S 0203 General Bill, By Courson and Wilson
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 41
 to Chapter 3, Title 56, so as to provide for special license plates for
 current and retired members of the United States Armed Forces and to provide a
 penalty for a person who commits fraud in the application or use of the plate.

   01/13/93  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   01/13/93  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-11

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 41 TO CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES FOR CURRENT AND RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES 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 41

Section 56-3-4110. (A) The Department of Highways and Public Transportation shall issue a special motor vehicle license plate to any current or retired member of the United States Armed Forces who 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 plates provided by this section if he provides evidence that he is currently serving or has served in the United States Armed Forces.

Section 56-3-4120. 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 emblems of the five branches of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Section 56-3-4130. 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 56-3-4140. 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.