S 1238 General Bill, By J.V. Smith

Similar(S 1173)
 A Bill to amend Section 56-3-1240, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to the display of license plates, so as to provide that certain
 license plates from this State or another state must not be attached to the
 outside front of a vehicle, and to provide penalties.

   03/07/96  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-5
   03/07/96  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-5

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1240, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DISPLAY OF LICENSE PLATES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT CERTAIN LICENSE PLATES FROM THIS STATE OR ANOTHER STATE MUST NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE FRONT OF A VEHICLE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 56-3-1240 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 46 of 1991, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-3-1240. (A) License plates issued for motor vehicles must be attached to the outside rear of the vehicle, open to view., except that However, on truck tractors and road tractors, the plates must be attached to the outside front of the vehicle. Every A license plate, at all times, must be fastened securely in a horizontal and upright position to the vehicle for which it was issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging. The bottom of the plate must be at a height of not less than twelve inches from the ground in a place and position clearly visible as provided in Section 56-5-4530, and it must be maintained free from foreign materials and in a clearly legible condition. No other license plate, lighting equipment, except as permitted in Section 56-5-4530, tag, sign, monogram, tinted cover, or inscription of metal or other material may be displayed above, around, or upon the plate other than that which is authorized and issued by the department for the purpose of validating the plate. It is not unlawful to place a decal on the license plate if it does not obscure any letters or numbers. A motor vehicle owner may attach a trailer hitch to a motor vehicle provided the hitch does not obscure more than two inches of the license plate issued to the motor vehicle. It is unlawful to operate or drive a motor vehicle with the license plate missing and a person who is convicted for violating this section must be punished as provided by Section 56-3-2520.

(B) It is unlawful for a vehicle with a current South Carolina license plate to have attached to the outside front of the vehicle:

(1) a license plate, whether current or noncurrent, from another state; or

(2) a South Carolina license plate, whether current or noncurrent, when the license tag number differs from the license attached to the outside rear of the vehicle in accordance with this section.

(C) When a vehicle of a nonresident is registered and licensed pursuant to this chapter, the out-of-state license plate or plates must be removed from the vehicle at the time the South Carolina license plate is attached.

(D) A person who violates a provision of this section, upon conviction, must be punished pursuant to Section 56-3-2520."

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