Bill 2271

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2271
Ratification Number:       158
Act Number                 113
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Allowing a fire to spread to property of
                           another, so as to reduce the minimum first
                           offense imprisonment penalty

(A113, R158, H2271)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 16-11-180, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO ALLOWING A FIRE TO SPREAD TO PROPERTY OF ANOTHER, SO AS TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM FIRST OFFENSE IMPRISONMENT PENALTY FROM TWENTY DAYS TO FIVE DAYS AND TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM FIRST OFFENSE FINE PENALTY TO TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS, TO DELETE THE COURT'S AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE BOTH A FINE AND IMPRISONMENT FOR A FIRST OFFENSE.

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

Unlawful to allow fire to spread to another's property - penalties

SECTION 1. Section 16-11-180 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 16-11-180. Any person who carelessly or negligently sets fire to or burns any grass, brush, leaves, or other combustible matter on any lands so as to cause or allow fire to spread or to be transmitted to the lands or property of another, or to burn or injure the lands or property of another, or who causes the burning to be done or who aids or assists in the burning, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not less than five days nor more than thirty days or be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars. For a second or subsequent offense the sentence must be imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than one year, or a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or both, in the discretion of the court."

Time effective

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