H 4917 General Bill, By Lucas and Freeman
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 16-3-1095 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO REMOVE, OR AID IN THE REMOVAL
 OF PINE NEEDLES OR PINE STRAW FROM A PERSON'S LAND OR FROM PUBLIC PROPERTY
 UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO ENTER A PERSON'S
 LAND OR PUBLIC PROPERTY WITH THE INTENT TO RAKE OR REMOVE PINE NEEDLES OR PINE
 STRAW UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION OF
 THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SIZE, PLACEMENT, AND CONTENT OF
 NOTICES, SIGNS, OR POSTERS THAT ARE PLACED ON A PERSON'S PROPERTY THAT
 PROHIBIT THE RAKING OR REMOVAL OF PINE NEEDLES OR PINE STRAW.

   03/19/02  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   03/19/02  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-5

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-1095 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO REMOVE, OR AID IN THE REMOVAL OF PINE NEEDLES OR PINE STRAW FROM A PERSON'S LAND OR FROM PUBLIC PROPERTY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO ENTER A PERSON'S LAND OR PUBLIC PROPERTY WITH THE INTENT TO RAKE OR REMOVE PINE NEEDLES OR PINE STRAW UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION OF THESE PROVISIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SIZE, PLACEMENT, AND CONTENT OF NOTICES, SIGNS, OR POSTERS THAT ARE PLACED ON A PERSON'S PROPERTY THAT PROHIBIT THE RAKING OR REMOVAL OF PINE NEEDLES OR PINE STRAW.

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

SECTION    1.    The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 16-3-1095.    (A)    A person who removes or aids in the removal of pine needles or pine straw with the intent to steal the pine needles or pine straw that is being produced on the land of another person upon which notices, signs, or posters which prohibit the raking or removal of pine needles or pine straw have been placed, or on public lands is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than five years.

    (B)    A person who wilfully enters the land of another person with the intent to rake or remove pine needles or pine straw without the written consent of the landowner or his agent who has placed on the land notices, signs, or posters which prohibit the raking or removal of pine needles or pine straw, or who wilfully enters public lands with the intent to rake or remove pine needles or pine straw without the consent of the public body that controls the property is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than two years.

    (C)    The notices, signs, or posters contained in sections (A) and (B) must measure not less than one hundred twenty square inches and must be conspicuously posted on private lands not more than two hundred yards apart along the boundaries of the land. At least one notice, sign, or poster must be posted on each side boundary of the land, and at each corner boundary of the land if the corner boundary is ascertainable."

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