S 0434  General Bill, By Peeler
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 56-5-1885 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT IS LAWFUL TO DRIVE A
 VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND TO PROVIDE THE
 CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A TRAFFIC TICKET MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE VIOLATION OF
 THIS PROVISION.

   01/12/21  Senate Introduced and read first time
                     (Senate Journal-page 310)
   01/12/21  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation
                     (Senate Journal-page 310)

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-1885 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT IS LAWFUL TO DRIVE A VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A TRAFFIC TICKET MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 13, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:   

    "Section 56-5-1885.    (A)    A vehicle may not be driven in the furthest left lane of an interstate highway except when overtaking and passing another vehicle.

    (B)    Subsection (A) of this section does not apply:

        (1)    when no other vehicle is directly behind the vehicle in the left lane;

        (2)    when traffic conditions and congestion make it impractical to drive in the right lane;

        (3)    when snow and other inclement weather conditions make it safer to drive in the left lane;

        (4)    when obstructions or hazards exist in the right lane;

        (5)    when because of highway design, a vehicle must be driven in the left lane when preparing to exit; or

        (6)    to law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles engaged in official duties and vehicles engaged in highway maintenance and construction operations.

    (C)    Nothing in this section shall limit the Department of Transportation's ability to establish and delineate lane restrictions for certain types of vehicles.

    (D)    For a period of ninety days after the effective date of this section, only warning tickets may be issued for a violation of the provisions of subsection (A).

    (E)    Violations of this section are subject to a twenty-five dollar penalty."

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