thereof from one dollar to two dollars and to require
 information relative to the permittee and to a signature to be shown on the
 permit; and to amend Section 56-1-130, relating to driver's license
 examinations, so as to provide for a fee of two dollars for each complete
 examination or reexamination.

   06/12/79  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-28
   06/12/79  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-28
   06/26/79  Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation SJ-18
   06/28/79  Senate Read second time SJ-21
   07/02/79  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-9
   07/03/79  House    INTRODUCTION OF BILL RULED OUT OF ORDER HJ-2925
   01/08/80  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-33
   01/08/80  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-33
   03/26/80  House  Committee report: Favorable Education and Public
                     Works HJ-1683
   04/02/80  House  Read second time HJ-1815
   04/03/80  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-1870
   04/04/80  Senate Ratified R 402 SJ-27
   04/09/80         Signed By Governor
   04/09/80         Effective date 04/09/80
   04/09/80         Act No. 358
   04/29/80         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-50, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO BEGINNERS' PERMITS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR SUCH PERMITS OR RENEWAL THEREOF FROM ONE DOLLAR TO TWO DOLLARS AND TO REQUIRE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PERMITTEE AND A SIGNATURE TO BE SHOWN ON THE PERMIT; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-130, RELATING TO DRIVER'S LICENSE EXAMINATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR A FEE OF TWO DOLLARS FOR EACH COMPLETE EXAMINATION OR REEXAMINATION.

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

Beginner's permit application, issuance, renewal and fee

Section 1. The first paragraph of Section 56-1-50 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Any person who is at least fifteen years of age may apply to the Department for a beginner's permit. The Department may, after the applicant has successfully passed all parts of the examination other than the driving test, issue to the applicant a beginner's permit which shall entitle the applicant having such permit in his immediate possession to drive a motor vehicle upon the public highways for a period of not more than six months. While so driving such permittee must be accompanied by a licensed driver twenty-one years of age or older who has had at least one year of driving experience, and who is occupying a seat beside the driver, except in the event the permittee is operating a motorcycle. Any beginner's permit may be renewed or a new permit issued for additional periods of six months, but the Department may refuse to renew or issue a new permit where the examining officer has reason to believe that the applicant has not made a bona fide effort to pass the required driver's road test or does not appear to the examining officer to have the aptitude to pass such road test. The fee for every beginner's permit or renewal thereof shall be two dollars and shall bear thereon the full name, date of birth, residence address and a brief description and color photograph of the permittee and either a facsimile of the signature of the permittee or a space upon which the permittee shall write his usual signature with pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the permit. No permit shall be valid until it has been so signed by the permittee."

Licensee examinations

Section 2. The first paragraph of Section 56-1-130 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end: "The Department shall charge a fee of two dollars for each complete examination or reexamination required in this article." The paragraph when amended shall read.

"The Department 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 to 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 such further physical and mental examination as it deems necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways, such 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. The Department shall charge a fee of two dollars for each completed examination or reexamination required in this article."

Time effective

Section 3. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.