S 0143 General Bill, By Knotts

Similar(H 3329, H 3450)
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-515, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL ALTERATION, SALE, ISSUANCE, AND USE OF A DRIVER'S
 LICENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON OPERATING A MOTOR
 VEHICLE TO KNOWINGLY AND WILFULLY GIVE FALSE INFORMATION TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT
 OFFICER REGARDING HIS IDENTITY.

   01/08/03  Senate Prefiled
   01/08/03  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/14/03  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-82
   01/14/03  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-82
   02/26/03  Senate Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Judiciary SJ-22
   02/27/03  Senate Amended SJ-16
   02/27/03  Senate Read second time SJ-16
   02/28/03         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/04/03  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-19
   03/05/03  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-11
   03/05/03  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-12

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ADOPTED AND AMENDED

February 27, 2003

S. 143

S. Printed 2/27/03--S.    [SEC 2/28/03 2:42 PM]

Read the first time January 14, 2003.

TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-515, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL ALTERATION, SALE, ISSUANCE, AND USE OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE TO KNOWINGLY AND WILFULLY GIVE FALSE INFORMATION TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REGARDING HIS IDENTITY.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-1-515 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-1-515.    (1)(A)    It is unlawful for any a person to alter a motor vehicle driver's license so as to provide false information on the license or to sell or issue a fictitious driver's license.

(2)(B)    It is unlawful for any a person to use a motor vehicle driver's license not issued to the person, an altered motor vehicle driver's license, an identification card containing false information, or an identification card not issued to the person to defraud another or violate the law.

(C)    It is unlawful for a person operating a motor vehicle to knowingly and wilfully give false information to a law enforcement officer regarding the person's identity.

(3)(D)    Any A person violating the provisions of subsection (1)(A) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months thirty days, or both.

(4)(E)    Any A person violating the provisions of subsection (2)(B) or (C) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-10-225 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 324 of 2002, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-10-225.    (A)    A person whose application for registration and licensing of a motor vehicle has been approved by the department must maintain in the motor vehicle at all times proof that the motor vehicle is an insured vehicle in conformity with the laws of this State and Section 56-10-510.

(B)    The owner of a motor vehicle must maintain proof of financial responsibility in the motor vehicle at all times, and it must be displayed upon demand of a police officer or any other person duly authorized by law.

(C)    It is unlawful for any person to knowingly and wilfully alter or provide false information on a proof of financial responsibility document or to sell or issue a fictitious proof of financial responsibility document.

(D)    It is unlawful for any person to use an altered proof of financial responsibility document or one which contains false information for the purpose of defrauding another.

(E)    It is unlawful for a person to knowingly and wilfully give false information to a law enforcement officer regarding proof of financial responsibility.

(F)    A person who fails to maintain the proof of insurance in his motor vehicle as required by subsection (A) violates subsection (A) or (B) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, is subject to the same punishment as provided by law for failure of the person driving or in control of a motor vehicle to carry the vehicle registration card and to display the registration card upon demand. However, a charge of failing to maintain proof that a motor vehicle is insured must be dismissed if the person provides proof to the court that the motor vehicle was insured on the date of the violation.

(G)    A person who violates subsection (C), (D), or (E) is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

(H)    Upon notice of conviction of a provision in this section, the department shall must suspend the owner's driver's license until satisfactory proof of insurance is provided. If at any time the department determines that the vehicle was without insurance coverage, the owner's registration and driving privileges will be suspended pursuant to Section 56-10-520."

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