Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 723
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Ryberg
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5528cm03.doc
Introduced in the Senate on May 28, 2003
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Transportation
Summary: Motor vehicle accidents, provision for motorist to move out of the way of traffic after accident occurs
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/28/2003 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8 5/28/2003 Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-8
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1210, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DUTIES OF A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF A PERSON, SO AS TO DELETE THE PHRASE "IN EVERY EVENT" AS IT REFERS TO INSTANCES IN WHICH A DRIVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT SHALL REMAIN AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, TO DELETE THE PHRASE "MORE THAN IS NECESSARY" AS IT REFERS TO A DRIVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT MAKING A STOP WITHOUT OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC, AND TO PROVIDE THAT STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAY ERECT SIGNS ALONG HIGHWAYS AND STREETS THAT INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT A STOP MADE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MUST BE MADE WITHOUT OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF A DRIVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO A VEHICLE WHICH IS DRIVEN OR ATTENDED BY A PERSON, SO AS TO DELETE THE PHRASE "IN EVERY EVENT" AS IT REFERS TO INSTANCES IN WHICH A DRIVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO CERTAIN VEHICLES SHALL REMAIN AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT, TO DELETE THE PHRASE "MORE THAN IS NECESSARY" AS IT REFERS TO A DRIVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT MAKING A STOP WITHOUT OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC, AND PROVIDE THAT STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAY ERECT SIGNS ALONG HIGHWAYS AND STREETS THAT INFORM THE PUBLIC THAT A STOP MADE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION MUST BE MADE WITHOUT OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-5-1210 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 398 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 56-5-1210. (A) The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of a person immediately shall stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible. He then shall return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of Section 56-5-1230. The stop must be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. A person who fails to stop or to comply with the requirements of this section, is guilty of:
(1) a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than one year or fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or both, when injury results but great bodily injury or death does not result;
(2) a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than ten years and fined not less than five thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars when great bodily injury results; or
(3) a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not less than one year nor more than twenty-five years and fined not less than ten thousand dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand dollars when death results.
(B) As used in this section, 'great bodily injury' means bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which causes serious, permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ.
(C) The department shall revoke the driver's license of the person convicted pursuant to this section.
(D) State and local authorities may erect signs along highways and streets that inform the public that the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of a person shall stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the accident as possible without obstructing traffic."
SECTION 2. Section 56-5-1220 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 398 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 56-5-1220. (A) The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by a person immediately shall stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible, but shall return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of Section 56-5-1230. The stop must be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. A person who fails to stop or comply with the requirements of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or both.
(B) State and local authorities may erect signs along highways and streets that inform the public that the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by a person immediately shall stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible without obstructing traffic."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 10:19 A.M.