S 380 Session 111 (1995-1996)
S 0380 General Bill, By Thomas
Similar(S 964, H 3328, H 4061)
A Bill to amend Sections 56-1-40 and 56-1-50, both as amended, Code of Laws of
South Carolina, 1976, relating to the issuance of drivers' licenses and
beginners' permits, so as to increase the age from fifteen to sixteen when a
person may obtain a license or permit; and to repeal Section 56-1-180 relating
to special restricted drivers' licenses for certain minors.
01/17/95 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-15
01/17/95 Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-15
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTIONS 56-1-40 AND 56-1-50, BOTH AS
AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF DRIVERS' LICENSES
AND BEGINNERS' PERMITS, SO AS TO INCREASE THE AGE
FROM FIFTEEN TO SIXTEEN WHEN A PERSON MAY
OBTAIN A LICENSE OR PERMIT; AND TO REPEAL SECTION
56-1-180 RELATING TO SPECIAL RESTRICTED DRIVERS'
LICENSES FOR CERTAIN MINORS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-1-40(1) of the 1976 Code, as last
amended by Section 121D, Part II, Act 497 of 1994, is further
amended to read:
"(1) who is under sixteen years of age. However, the
department may issue a beginner's or instruction permit as provided
in Sections 56-1-50 and 56-1-60 to a person who is at least fifteen
years of age, and the department may issue a special restricted
driver's license to a person who is at least fifteen years of age and
less than sixteen years of age as provided in Section 56-1-180;"
SECTION 2. The first paragraph of Section 56-1-50 of the
1976, as last amended by Section 121E, Part II, Act 497 of 1994, is
further amended to read:
"Section 56-1-50. A person who is at least fifteen
sixteen years of age may apply to the department for a
beginner's permit. After the applicant has passed successfully all
parts of the examination other than the driving test, the department
may issue to the applicant a beginner's permit which entitles the
applicant having the permit in his immediate possession to drive a
motor vehicle on the public highways for not more than twelve
months. While driving, the permittee must be accompanied
by a licensed driver eighteen years of age or older who has had at
least one year of driving experience, and who is occupying a seat
beside the driver, except when the permittee is operating a
motorcycle. A three-wheel vehicle requires the accompanying
driver to be directly behind the driver on a saddle-type seat or
beside the driver on a bench-type seat. A beginner's permit may be
renewed or a new permit issued for additional periods of twelve
months, but the department may refuse to renew or issue a new
permit where the examining officer has reason to believe the
applicant has not made a bona fide effort to pass the required
driver's road test or does not appear to the examining officer to
have the aptitude to pass the road test. The fee for every
a beginner's or renewal permit is two dollars and fifty
cents, and the permit must bear the full name, date of birth, and
residence address and a brief description and color photograph of
the permittee and a facsimile of the signature of the permittee or a
space upon which the permittee shall write his usual signature with
pen and ink immediately upon receipt of the permit. No permit is
valid until it has been so signed by the permittee."
SECTION 3. Section 56-1-180 of the 1976 Code is repealed.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the
Governor.
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