H 4317 General Bill, By Kirsh, B.D. Cain, Inabinett, W.D. Keyserling, Meacham, 
Simrill and Vaughn

Similar(S 246, H 3306, H 3500)
 A Bill to amend Section 56-5-6240, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to the forfeiture, confiscation, and disposition of vehicles
 seized from persons convicted of driving with a suspended driver's license or
 driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, so as to require
 the forfeiture hearing to be completed within three months from the date the
 forfeiture action is commenced.

   12/06/95  House  Prefiled
   12/06/95  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/09/96  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-54
   01/09/96  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-54

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-6240, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE FORFEITURE, CONFISCATION, AND DISPOSITION OF VEHICLES SEIZED FROM PERSONS CONVICTED OF DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED DRIVER'S LICENSE OR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR DRUGS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE FORFEITURE HEARING TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM THE DATE THE FORFEITURE ACTION IS COMMENCED.

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

SECTION 1. Section 56-5-6240(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 465 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"(B) Upon the conviction of the person driving the vehicle, or upon his plea of guilty or nolo contendere to these offenses, the sheriff or chief of police shall initiate an action in the circuit court of the county in which the vehicle was seized to accomplish forfeiture by giving notice to owners of record, lienholders of record, and other persons claiming an interest in the vehicle subject to forfeiture and by giving these persons an opportunity to appear and show why the vehicle should not be forfeited and disposed of as provided for by this section. Failure of a person claiming an interest in the vehicle to appear at the above proceeding after having been given notice constitutes a waiver of the claim; however, the failure to appear does not in any way alter or affect the claim of a lienholder of record. The court, after hearing, shall order that the vehicle be forfeited to the sheriff or chief of police and sold in the manner provided in this section, or returned to the owner of record. This hearing must be completed and the order must be issued within three months from the date the action is commenced. The court shall order a vehicle returned to the owner of record if it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) the use of the vehicle on the occasion of arrest was not either expressly or impliedly authorized, or (2) the owner of record did not know that the driver had no valid driver's license. Otherwise, the court shall order the vehicle forfeited. Forfeiture of a vehicle is subordinate in priority to all valid liens and encumbrances."

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