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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.3670 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19990304 Primary Sponsor:Fleming All Sponsors:Fleming, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Hayes, McCraw, Phillips, Trotter, Rutherford Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\ggs\22201cm99.doc Residing Body:House Current Committee:Judiciary Committee 25 HJ Subject:Motor vehicle traffic violations, points assigned against driver license, fine in lieu of certain points; Transportation History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19990310 Co-Sponsor added (Rule 5.2) by Rep. Rutherford House 19990304 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to Committee Versions of This Bill
TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-720, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO GRADUATED SCALE OF POINTS ASSIGNED TO THE VARIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE VIOLATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO IS CHARGED WITH CERTAIN VIOLATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS PROVISION MAY PAY A FINE IN LIEU OF HAVING THE POINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIOLATION ASSESSED AGAINST HIS DRIVING RECORD.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-1-720 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-1-720. (A) There is established a point system for the evaluation of the operating record of persons to whom a license to operate motor vehicles has been granted and for the determination of the continuing qualifications of these persons for the privileges granted by the license to operate motor vehicles. The system shall have as its basic element a graduated scale of points assigning relative values to the various violations in accordance with the following schedule:
VIOLATION POINTS
Reckless driving 6
Passing stopped school bus 6
Hit-and-run, property damages only 6
Driving too fast for conditions, or speeding:
(1) No more than 10 m.p.h. above the posted limits 2
(2) More than 10 m.p.h. but less than 25m.p.h.
above the posted limits 4
(3) 25 m.p.h. or above the posted limits 6
Disobedience of any official traffic control device 4
Disobedience to officer directing traffic 4
Failing to yield right of way 4
Driving on wrong side of road 4
Passing unlawfully 4
Turning unlawfully 4
Driving through or within safety zone 4
Failing to give signal or giving improper signal for
stopping, turning, or suddenly decreased speed 4
Shifting lanes without safety precaution 2
Improper dangerous parking 2
Following too closely 4
Failing to dim lights 2
Operating with improper lights 2
Operating with improper brakes 4
Operating a vehicle in unsafe condition 2
Driving in improper lane 2
Improper backing 2
(B) Notwithstanding another provision of law, a person who is charged with a violation contained in subsection (A) may pay the following fines in lieu of having the points associated with the violation assessed against his driving record:
VIOLATION FINE
Driving too fast for conditions, or speeding:
(1) No more than 10 m.p.h. above the posted limits $200
(2) More than 10 m.p.h. but less than 25
m.p.h. above the posted limits $400
(3) 25 m.p.h. or above the posted limits $600
Disobedience of any official traffic control device $400
Disobedience to officer directing traffic $400
Failing to yield right of way $400
Driving on wrong side of road $400
Passing unlawfully $400
Turning unlawfully $400
Driving through or within safety zone $400
Failing to give signal or giving improper signal for
stopping, turning, or suddenly decreased speed $200
Shifting lanes without safety precaution $200
Improper dangerous parking $200
Following too closely $400
Failing to dim lights $200
Operating with improper lights $200
Operating with improper brakes $400
Operating a vehicle in unsafe condition $200
Driving in improper lane $200
Improper backing $200
A person may exercise the option contained in this subsection once during a one-year period for each offense."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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