South Carolina General Assembly
112th Session, 1997-1998

Bill 594


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    594
Ratification Number:            136
Act Number:                     56
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               Senate
Introduced Date:                19970401
Primary Sponsor:                Ryberg 
All Sponsors:                   Ryberg 
Drafted Document Number:        res1312.wgr
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19970529
Date of Last Amendment:         19970422
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19970605
Subject:                        Bicycles, police patrol bicycle
                                same as emergency vehicle, siren and
                                whistle; Law Enforcement

History


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

------  19970619  Act No. A56
------  19970605  Signed by Governor
------  19970604  Ratified R136
House   19970529  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
House   19970528  Read second time
House   19970515  Request for debate by Representative             Moody-
                                                                   Lawrence
House   19970515  Request for debate withdrawn
                  by Representative                                Haskins
                                                                   Robinson
                                                                   Seithel
                                                                   Simrill
                                                                   Limehouse
House   19970514  Request for debate by Representative             Knotts
                                                                   Limehouse
                                                                   Whatley
                                                                   Seithel
                                                                   Felder
                                                                   Haskins
                                                                   Simrill
                                                                   Robinson
                                                                   Riser
House   19970508  Committee report: Favorable              21 HEPW
House   19970424  Introduced, read first time,             21 HEPW
                  referred to Committee
Senate  19970423  Read third time, sent to House
Senate  19970422  Amended, read second time,
                  unanimous consent for third reading
                  on Wednesday, 19970423
Senate  19970417  Recalled from Committee,                 15 ST
                  placed on the Calendar
Senate  19970401  Introduced, read first time,             15 ST
                  referred to Committee


View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A56, R136, S594)

AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 27, CHAPTER 5, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO BICYCLISTS, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-3515, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN AUTHORIZED POLICE PATROL BICYCLE USED AS A PART OF A POLICE BICYCLE PATROL TO EXERCISE THE PRIVILEGES OF AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, TO AUTHORIZE THE BICYCLE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH A SIREN OR THE OFFICER TO USE A WHISTLE, OR BOTH, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE BICYCLE TO ACT AS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE IF IT MAKES USE OF AN AUTHORIZED AUDIBLE SIGNAL OR AUTHORIZED VISUAL SIGNALS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3480, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF SIRENS AND WHISTLES ON BICYCLES, SO AS TO EXEMPT AUTHORIZED POLICE PATROL BICYCLES FROM THIS PROHIBITION.

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

Police patrol bicycle

SECTION 1. Article 27, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-5-3515. (A) An authorized police patrol bicycle used as a part of a police bicycle patrol may exercise the privileges of an emergency vehicle provided in Section 56-5-760.

(B) An authorized police patrol bicycle may be equipped with a siren or the officer may utilize a whistle in the performance of his duties, or both.

(C) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 56-5-760(C), an authorized police patrol bicycle acting as an emergency vehicle is entitled to the exemptions of an authorized emergency vehicle if it makes use of an audible signal meeting the requirements of Section 56-5-4970 or visual signals meeting the requirements of Section 56-5-4700."

Bicycle warning device

SECTION 2. Section 56-5-3480 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 181 of 1993, is amended to read:

"Section 56-5-3480. No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle, except as provided in Section 56-5-3515."

Time effective

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

Approved the 5th day of June, 1997.