A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 56-5-750, RELATING TO FAILURE TO STOP MOTOR VEHICLES WHEN SIGNALED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES, SO AS TO PROVIDE A MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE FOR FLEEING LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES.

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

SECTION 1.  Section 56-5-750(B) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (B) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (A):

       (1) for a first offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not less than ninety days nor more than three years. However, if the offender was fleeing a law enforcement vehicle, he must receive a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison. The Department of Motor Vehicles must suspend the person's driver's license for at least thirty days; or

       (2) for a second or subsequent offense where no great bodily injury or death resulted from the violation, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than five years. The person's driver's license must be suspended by the department for a period of one year from the date of the conviction.

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

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