S 1002 General Bill, By Giese
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 69
 to Chapter 3, Title 56, so as to provide for issuance of special license
 plates for Vietnam veterans; to amend Section 56-3-20, as amended, relating to
 motor vehicle registration and licensing definitions, so as to provide a
 definition for "private motor vehicle or private passenger motor vehicle".

   01/10/96  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-15
   01/10/96  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-15

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 69 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES FOR VIETNAM VETERANS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-20, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR "PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE OR PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE".

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 56-3-7550. (A) The department may issue special motor vehicle license plates to Vietnam Veterans for private motor vehicles registered in their names. Only one plate may be issued to a veteran. The fee for this license plate is the same as provided in Section 56-3-2020, plus an initial fee of fifteen dollars. The plate must be issued or revalidated biennially for the regular registration period.

(B) The special license plate must be the same size as the regular motor vehicle license plate, but must be of a distinctive design and bear the words `Vietnam Veteran'. An applicant must submit a copy of his DD-214 or other evidence satisfactory to the department to prove that he served as a member of the armed forces of the United States of America in Vietnam during the period from August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975."

SECTION 2. A. Section 56-3-20(31) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 486 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"(31) `Three-wheel vehicle:' Every A motor vehicle having no more than three permanent functional wheels in contact with the ground and having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator, but excluding a tractor.;"

B. Section 56-3-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended by adding:

"(32) `Private motor vehicle or private passenger motor vehicle:' A motor vehicle designed and operated for the transportation of ten or fewer persons and trucks having an empty weight of not more than five thousand pounds and a gross weight of not more than eight thousand pounds excluding motorcycles, motor driven cycles, mopeds, three-wheel vehicles, and motor vehicles which are operated for the transportation of persons or property for compensation."

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.