H 4061 Session 111 (1995-1996)
H 4061 General Bill, By Cotty
Similar(S 380, S 964)
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.
04/12/95 House Introduced and read first time HJ-36
04/12/95 House Referred to Committee on Education and Public
Works HJ-36
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:
" 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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