H 4329 General Bill, By Leach, Bailey, Lucas, J.R. Smith, Altman, Young and 
Toole
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 21
 TO CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE 56 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR
 VEHICLES MAY ISSUE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES TO RECIPIENTS OF THE BRONZE STAR,
 SILVER STAR, AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.

   12/07/05  House  Prefiled
   12/07/05  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
   01/10/06  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-33
   01/10/06  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-33

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 21 TO CHAPTER 3 OF TITLE 56 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY ISSUE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES TO RECIPIENTS OF THE BRONZE STAR, SILVER STAR, AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.

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 21

Section 56-3-2000.    (A)    The Department of Motor Vehicles may issue a special motor vehicle license plate to a recipient of the Bronze Star, Silver Star, or Distinguished Flying Cross. The annual fee for the special license plate is the same as the fee provided for in Section 56-3-2020 and only one plate may be issued to a person. The application for a special plate must include proof that the applicant is a recipient of the Bronze Star, Silver Star, or Distinguished Flying Cross.

(B)    The special license plates must be of the same size as regular motor vehicle license plates, upon which must be imprinted on the left side of the plates the distinctive Bronze Star, Silver Star, or Distinguished Flying Cross insignia with numbers and designs determined by the department. The license plate must be issued for a biannual period which shall expire twenty-four months from the month in which the special license plate is issued.

(C)    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 special plate has been issued to knowingly permit it to be displayed on any vehicle except the one authorized by the department.

(D)    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 them. A person who violates the provisions of this article or who:

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

(2)    conceals a material fact; or

(3)    otherwise commits a fraud in an application or in the use of a special license plate issued is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days."

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