Bill 198

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       198
Type of Legislation:               General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                  Senate
Introduced Date:                   19970116
Primary Sponsor:                   Cork
All Sponsors:                      Cork, Giese and Rose 
Drafted Document Number:           s-res\cork\res1215.hac
Residing Body:                     House
Current Committee:                 Education and Public Works
                                   Committee 21 HEPW
Date of Last Amendment:            19980212
Subject:                           Handicapped parking signs
                                   erected after June 30, 1997,
                                   penalties; motor vehicles

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19980217  Introduced, read first time,             21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee
Senate  19980212  Amended, read third time,
                  sent to House
Senate  19970515  Read second time
Senate  19970514  Recalled from Committee,                 15 ST
                  placed on the Calendar
Senate  19970116  Introduced, read first time,             15 ST
                  referred to Committee

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

February 12, 1998

S. 198

S. Printed 2/12/98--S.

Read the first time January 16, 1997.

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-3-1975, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION OF HANDICAPPED PARKING PLACES, SO AS TO REQUIRE HANDICAPPED PARKING SIGNS ERECTED AFTER JUNE 30, 1997, TO INCLUDE THE PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL USE.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION 1. Section 56-3-1975 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-3-1975. (A) Each handicapped parking place must be clearly identified as a handicapped parking place. If the handicapped parking place is on public property, the marker must be maintained by the political subdivision having jurisdiction over the public property or the street or highway where the handicapped parking place is located. If the handicapped parking place is on private property, the marker must be maintained by the owner of the property.

(B) A post or wall-mounted sign erected after June 30, 1998, must include the fine for unlawful use of a handicapped parking place. The sign must read 'Reserved Parking', must display the handicapped symbol, and must state that the penalty for violation is a two hundred dollar-fine. If a local government's fine exceeds two hundred dollars, then that amount must be placed on the identification sign. Omission of the fine on an identifying sign is not a defense to a prosecution for unlawful use of a handicapped parking place.

(C) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (B), political subdivisions or private property owners who have existing stock of post or wall-mounted signs that do not include the fine for unlawful use of a handicapped parking place may exhaust their existing stock before compliance with the provisions of subsection (B)."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect June 30, 1998.