H 3670 General Bill, By Fleming, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Hayes, McCraw, Phillips, 
Trotter and Rutherford
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO GRADUATED SCALE OF POINTS ASSIGNED TO THE VARIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE
 VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS CHARGED WITH CERTAIN
 VIOLATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS PROVISION MAY PAY A FINE IN LIEU OF HAVING THE
 POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIOLATION ASSESSED AGAINST HIS DRIVING RECORD.

   03/04/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-4
   03/04/99  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-4

TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GRADUATED SCALE OF POINTS ASSIGNED TO THE VARIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS CHARGED WITH CERTAIN VIOLATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS PROVISION MAY PAY A FINE IN LIEU OF HAVING THE POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIOLATION ASSESSED AGAINST HIS DRIVING RECORD.

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

SECTION 1. Section 56-1-720 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-1-720. (A) There is established a point system for the evaluation of the operating record of persons to whom a license to operate motor vehicles has been granted and for the determination of the continuing qualifications of these persons for the privileges granted by the license to operate motor vehicles. The system shall have as its basic element a graduated scale of points assigning relative values to the various violations in accordance with the following schedule:

VIOLATION POINTS

Reckless driving 6

Passing stopped school bus 6

Hit-and-run, property damages only 6

Driving too fast for conditions, or speeding:

(1) No more than 10 m.p.h. above the posted limits 2

(2) More than 10 m.p.h. but less than 25m.p.h.

above the posted limits 4

(3) 25 m.p.h. or above the posted limits 6

Disobedience of any official traffic control device 4

Disobedience to officer directing traffic 4

Failing to yield right of way 4

Driving on wrong side of road 4

Passing unlawfully 4

Turning unlawfully 4

Driving through or within safety zone 4

Failing to give signal or giving improper signal for

stopping, turning, or suddenly decreased speed 4

Shifting lanes without safety precaution 2

Improper dangerous parking 2

Following too closely 4

Failing to dim lights 2

Operating with improper lights 2

Operating with improper brakes 4

Operating a vehicle in unsafe condition 2

Driving in improper lane 2

Improper backing 2

(B) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a person who is charged with a violation contained in subsection (A) may pay the following fines in lieu of having the points associated with the violation assessed against his driving record:

VIOLATION FINE

Driving too fast for conditions, or speeding:

(1) No more than 10 m.p.h. above the posted limits $200

(2) More than 10 m.p.h. but less than 25

m.p.h. above the posted limits $400

(3) 25 m.p.h. or above the posted limits $600

Disobedience of any official traffic control device $400

Disobedience to officer directing traffic $400

Failing to yield right of way $400

Driving on wrong side of road $400

Passing unlawfully $400

Turning unlawfully $400

Driving through or within safety zone $400

Failing to give signal or giving improper signal for

stopping, turning, or suddenly decreased speed $200

Shifting lanes without safety precaution $200

Improper dangerous parking $200

Following too closely $400

Failing to dim lights $200

Operating with improper lights $200

Operating with improper brakes $400

Operating a vehicle in unsafe condition $200

Driving in improper lane $200

Improper backing $200

A person may exercise the option contained in this subsection once during a one-year period for each offense."

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