H 4355 Session 111 (1995-1996)
H 4355 General Bill, By Haskins, Bailey, Kirsh, Riser and Simrill
Similar(H 4323)
A Bill to amend Section 56-5-1520, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
1976, relating to to speed limits, so as to revise the maximum speed along the
State's highways; and to repeal Section 56-5-1510 relating to the State's
fifty-five mile an hour maximum speed limit and federal laws that permit the
State to set speed limits greater than fifty-five miles an hour.
12/13/95 House Prefiled
12/13/95 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works
01/09/96 House Introduced and read first time HJ-65
01/09/96 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public
Works HJ-65
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1520, AS AMENDED, CODE OF
LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SPEED
LIMITS, SO AS TO REVISE THE MAXIMUM SPEED ALONG
THE STATE'S HIGHWAYS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION
56-5-1510 RELATING TO THE STATE'S FIFTY-FIVE MILE AN
HOUR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT AND FEDERAL LAWS
THAT PERMIT THE STATE TO SET SPEED LIMITS
GREATER THAN FIFTY-FIVE MILES AN HOUR.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-5-1520 of the 1976 Code, as last
amended by Section 36R, Part II, Act 497 of 1994, is further
amended to read:
"Section 56-5-1520. (a)(A) General
rule. No A person shall not drive a
vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and
prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and
potential hazards then existing. In every event speed must be
so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding
with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance on or entering the
highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all
persons to use care.
(b)(B) Maximum speed limits. Except
when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for
compliance with paragraph (a) subsection (A) of
this section, the limits specified in this section or established as
hereinafter authorized are maximum lawful speeds, and
no a person shall not drive a vehicle on a
highway at a speed in excess of these maximum limits:
(1) thirty miles an hour in any urban district;
(2) fifty-five sixty miles an hour in other
locations or on other sections except where speeds above
fifty-five miles an hour are otherwise provided by Section
56-5-1510. on portions of the interstate highway system;
(3) sixty-five miles an hour on portions of the interstate
highway system with a posted speed limit of fifty-five miles an
hour before the enactment of the Federal National Highway System
Designation Act of 1995; and
(4) seventy-five miles an hour on portions of the interstate
highway system with a posted speed limit of sixty-five miles an
hour before the enactment of the Federal National Highway System
Designation Act of 1995.
`Urban district' means the territory contiguous to and including
any street which is built up with structures devoted to business,
industry, or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than one
hundred feet for a distance of a quarter of a mile or more.
The maximum speed limits set forth in this section may be
altered as authorized in pursuant to Sections
56-5-1530 and 56-5-1540.
(c)(C) When lower speeds required;
penalties; citation for violating speed limits. The driver of
every a vehicle shall, consistent with the
requirements of paragraph (a) subsection (A),
shall drive at an appropriate reduced speed when
approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing,
when approaching and going around a curve, approaching a
hillcrest, when traveling upon any narrow bridge, narrow or
winding roadway, and when special hazard exists with respect to
pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway
conditions.
(d)(D) Any A person violating
the speed limits established by this section is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction, for a first offense, must
be fined or imprisoned as follows:
(1) in excess of the above posted limit but not in excess of ten
miles an hour by a fine of not less than fifteen dollars nor more
than twenty-five dollars;
(2) in excess of ten miles an hour but less than fifteen miles an
hour above the posted limit by a fine of not less than twenty-five
dollars nor more than fifty dollars;
(3) in excess of fifteen miles an hour but less than twenty-five
miles an hour above the posted limit by a fine of not less than fifty
dollars nor more than seventy-five dollars; and
(4) in excess of twenty-five miles an hour above the posted
limit by a fine of not less than seventy-five dollars nor more than
two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.
(e)(E) Any A citation for
violating the speed limits issued by any an
authorized officer must note on it the rate of speed for which the
citation is issued.
(f)(F) In expending the funds credited to the state
general fund from fines generated under subsection (d)
(D), the department first shall consider the need for
additional highway patrolmen."
SECTION 2. Section 56-5-1510 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the
Governor.
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