S 736 Session 123 (2019-2020) S 0736 General Bill, By McElveen, Shealy, McLeod, Jackson, Sheheen, Sabb, Hutto, Hembree, M.B.Matthews and Senn A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-470 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO EAVESDROPPING, PEEPING, AND VOYEURISM, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION WHEN THE VICTIM IS A MINOR IS GUILTY OF A FELONY, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS.
TO AMEND SECTION 16-17-470 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO EAVESDROPPING, PEEPING, AND VOYEURISM, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION WHEN THE VICTIM IS A MINOR IS GUILTY OF A FELONY, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES, AND TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: SECTION 1. Section 16-17-470 of the 1976 Code is amended to read: "Section 16-17-470. (A) As used in this section: (1) 'Intimate parts' include the primary genital area, anus, groin, inner thighs, or buttocks of a male or female human being and the breasts of a female human being, including any portion of a victim's body or undergarments that are covered or partially covered by clothing and not normally visible by the public. (2) 'Peeping tom' means a person who peeps through windows, doors, or other like places, on or about the premises of another, in person or with the use of audio, video, or other equipment, for the purpose of spying upon or invading the privacy of the persons spied upon and any other conduct of a similar nature that tends to invade the privacy of others. (3) 'Surveillance' means secret observation of the activities of another person for the purpose of spying upon and invading the privacy of the person. (4) 'View' means the intentional looking upon of another person for more than a brief period of time, in other than a casual or cursory manner, with the unaided eye or with a device designed or intended to improve visual acuity. (5) 'Voyeurism' means knowingly viewing, photographing, audio recording, video recording, producing or creating a digital electronic file, or filming another person without that person's knowledge and consent for the purposes of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person or for the purpose of economic gain under circumstances in which the person would not expect to have his privacy violated. This includes, but is not limited to, viewing or recording a person's intimate parts that the person does not intend to be visible by normal public observation.
(B) It is unlawful for a person to be an eavesdropper or a peeping tom on or about the premises of another or to go upon the premises of another for the purpose of becoming an eavesdropper or a peeping tom.
(1) for a first offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; or (2) for a second or subsequent offense, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(E) The provisions of subsection (1) viewing, photographing, videotaping, or filming by personnel of the Department of Corrections or of a county, municipal, or local jail or detention center or correctional facility for security purposes or during investigation of alleged misconduct by a person in the custody of the Department of Corrections or a county, municipal, or local jail or detention center or correctional facility; (2) security surveillance for the purposes of decreasing or prosecuting theft, shoplifting, or other security surveillance measures in bona fide business establishments; (3) any official law enforcement activities conducted pursuant to Section 16-17-480; (4) private detectives and investigators conducting surveillance in the ordinary course of business; or (5) any bona fide news gathering activities. (F) In addition to any other punishment prescribed by this section or other provision of law, a person procuring photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, digital electronic files, or films in violation of this section shall immediately forfeit all items. These items must be destroyed when no longer required for evidentiary purposes. (G) A person who violates the provisions of this section when the victim is a minor is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than five years, fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or both." SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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