Current Status Bill Number:4703 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19980225 Primary Sponsor:Hawkins All Sponsors:Hawkins, Stoddard, Lanford, Felder, J. Hines, McCraw, Whatley, Littlejohn, Loftis, Phillips and Rhoad Drafted Document Number:dka\4823cm.98 Residing Body:House Current Committee:Education and Public Works Committee 21 HEPW Subject:Drivers licenses, eye examination for renewal of; minimum vision standards; Motor Vehicles
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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House 19980225 Introduced, read first time, 21 HEPW
referred to Committee
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TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-220, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EYE EXAMINATION REQUIRED FOR RENEWAL OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, THE CERTIFICATION OF MINIMUM VISION STANDARDS, AND THE PENALTIES FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN A PERSON'S VISION IS DEFECTIVE, SO AS TO PERMIT A PERSON WHOSE DEGREE OF VISION IS LESS THAN 20/40 BUT BETTER THAN 20/200 TO OBTAIN A DRIVER'S LICENSE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-1-220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 56-1-220. (a)(A) Eye examinations shall be are required for all persons prior to before having their licenses renewed by the department. Such The examinations may be made by any a person authorized by law in this State to examine eyes or by designated personnel of the department.
(b)(B) The renewal license forms distributed by the department shall must be designed so as to contain a certification that the vision of the person examined meets the minimum standards required by the department or have been corrected to meet such these requirements. Such The certification shall must be executed by the person conducting the examination. Provided, that The minimum standards of the department shall not require a greater degree of vision than 20/40 corrected in one eye. However, a person whose degree of vision is less than 20/40, but better than 20/200 using spectacles, contact lenses, or the carrier portion of bioptic spectacles is eligible for a driver's license if the:
(1) person can attain a degree of vision of at least 20/40 through utilizing bioptic telescopes;
(2) bioptic telescopes are prescribed by a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist;
(3) person presents documentation to the department of having satisfactorily completed training in the use of the bioptic telescopes certified by the prescribing doctor;
(4) person presents documentation to the department showing he has satisfactorily completed training in driving while using bioptic telescopes; and
(5) person passes a driver's test administered by the department.
(c)(C) Any A person whose vision is corrected to meet such the minimum standards shall have such the correction noted on his driver's license by the department.
(d)(D) It shall be is unlawful for any a person whose vision requires correction in order to meet the minimum standards of the department to drive a motor vehicle in this State without the use of such the correction.
(e)(E) Any A person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall must be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.