H 4612 General Bill, By Lourie, J. Smith and Gamble
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC, BY ADDING ARTICLE 24 SO
 AS TO PROVIDE THAT AGGRESSIVE DRIVING IS A MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC OFFENSE, AND
 TO PROVIDE THAT THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THIS OFFENSE IS A ONE THOUSAND
 DOLLAR FINE OR THIRTY DAYS IMPRISONMENT AND EIGHT POINTS ASSESSED AGAINST THE
 OFFENDER'S DRIVING RECORD; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO THE
 POINT SYSTEM FOR VIOLATIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC LAWS, BY ADDING
 AGGRESSIVE DRIVING TO THE OFFENSE FOR WHICH POINTS ARE ASSESSED.

   02/15/00  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-23
   02/15/00  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-23

TO AMEND CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC, BY ADDING ARTICLE 24 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT AGGRESSIVE DRIVING IS A MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC OFFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE PENALTY FOR VIOLATING THIS OFFENSE IS A ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE OR THIRTY DAYS IMPRISONMENT AND EIGHT POINTS ASSESSED AGAINST THE OFFENDER'S DRIVING RECORD; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, RELATING TO THE POINT SYSTEM FOR VIOLATIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC LAWS, BY ADDING AGGRESSIVE DRIVING TO THE OFFENSE FOR WHICH POINTS ARE ASSESSED.

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

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

Section 56-5-3050. (A) A person is guilty of aggressive driving when he commits any three of the following motor vehicle offenses:

(1) operates his motor vehicle in excess of ten miles an hour above the posted speed limit;

(2) runs a red light;

(3) makes an improper lane change; or

(4) follows another vehicle too closely.

(B) A person convicted of aggressive driving must be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than thirty days."

SECTION 2. Section 56-1-720 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-1-720. 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

Aggressive Driving 8

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 25

m.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"

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.