H 3794 General Bill, By J. Rama
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 42
 to Chapter 3, Title 56, so as to provide for special license plates for
 current, retired, or former members of the United States Armed Forces who
 evaded capture by opposing forces in any armed conflict in which United States
 forces were involved and to provide a penalty for a person who commits fraud
 in the application or use of the plate.

   04/09/91  House  Introduced and read first time
   04/09/91  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 42 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES FOR CURRENT, RETIRED, OR FORMER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO EVADED CAPTURE BY OPPOSING FORCES IN ANY ARMED CONFLICT IN WHICH UNITED STATES FORCES WERE INVOLVED AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A PERSON WHO COMMITS FRAUD IN THE APPLICATION OR USE OF THE PLATE.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 42

Section 56-3-4210. (A) The Department of Highways and Public Transportation shall issue a special motor vehicle license plate to any current, retired, or former member of the United States Armed Forces who evaded capture by opposing forces in any armed conflict in which United States forces were involved and is a resident of this State in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(B) The annual fee for the special license plate is the regular motor vehicle registration fee plus the personalized license plate fee provided by Section 56-3-2020, and only one plate may be issued to a person. The revenue from the issuance of plates under this article must be deposited in the manner provided under Section 56-3-2020. The department shall issue the license plate or the revalidation sticker upon receipt of an application made under oath and in the form required by the department.

(C) A person is authorized to use the special license plate provided by this section if he provides evidence that he is currently serving or has served in the United States Armed Forces.

Section 56-3-4220. The special license plate must be of the same size and general design as regular motor vehicle license plates. The department shall imprint the special license plates with the words `Evader of Foreign Military Capture'.

Section 56-3-4230. A license plate issued pursuant to this article may be transferred to another vehicle of the same weight class owned by the same person upon application being made and approved by the department. It is unlawful for a person to whom the plate has been issued knowingly to permit it to be displayed on a vehicle other than the one authorized by the department.

Section 56-3-4240. The provisions of this article do not affect the registration and licensing of motor vehicles as required by other provisions of this chapter but are cumulative to those other provisions. A person who violates the provisions of this article or a person who:

(1) fraudulently gives false or fictitious information in any application for a special license plate, as authorized in this article;

(2) conceals a material fact; or

(3) otherwise commits fraud in the application or in the use of a special license plate issued under the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the person must be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days."

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