H 3289 General Bill, By Crosby
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 56-5-3815 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WHILE
 DISTRACTED, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY, AND TO ALLOW A WARNING TICKET TO BE ISSUED
 TO A DRIVER WHOSE ACTIONS COULD RESULT IN A DISTRACTED DRIVING VIOLATION.

   01/13/15  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 178)
   01/13/15  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 178)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3815 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WHILE DISTRACTED, TO PROVIDE A PENALTY, AND TO ALLOW A WARNING TICKET TO BE ISSUED TO A DRIVER WHOSE ACTIONS COULD RESULT IN A DISTRACTED DRIVING VIOLATION.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 31, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-5-3815.    (A)    It is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle while engaged in any activity that materially and appreciably impairs a driver's faculties to drive a motor vehicle. A person who violates this provision is guilty of driving while distracted and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars.

(B)    A law enforcement officer may not charge a driver with a violation of this section unless the driver is observed violating another motor vehicle offense due to his being distracted by activities performed in the motor vehicle.

(C)    A law enforcement officer may issue a warning ticket to a driver whose actions could result in a distracted driving violation."

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