S 0265 General Bill, By Giese and McGill

Similar(H 3135)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 50-1-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN ANY PROSECUTION FOR A VIOLATION OF STATE
 FISH, GAME, WILDLIFE, OR NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS, PHOTOGRAPHS OF EITHER
 WILDLIFE OR FISH ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN, POSSESSED, SOLD, TRANSPORTED, OR
 IMPORTED ILLEGALLY MUST BE CONSIDERED COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF THE WILDLIFE OR
 FISH AND MUST BE ADMISSIBLE IN ANY PROCEEDING OF THE CASE TO THE SAME EXTENT
 AS IF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH HAD BEEN INTRODUCED AS EVIDENCE.

   01/29/97  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-6
   01/29/97  Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-6

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-1-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN ANY PROSECUTION FOR A VIOLATION OF STATE FISH, GAME, WILDLIFE, OR NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS, PHOTOGRAPHS OF EITHER WILDLIFE OR FISH ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN, POSSESSED, SOLD, TRANSPORTED, OR IMPORTED ILLEGALLY MUST BE CONSIDERED COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH AND MUST BE ADMISSIBLE IN ANY PROCEEDING OF THE CASE TO THE SAME EXTENT AS IF THE WILDLIFE OR FISH HAD BEEN INTRODUCED AS EVIDENCE.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-1-285. In any prosecution for a violation of state fish, game, wildlife, or natural resources laws, photographs of either wildlife or fish alleged to have been taken, possessed, sold, transported, or imported illegally is considered competent evidence of the wildlife or fish and is admissible in any proceeding of the case to the same extent as if the wildlife or fish had been introduced as evidence. The photographer shall affix his signature and the date to the back of each photograph for identification purposes. When the photograph is authenticated and admitted, it shall constitute substantive evidence."

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