Current Status Bill Number:4762 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19960319 Primary Sponsor:Williams All Sponsors:Williams Drafted Document Number:jic\5707htc.96 Companion Bill Number:1247 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:Highway Patrol, State Police; cars to have blue lights atop
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19960319 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTIONS 23-6-100 AND 23-6-110, BOTH AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR DISTINCTIVE UNIFORMS AND VEHICLES FOR THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND THE STATE POLICE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ALL MOTOR VEHICLES OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL USED FOR THE PATROL OF THE HIGHWAYS OF THE STATE AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE RELATIVE TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND MOTOR VEHICLES, AND ALL MOTOR VEHICLES OF THE STATE POLICE USED FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL MOTOR CARRIERS RELATING TO SIZE, WEIGHT, PERMITS, LICENSING, AND INSPECTIONS FOR SIZE AND WEIGHT TOLERANCE AND SAFETY, MUST BE CONSPICUOUSLY MARKED AS VEHICLES OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL OR THE STATE POLICE BY THE PLACEMENT OF BLUE OR OTHER APPROPRIATELY COLORED LIGHTS ATOP THE VEHICLE AND CONTAIN OTHER MARKINGS TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE AS A VEHICLE OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL OR THE STATE POLICE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 23-6-100(C) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"(C) The commanding officers of the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the South Carolina State Police respectively, with the approval of the director of the department, shall prescribe a unique and distinctive official uniform, with appropriate insignia to be worn by all officers when on duty and at such other times as the director shall order, and a distinctive color or colors and appropriate emblems for all motor vehicles used by the Highway Patrol and the State Police except those designated by the director. However, all motor vehicles used for the purposes provided in Section 23-6-140 must be conspicuously marked as vehicles of the Highway Patrol or the State Police by the placement of blue or other appropriately colored lights atop the vehicle and other markings approved by the director to clearly identify the vehicle as a Highway Patrol or State Police vehicle. No other law enforcement agency, private security agency, or any person shall wear a similar uniform and insignia which may be confused with the uniform and insignia of the Highway Patrol or State Police. An emblem must not be used on a nondepartment motor vehicle, nor may such a vehicle be painted in a color or in any a manner which would cause the vehicle to be similar to a Highway Patrol or State Police vehicle or readily confused with it."
SECTION 2. Section 23-6-110 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 23-6-110. In order to carry out the provisions of Section 23-6-100 in an orderly and economical manner, it is intended that all serviceable uniforms must be continued in use until such time as the director considers it necessary for them to be replaced. These provisions shall also shall apply to the emblems for motor vehicles. However, all vehicles used for the purposes provided in Section 23-6-140 must be conspicuously marked as South Carolina Highway Patrol or State Police vehicles by the placement of blue or other appropriately colored lights atop the vehicle and other markings approved by the director to clearly identify the vehicle as a Highway Patrol or State Police vehicle. A vehicle that does not conform with this section or with Section 23-6-100 must be assigned in a manner approved by the director, but must not be used as provided in Section 23-6-140. This section does not prohibit a nonconforming vehicle from being used for purposes other than those provided in Section 23-6-140 and in instances where the use of the vehicle is necessary to protect the public."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.