S 1238 General Bill, By Kuhn
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1250, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION CARDS, SO AS TO
 PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A DRIVER WHO FAILS TO DISPLAY A REGISTRATION CARD UPON
 DEMAND OF A POLICE OFFICER OR ANOTHER PERSON AUTHORIZED TO EXAMINE
 REGISTRATION CARDS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A POLICE OFFICER OR OTHER LAW
 ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST REQUEST A DRIVER TO DISPLAY THE VEHICLE'S
 REGISTRATION CARD DURING EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE STOP; TO AMEND SECTION 56-10-225,
 AS AMENDED, RELATING TO MAINTAINING PROOF OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL
 RESPONSIBILITY IN A VEHICLE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A POLICE OFFICER OR OTHER
 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST REQUEST A DRIVER TO DISPLAY PROOF OF FINANCIAL
 RESPONSIBILITY DURING EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE STOP.

   04/18/02  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   04/18/02  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-8

TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1250, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION CARDS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR A DRIVER WHO FAILS TO DISPLAY A REGISTRATION CARD UPON DEMAND OF A POLICE OFFICER OR ANOTHER PERSON AUTHORIZED TO EXAMINE REGISTRATION CARDS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A POLICE OFFICER OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST REQUEST A DRIVER TO DISPLAY THE VEHICLE'S REGISTRATION CARD DURING EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE STOP; TO AMEND SECTION 56-10-225, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO MAINTAINING PROOF OF INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN A VEHICLE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A POLICE OFFICER OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER MUST REQUEST A DRIVER TO DISPLAY PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY DURING EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE STOP.

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

SECTION 1. Section 56-3-1250 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 278 of 1992, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-3-1250. (A) The department, upon registering and licensing a vehicle, shall issue to the owner of the vehicle a registration card containing upon the face of the card the date issued, the name and address of the owner, including the county in which the owner resides, the registration and license number assigned to the vehicle, and that other description of the vehicle as may be determined by the department. The registration card must be delivered to the owner, and the owner, upon receipt of it, shall write his signature on it with pen and ink in the space provided. Every registration card must at all times be carried by the person driving or in control of the vehicle, who shall display it upon demand of a police officer or any other another person authorized by law to examine registration cards.

(B) In addition to another penalty, a person who fails to display a registration card upon demand of a police officer or another person authorized by law to examine registration cards, upon conviction of a:

(1) first offense, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars and not more than two hundred dollars;

(2) second offense, must be fined not less than two hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars;

(3) third offense, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned not less than three days and not more than thirty days;

(4) fourth offense, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars and not more than two thousand dollars and imprisoned not less than fourteen days and not more than sixty days; and

(5) fifth or subsequent offense, must be fined not less than three thousand dollars and imprisoned not less than sixty days.

(C) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a police officer or other law enforcement officer must request a driver to display the vehicle's registration card during every motor vehicle stop.

(D) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 56-3-2520 or any other provisions another provision of law, the penalty for the failure of the owner to sign the registration card with pen and ink in the space provided is a fine of ten dollars."

SECTION 2. Section 56-10-225 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 90 of 2001, is further amended by adding at the end:

"(E) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a police officer or other law enforcement officer must request a driver to display proof of financial responsibility during every motor vehicle stop."

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