S 1050 General Bill, By Hayes
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 SO
 AS TO DEFINE ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE, AND PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION AND
 LICENSING OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES.

   02/21/02  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   02/21/02  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-7

TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING, BY ADDING ARTICLE 10 SO AS TO DEFINE ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE, AND PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES.

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 10

Section 56-3-1420. As used in this article 'all-terrain vehicle' or 'ATV' means a motorized vehicle measuring fifty inches or less in width, having a dry weight of six hundred pounds or less, designed primarily for recreational nonhighway travel, traveling on three or more low-pressure tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator, and having handlebars for steering control.

Section 56-3-1425. An owner of an ATV shall make application to the Department of Public Safety for a certificate of registration and a permanent decal for the vehicle accompanied by the required fee and upon the appropriate form prescribed and furnished by the department accompanied by an affidavit affirming ownership of the ATV or a bill of sale from the place of business where the ATV was purchased.

Section 56-3-1430. The certificate of registration must be in the possession of a person transporting the vehicle on South Carolina highways or operating the vehicle on public land or land of a person other than the registered owner.

Section 56-3-1435. A law enforcement officer may stop and require the operator or person transporting the ATV to produce its certificate of registration, which must be made available to a law enforcement officer upon request. If the ATV's Vehicle Identification Number is missing or altered or if its operator or the person transporting the ATV unlawfully refuses to present the certificate of registration upon request of a county or municipal law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency may take possession of the vehicle until the certificate of registration is presented or, the law enforcement agency may issue a ticket with the day and time the person must appear in court with the certificate of registration.

Section 56-3-1440. When a person who is not a licensed ATV dealer receives by purchase, gift, trade, or by another means a vehicle which was registered in this State, the person who receives the vehicle shall within forty-five days after the transfer of ownership, make application to the department accompanied by the required fee for registration and an affidavit affirming ownership of the ATV, or a bill of sale from the place of business where the ATV was purchased. The department shall issue a certificate of registration once it has received a properly completed application. An owner of an ATV, before the enactment of this article, who cannot provide proof of ownership must request an affidavit from the sheriff in the county in which he resides. The affidavit shall state that the sheriff finds the person making application for the title is the legal owner of the ATV. Before issuing the affidavit the sheriff must verify through the National Crime Information Center that the ATV is not stolen. The department shall issue a title and certificate of registration to the owner upon presentation of the affidavit.

Section 56-3-1445. The registration fee for an ATV is twenty-five dollars.

Section 56-3-1450. (A) It is unlawful for a person to operate an ATV on a public highway and its shoulder except as a means of reaching a crossing point on a highway.

(B) An ATV may cross a public highway and its adjacent shoulder if the:

(1) crossing is made at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a safe crossing;

(2) ATV is brought to a complete stop before crossing the shoulder or main traveled way of the highway;

(3) driver yields the right of way to all oncoming traffic which is an immediate hazard; and

(4) crossing is only made at an intersection of the divided highway with another public highway when the ATV crosses a divided highway."

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