S 1253 General Bill, By Ryberg
 A Bill to amend Chapter 1, Title 23 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to general provisions regarding law enforcement and public
 safety, by adding Section 23-1-230 so as to provide that all motor vehicles
 used by a county sheriff's department, or by a law enforcement officer of a
 county or municipality, for the enforcement of the laws of the State or
 ordinances of a county or municipality relative to highway and street traffic,
 traffic safety, and motor vehicles, shall be conspicuously marked as vehicles
 used for such purposes by the placement of blue or other appropriately colored
 lights atop the vehicle and such other markings as deemed appropriate to
 clearly identify the vehicle used for such purposes.

   03/14/96  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4
   03/14/96  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-4

A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 23 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, BY ADDING SECTION 23-1-230 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL MOTOR VEHICLES USED BY A COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, OR BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY, FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OR ORDINANCES OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY RELATIVE TO HIGHWAY AND STREET TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND MOTOR VEHICLES, SHALL BE CONSPICUOUSLY MARKED AS VEHICLES USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES BY THE PLACEMENT OF BLUE OR OTHER APPROPRIATELY COLORED LIGHTS ATOP THE VEHICLE AND SUCH OTHER MARKINGS AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE AS A VEHICLE USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 23-1-230. All vehicles used by a county sheriff's department, or by a law enforcement officer of a county or municipality, for the enforcement of the laws of the State or ordinances of a county or municipality relative to highway and street traffic, traffic safety, and motor vehicles shall be conspicuously marked as vehicles used for such purposes by the placement of blue or other appropriately colored lights atop the vehicle and such other markings appropriate to clearly identify the vehicle as a vehicle used for such purposes. Any vehicle which does not conform with this section shall be assigned in a manner approved by the sheriff or other appropriate person but may not be used for the enforcement of the laws of the State or ordinances of a county or municipality relative to highway and street traffic, traffic safety, and motor vehicles. Nothing in this section prohibits a nonconforming vehicle from being used for purposes other than for the enforcement of the laws of the State or ordinances of a county or municipality relative to highway traffic, traffic safety, and motor vehicles and in instances where the use of such a vehicle is necessary to protect the public."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor but the sheriff or other appropriate person may establish a phase-in schedule of not more than two years to ensure proper vehicle rotation and an adequate allocation of officers.