H*4505(Rat #0457, Act #0333 of 1998)  General Bill, By Gamble, Boan, Haskins, 
Klauber, Knotts, Koon, Riser and Stuart
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-2030, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF
 "GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING"; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-115, AS AMENDED, RELATING
 TO THE PERMITTED USE OF GOLF CARTS ON SECONDARY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, SO AS TO
 FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SUCH GOLF CARTS MAY BE USED; TO
 AMEND SECTION 56-5-4070, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LENGTH OF VEHICLES AND
 LIMITATIONS ON VEHICLE COMBINATIONS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR AUTHORIZED
 LENGTHS OF CERTAIN VEHICLES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-4090, AS AMENDED RELATING
 TO THE LIMITATIONS ON LENGTHS AND LOADS OF CERTAIN POLE TRAILERS, LONGWOOD
 TRAILERS, AND SELF-PROPELLED POLE CARRIERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE
 LIMITATIONS REGARDING LENGTH OF LOADS DO NOT APPLY TO LOADS OF IRON, STEEL,
 AND CONCRETE ARTICLES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL
 CORRECTION.-AMENDED TITLE

   01/27/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-342
   01/27/98  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-342
   03/12/98  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Education and Public Works
   03/18/98  House  Amended HJ-33
   03/18/98  House  Read second time HJ-34
   03/19/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-8
   03/24/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   03/24/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-9
   04/02/98  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Transportation SJ-22
   05/14/98  Senate Read second time SJ-29
   05/14/98  Senate Ordered to third reading with notice of
                     amendments SJ-29
   05/19/98  Senate Amended SJ-37
   05/19/98  Senate Read third time and returned to House with
                     amendments SJ-37
   05/27/98  House  Concurred in Senate amendment and enrolled HJ-50
   06/04/98         Ratified R 457
   06/08/98         Signed By Governor
   06/19/98         Effective date 06/08/98
   06/19/98         Copies available
   06/17/98         Act No. 333

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-2030, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING; TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-115, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PERMITTED USE OF GOLF CARTS ON SECONDARY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH SUCH GOLF CARTS MAY BE USED; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-4070, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LENGTH OF VEHICLES AND LIMITATIONS ON VEHICLE COMBINATIONS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR AUTHORIZED LENGTHS OF CERTAIN VEHICLES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-4090, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LIMITATIONS ON LENGTHS AND LOADS OF CERTAIN POLE TRAILERS, LONGWOOD TRAILERS, AND SELF-PROPELLED POLE CARRIERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE LIMITATIONS REGARDING LENGTH OF LOADS DO NOT APPLY TO LOADS OF IRON, STEEL, AND CONCRETE ARTICLES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL CORRECTION.

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

Definition revised

SECTION 1. Section 56-1-2030(18) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(18) 'Gross vehicle weight rating' means the weight or the value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single or a combination vehicle. The gross vehicle weight rating of a combination vehicle (commonly referred to as the 'gross combination weight rating') is the gross vehicle weight rating of the power unit plus the gross vehicle weight rating of a towed unit."

Further conditions of use

SECTION 2. Section 56-3-115 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-3-115. The owner of a vehicle commonly known as a golf cart, if he has a valid driver's license, may obtain a permit from the department upon the payment of a fee of five dollars and proof of financial responsibility which permits him to:

(1) operate the golf cart on a secondary highway or street within two miles of his residence during daylight hours only; and

(2) cross a primary highway or street while traveling along a secondary highway or street within two miles of his residence during daylight hours only."

Authorized lengths of certain vehicles

SECTION 3. Section 56-5-4070(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"(B) No motor vehicle, exclusive of truck tractors being used in two or three unit combinations on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, on those qualifying federal-aid highways so designated by the United States Secretary of Transportation, and on other highways as designated by the Department of Transportation in accordance with Section 56-5-4075, may exceed a length of forty feet extreme overall dimension, inclusive of front and rear bumpers and load carried on it, except buses and motor homes as approved by the department."

Length of iron, steel, and concrete loads

SECTION 4. Section 56-5-4090 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 425 of 1996, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-5-4090. (A) The limitations regarding length of vehicles and loads stated in Sections 56-5-4070 and 56-5-4080 do not apply to a load upon a pole trailer, longwood trailer, or self-propelled pole carrier when transporting poles or logs.

(B) During daylight hours only, the limitations regarding length of vehicles and loads stated in Sections 56-5-4070 and 56-5-4080 do not apply to a load upon a pole trailer, longwood trailer, or self-propelled pole carrier when transporting pipes or structural material which cannot be dismembered.

(C) Between 2:00 a.m. and thirty minutes past sunset, the limitations regarding length of loads stated in Section 56-5-4080 do not apply to loads of iron, steel, and concrete articles up to sixty feet in length carried on a fifty-three foot long flat-bed trailer so long as:

(1) the vehicle is traveling upon or within five miles of the South Carolina Truck Network as defined by regulation of the department;

(2) the load does not extend more than three feet six inches beyond the front of the bed of the trailer;

(3) the load does not extend more than four feet beyond the rear of the bed of the trailer;

(4) a flashing amber strobe light and a red flag as required by Section 56-5-4630 are attached to any overhanging rear load; and,

(5) the vehicle's headlights, taillights, and any other exterior lights are on at all times while traveling upon the highways of this State.

(D) A pole, log, pipe, or other material exceeding eighty feet in length may not be transported unless a permit has been first obtained as authorized in Section 57-3-130.

(E) The provisions of this section do not apply to a pole trailer or self-propelled pole carrier operated by a utility company when transporting a pole to replace a damaged one."

Time effective

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Approved the 8th day of June, 1998.