H 4525 General Bill, By Fleming
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 20-7-8927 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN
 YEARS OF AGE TO PURCHASE OR KNOWINGLY POSSESS CIGARETTES AND TO PROVIDE A
 PENALTY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-746, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO A DRIVER'S
 LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR CERTAIN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE POSSESSION, SALE, AND
 CONSUMPTION OFFENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PERSONS WHO PURCHASE OR
 POSSESS CIGARETTES SHALL HAVE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES SUSPENDED.

   01/28/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-14
   01/28/98  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-14

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-7-8927 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE TO PURCHASE OR KNOWINGLY POSSESS CIGARETTES AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-746, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO A DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSION FOR CERTAIN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE POSSESSION, SALE, AND CONSUMPTION OFFENSES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN PERSONS WHO PURCHASE OR POSSESS CIGARETTES SHALL HAVE THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES SUSPENDED.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 20-7-8927. (A) It is unlawful for a person under eighteen years of age to purchase or knowingly possess cigarettes. Possession is prima facie evidence that it was knowingly possessed. A person violating this section must have his driver's license suspended as provided in Section 56-1-746.

(B) This section does not apply to an employee lawfully engaged in the sale or delivery of cigarettes."

SECTION 2. Section 56-1-746(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(A) The department shall suspend the driver's license of any person convicted of the offenses contained in Sections 56-1-510(2), 56-1-510(5), 56-1-515, 61-4-60, 61-4-80, 61-4-90, 61-6-4070, 20-7-8920, and 20-7-8925, and 20-7-8927 as follows:

(1) for a conviction for a first offense, for a period of ninety days;

(2) for a conviction for a second or subsequent offense, for a period of six months."

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