H 3328 General Bill, By Richardson, Breeland, J. Brown, A.W. Byrd, Cato, 
R.C. Fulmer, Harvin, Haskins, R.J. Herdklotz, J. Hines, Inabinett, 
M.F. Jaskwhich, Kelley, W.D. Keyserling, Koon, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Robinson and 
Tripp

Similar(S 380)
 A Bill to amend Section 56-1-50, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina,
 1976, relating to the application, issuance, renewal, and fee for a beginner's
 driving permit, so as to revise the age to obtain a permit and revise the age
 of the licensed driver who accompanies a person holding a permit.

   01/19/95  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-7
   01/19/95  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-7

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-50, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE APPLICATION, ISSUANCE, RENEWAL, AND FEE FOR A BEGINNER'S DRIVING PERMIT, SO AS TO REVISE THE AGE TO OBTAIN A PERMIT AND TO REVISE THE AGE OF THE LICENSED DRIVER WHO ACCOMPANIES A PERSON HOLDING A PERMIT.

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

SECTION 1. Section 56-1-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Section 121, Act 497 of 1994, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-1-50. A person who is at least fifteen years and six months 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, a permittee under sixteen years of age must be accompanied by a licensed driver twenty-one years of age or older who has had at least five years of driving experience, and who is occupying a seat beside the driver, except when the permittee is operating a motorcycle. While driving, the a permittee over sixteen years of age 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.

A student regularly enrolled in a high school of this State which conducts a driver training course is not required to obtain a beginner's permit to operate a motor vehicle while the student is participating in the driver training course and when accompanied by a qualified instructor of the driver training course.

Also exempted from the requirement of the beginner's permit are persons enrolled in driver training courses conducted by driver training schools licensed under Chapter 23 of this title. However, these persons at all times must be accompanied by an instructor of the school and may drive only an automobile owned or leased by the school which is covered by liability insurance in an amount not less than the minimum required by law."

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