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S. 367
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senators Knotts and Kuhn
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5121cm03.doc
Introduced in the Senate on February 13, 2003
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Summary: Illegal to impersonate law enforcement officer; certain colored lights unlawful to display on personal vehicles
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2/13/2003 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4 2/13/2003 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-4
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-1-235 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO INTENTIONALLY OR GIVE THE PRESUMPTION OF IMPERSONATING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY; AND BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-4495 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR CERTAIN PERSONS TO DISPLAY CERTAIN COLORED LIGHTS ON THEIR PERSONALLY OWNED VEHICLES, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Title 23 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 23-1-235. (A) A person who is not a certified law enforcement officer or an immediate family member of an active or retired certified state law enforcement officer may not apply for, or display a decal, vehicle license plate, emblem, insignia, agency or organization name, badge, button, decoration, charm, or rosette of a law enforcement agency or organization on a personal vehicle or on his person with the intent of misleading the public, or give the presumption that the person is a certified law enforcement officer.
(B) When applying for an item contained in subsection (A), the person must present identification that verifies that he is a law enforcement officer.
(C) Notwithstanding the provisions contained in subsection (A), a person may display any item contained in that subsection purchased or given to be displayed in exchange for a donation to a certified law enforcement organization such as a booster club member, or an associate or honorary member on behalf of a fundraising activity of another law enforcement organization.
(D) A person who violates a provision contained in this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than thirty days."
SECTION 2. Article 35, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 56-5-4495. (A) It is unlawful for a person, to display on his personally owned vehicle colored lights on the hood, windshield, or roof of the vehicle. However, a person may display white, yellow, or amber lights on the front grill of the vehicle.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions contained in subsection (A), a volunteer firefighter may display red lights on his personally owned vehicle approved by his jurisdiction during an emergency situation.
(C) A person who violates a provision contained in this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than thirty days."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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