South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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Bill 225

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

March 12, 2003

S. 225

Introduced by Senator Hutto

S. Printed 3/12/03--S.

Read the first time January 21, 2003.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 225) to amend Section 56-5-2940, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to the penalties for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

LARRY A. MARTIN for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

Minimal Impact (See Below)

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES IS:

Minimal Impact (See Below)

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

The department states that this bill would have no impact on the General Fund of the State and a minimal impact on other funds, that involve a change in the Criminal Justice Academy's lesson plans, and could be absorbed within existing resources.

Judicial Department

The department indicates there will be a minimal fiscal impact on the General Fund of the State, which can be absorbed by the agency at the current level of funding.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2940, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE PENALTIES FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR, DRUGS, OR NARCOTICS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A VIOLATION OF SECTION 56-5-2930 OR SECTION 56-5-2933 CONSTITUTES A PRIOR OFFENSE FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING SUBSEQUENT VIOLATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 56-5-2940.

Amend Title To Conform

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-5-2940 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 390 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"Section 56-5-2940.    A person who violates a provision of Section 56-5-2930 or Section 56-5-2933, upon conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bail must be punished as follows:

(1)    by a fine of three hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than forty-eight hours nor more than thirty days, for the first offense; however, in lieu of the forty-eight hour minimum imprisonment, the court may provide for forty-eight hours of public service employment. The minimum forty-eight hour imprisonment or public service employment must be served at a time when the person is off from work and does not interfere with his regular employment under terms and conditions as the court considers proper. However, the court may not compel an offender to perform public service employment in lieu of the minimum sentence.

(2)    by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisonment for not less than forty-eight hours nor more than one year for the second offense. However, the fine imposed by this item may not be suspended in an amount less than one thousand dollars. In lieu of service of imprisonment, the court may require that the individual complete an appropriate term of public service employment of not less than ten days upon terms and conditions the court considers proper.

(3)    by a fine of not less than three thousand five hundred dollars nor more than six thousand dollars and imprisonment for not less than sixty days nor more than three years for the third offense.

(4)    by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years for a fourth offense or subsequent offense.

No part of the minimum sentences provided in this section must may be suspended. The court may provide instead of service other sentences provided in this section. For a third or subsequent offense or for a violation of Section 56-5-2945 for great bodily injury, the service of the minimum sentence is mandatory. However, the judge may provide for the sentence to be served upon terms and conditions as he considers proper including, but not limited to, weekend service or nighttime service in any fashion he considers necessary.

The fine for a first offense may must not be suspended. The court is prohibited from suspending a monetary fine below that of the next preceding minimum monetary fine.

For the purposes of this chapter, any conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bail for the violation of any law or ordinance of this or any other state or any municipality of this or any other state that prohibits any person from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or narcotics, including, but not limited to, Sections 56-5-2930 and 56-5-2933, shall constitute constitutes a prior offense for the purpose of any prosecution for any subsequent violation hereof. Only those violations which occurred within a period of ten years including and immediately preceding the date of the last violation shall constitute constitute prior violations within the meaning of this section.

Upon imposition of a sentence of public service, the defendant may apply to the court to be allowed to perform his public service in his county of residence if he has been sentenced to public service in a county where he does not reside."

SECTION 2. The General Assembly declares that the amendment to Section 56-5-2940 of the 1976 Code providing that a violation of Section 56-5-2933, driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration, or a violation of Section 56-5-2930, driving under the influence, constitutes a prior offense for the purpose of determining a subsequent driving with an unlawful alcohol concentration violation or a subsequent driving under the influence violation, is a clarification of and not a change to the current law. The General Assembly is further codifying its previous legislative intent to avoid any ambiguity in interpretation.

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

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