S 1479 General Bill, By Knotts
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1535, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE AT A SPEED IN
 EXCESS OF THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT BE
 CHARGED WITH A VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION UNLESS WORKERS ARE PRESENT WITHIN
 THE WORK ZONE.

   05/26/10  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
   05/26/10  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-7

TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1535, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON MAY NOT BE CHARGED WITH A VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION UNLESS WORKERS ARE PRESENT WITHIN THE WORK ZONE.

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-5-1535 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-5-1535.    (A)    It is unlawful for a person to drive a motor vehicle in a highway work zone, when workers are present, at a speed in excess of the speed limit set and posted by signs. A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than seventy-five nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

(B)    A 'highway work zone' is the area between the first sign that informs motorists of the existence of the work zone on the highway and the last sign that informs motorists of the end of the work zone.

(C)    The penalty imposed by this section applies only:

(1)    if a sign is posted at the beginning of the active work zone that states 'WORK ZONE $200 FINE AND 30 DAYS IMPRISONMENT FOR SPEEDING';

(2)    to the area between the posted sign and the 'END CONSTRUCTION' sign. Signs may be posted at the discretion of the Department of Transportation in the highway work zones designed to comply with work zone traffic control standards contained in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices published by the Federal Highway Administration; and

(3)    when workers are present within the work zone."

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