H 3469 General Bill, By M.A. Pitts, Clark and Neilson
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2920, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF RECKLESS DRIVING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON
 WHO CAUSES AN ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING A CELLULAR
 TELEPHONE IS GUILTY OF THE OFFENSE OF RECKLESS DRIVING.

   01/29/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-37
   01/29/03  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-37

TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2920, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF RECKLESS DRIVING, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO CAUSES AN ACCIDENT WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING A CELLULAR TELEPHONE IS GUILTY OF THE OFFENSE OF RECKLESS DRIVING.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-5-2920 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-5-2920.    Any A person who drives any a vehicle in such a manner as to indicate that indicates either a wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, or who causes an accident when driving a vehicle while operating a cellular telephone is guilty of reckless driving. The department, upon receiving satisfactory evidence of the conviction, of the entry of a plea of guilty or the forfeiture of bail of any person charged with a second and subsequent offense for the violation of this section shall forthwith suspend the driver's license of any such person for a period of three months. Only those offenses which occurred within a period of five years including and immediately preceding the date of the last offense shall constitute prior offenses within the meaning of this section. Any A person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or forfeiture of bail, must be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days."

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