H 4326 General Bill, By Richardson, W.D. Keyserling, I.K. Rudnick and Walker
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 50-21-375 so as to provide that no motorboat number certificate may be renewed
 by the Department of Natural Resources unless the applicant first submits to
 the Department proof of payment of personal property taxes and to provide what
 constitutes proof of payment; and to amend the 1976 Code by adding Section
 50-21-430 so as to provide a specific criminal penalty for violating the
 numbering laws including a maximum five hundred dollar fine for operating an
 unnumbered vessel for more than twelve months and to make the offense triable
 in magistrate's court.

   12/01/93  House  Prefiled
   12/01/93  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs
   01/11/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-20
   01/11/94  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Natural
                     Resources and Environmental Affairs HJ-20

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-21-375 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO MOTORBOAT NUMBER CERTIFICATE MAY BE RENEWED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES UNLESS THE APPLICANT FIRST SUBMITS TO THE DEPARTMENT PROOF OF PAYMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND TO PROVIDE WHAT CONSTITUTES PROOF OF PAYMENT; AND TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING SECTION 50-21-430 SO AS TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THE NUMBERING LAWS INCLUDING A MAXIMUM FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR FINE FOR OPERATING AN UNNUMBERED VESSEL FOR MORE THAN TWELVE MONTHS AND TO MAKE THE OFFENSE TRIABLE IN MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

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

SECTION 1. Article 3, Chapter 21, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-21-375. (A) A number certificate may not be renewed unless the applicant first submits to the department proof of payment of personal property taxes on the vessel. For purposes of this section proof of payment may be provided by the owner's property tax receipt on the vessel issued by the county treasurer on the vessel for the last completed tax year or a statement from the county treasurer of the county in which the owner resides certifying that personal property taxes due and payable on the boat and motor have been paid for all tax years completed since the later of:

(a) the last year in which the motorboat's number certificate was issued or renewed; or

(b) the year in which the current owner acquired ownership of the motorboat.

(B) County treasurers shall provide the statement on a form devised by the Department of Revenue and Taxation in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources. No fee may be charged for furnishing the statement.

(C) This section applies to all watercraft subject to the numbering provisions of this article except those watercraft which are exempt from personal property taxes."

SECTION 2. Article 3, Chapter 21, Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-21-430. A person who violates the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days for each violation. If the violation consists of operating a vessel without a valid number for a period of more than twelve months duration after the violator acquired ownership, the applicable maximum fine is five hundred dollars. This offense is triable in magistrate's court.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 1994.