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TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2934, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO A PERSON'S RIGHT TO COMPULSORY PROCESS WHEN CHARGED WITH THE OFFENSE OF, OR AN OFFENSE RELATED TO, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR ANOTHER SUBSTANCE, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS A PERSON CHARGED WITH AN OFFENSE TO COMPLETE A HEARING REQUEST FORM AND GIVE IT TO THE ARRESTING OFFICER WHO SHALL FORWARD IT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2951, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF A PERSON'S DRIVER'S LICENSE WHO REFUSES TO SUBMIT TO A TEST TO DETERMINE HIS ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION OR WHO HAS A CERTAIN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, SO AS TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT REQUIRES A PERSON TO ENROLL IN AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG SAFETY ACTION PROGRAM BEFORE HE MAY REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-2740, RELATING TO THE SUSPENSION OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO PAY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES ON THE VEHICLE, SO AS TO INCREASE THE FINES FOR THIS OFFENSE AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF THE FINES MUST BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-460, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE THE DRIVER'S LICENSE IS SUSPENDED, SO AS TO INCREASE THE FINES FOR THIS OFFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF THE FINES MUST BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2940, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PENALTIES IMPOSED FOR VIOLATING THE OFFENSE OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR ANOTHER ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE AND DRIVING WITH AN UNLAWFUL ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION, SO AS TO INCREASE THE FINES IMPOSED FOR THESE OFFENSES, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF EACH FINE MUST BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO FUND HIGHWAY PATROL PROJECTS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2945, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE OFFENSE OF CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY OR DEATH WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR ANOTHER SUBSTANCE, SO AS TO INCREASE THE FINES IMPOSED FOR THIS OFFENSE, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PORTION OF EACH FINE MUST BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO FUND HIGHWAY PATROL PROJECTS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-2952, RELATING TO THE FILING FEE FOR REQUESTING AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING TO CHALLENGE CERTAIN DRIVER'S LICENSE SUSPENSIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS FEE APPLIES TO ANY ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TO INCREASE THE FEE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-5-2934 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 390 of 2000, is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-2934. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person charged with a violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945 who is being tried in any court of competent jurisdiction in this State shall have the right to compulsory process for obtaining witnesses, documents, or both, including, but not limited to, state employees charged with the maintenance of breath testing devices in this State and the administration of breath testing pursuant to this article. Such process may be issued under the official signature of the magistrate, judge, clerk, or other officer of the court of competent jurisdiction. The term "documents" includes, but is not limited to, a copy of the computer software program of breath testing devices.
In addition, at the time of arrest for a violation of Section 56-5-2930, 56-5-2933, or 56-5-2945, the arresting officer, in addition to other notice requirements, must inform the defendant of his right to all hearings provided by law to include those if a breath test is refused or taken with a result that would require license suspension. The arresting officer, if the defendant wishes to avail himself of any such hearings, depending on the choices made or the breath test results obtained, shall then provide the defendant with the appropriate form to request the hearing or hearings. The defendant shall acknowledge receipt of the notice requirements and receipt of the hearing form if such a hearing or hearings are desired. The defendant may at this time complete the hearing request form and give it to the officer who shall in turn forward it to the department."
SECTION 2. Section 56-5-2951(C) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 390 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"(C) If the person does not enroll in an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program within thirty days, the suspension remains in effect, and a temporary alcohol restricted license must not be issued, and an administrative hearing may not be requested. If the person drives during the period of suspension without a temporary alcohol restricted license, the person must be penalized for driving while his license is suspended pursuant to Section 56-1-460."
SECTION 3. Section 12-37-2740 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 101 of 2001, is amended to read:
"Section 12-37-2740. (A) The Department of Public Safety shall suspend the driver's license and vehicle registration of a person who fails to pay personal property tax on a vehicle. The request to suspend must be an electronic notification from the county treasurer of the county where the tax is delinquent. Before the electronic notification is sent to the department, the county treasurer shall notify the delinquent taxpayer of the pending suspension by letter. The letter must be developed by the county treasurers in conjunction with the department and used uniformly throughout the State. The letter must advise the person of the pending suspension and the steps necessary to prevent the suspension from being entered on the person's driving and registration records. Each county must allow thirty days for the payment of taxes before the county notifies the department to suspend the person's driver's license and vehicle registration.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 56-1-460, a charge of driving under suspension when the suspension is solely for failure to pay property taxes or the reinstatement fee required for the property tax suspension does not require proof of financial responsibility. A person shall not be subject to a custodial arrest solely for being under suspension pursuant to provisions contained in this section. Upon conviction:
(1) For a first offense under this section, the penalty is a fine not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars.
(2) For a second offense under this section, the penalty is a fine not to exceed two three hundred fifty dollars.
(3) For a third or subsequent offense under this section, the penalty must not exceed the general criminal jurisdiction of a magistrate's court.
(C) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (A) and (B) of this section or the provisions of Section 56-1-460, a charge of driving under suspension issued solely as a result of this section must be dismissed if the person provides proof on the person's court date that the personal property taxes on the vehicle which resulted in the charge being issued have been paid.
(D) Before the reinstatement of a driver's license or vehicle registration suspended due to a violation of this section, a fee of fifty dollars must be paid to the department. The department may retain revenues generated by payment of the reinstatement fees pursuant to this section for use in defraying costs associated with suspension and reinstatement actions pursuant to this section. Fees collected in excess of actual departmental direct costs related to suspension and reinstatement actions pursuant to this section must be deposited to the credit of the general fund of the State at the end of each fiscal year.
(E) One hundred dollars of each fine imposed pursuant to this section must be placed by the Comptroller General into a special account to be used by the Department of Public Safety for Highway Patrol salary increases, to hire additional Highway Patrolmen, and to purchase video cameras to be placed in Highway Patrol vehicles."
SECTION 4. Section 56-1-460 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 263 of 2002, is further amended to read:
"(A)(1) Except as provided in subitem item (2), a person who drives a motor vehicle on any public highway of this State when his license to drive is canceled, suspended, or revoked must, upon conviction, be punished as follows:
(a) for a first offense, fined two three hundred dollars or imprisoned for thirty days, or both;
(b) for a second offense, fined five six hundred dollars or imprisoned for sixty consecutive days, or both; and
(c) for a third and subsequent offense, fined one hundred dollars and imprisoned for not less than ninety days nor more than six months, no portion of which may be suspended by the trial judge.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 22-3-540, 22-3-545, and 22-3-550, an offense punishable under this subitem item may be tried in magistrate's court.
(2) A person who drives a motor vehicle on any public highway of this State when his license has been suspended or revoked pursuant to the provisions of Section 56-5-2990 must, upon conviction, be punished as follows:
(a) for a first offense, fined one hundred dollars and imprisoned for not less than ten nor more than thirty days;
(b) for a second offense, imprisoned for not less than sixty days nor more than six months;
(c) for a third and subsequent offense, imprisoned for not less than six months nor more than three years.
No portion of the minimum sentence imposed under this subitem item may be suspended.
(B) The department upon receiving a record of the conviction of any person under this section upon a charge of driving a vehicle while his license was suspended for a definite period of time shall extend the period of the suspension for an additional like period. If the original period of suspension has expired or terminated before trial and conviction, the department shall again suspend the license of the person for an additional like period of time. If the suspension is not for a definite period of time, the suspension must be for an additional three months. If the license of a person cited for a violation of this section is suspended solely pursuant to the provisions of Section 56-25-20, the additional period of suspension pursuant to this section is thirty days and the person does not have to offer proof of financial responsibility as required under Section 56-9-500 prior to his license being reinstated. If the conviction was for a charge of driving while a license was revoked, the department shall not issue a new license for an additional period of one year from the date the person could otherwise have applied for a new license. Only those violations which occurred within a period of five years including and immediately preceding the date of the last violation constitute prior violations within the meaning of this section.
(C) One hundred dollars of each fine imposed pursuant to this section must be placed by the Comptroller General into a special restricted account to be used by the department for Highway Patrol salary increases, to hire additional Highway Patrolmen, and to purchase video cameras to be placed in Highway Patrol vehicles."
SECTION 5. Section 26-5-2940 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 390 of 2000, is further amended to read:
"Section 26-5-2940. A person who violates a provision of Section 56-5-2930 or 56-5-2933, upon conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or forfeiture of bail must be punished:
(1) by a fine of three four 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 one hundred dollars nor more than five thousand one hundred 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 one hundred 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 six hundred dollars nor more than six thousand one hundred 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 A part of the minimum sentences provided in this section must not 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 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 shall constitute 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 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.
One hundred dollars of each fine imposed pursuant to this section must be placed by the Comptroller General into a special restricted account to be used by the Department of Public Safety for Highway Patrol salary increases, to hire additional Highway Patrolmen, and to purchase video cameras to be placed in Highway Patrol vehicles."
SECTION 6. Section 56-5-2945 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 184 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 56-5-2945. (A) Any A person who, while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or the combination of alcohol and drugs, drives a vehicle and when driving does any act forbidden by law or neglects any duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes great bodily injury or death to any a person other than himself, is guilty of a felony and upon conviction must be punished:
(1) by a mandatory fine of not less than five thousand one hundred dollars nor more than ten thousand one hundred dollars and mandatory imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than fifteen years when great bodily injury results;
(2) by a mandatory fine of not less than ten thousand one hundred dollars nor more than twenty-five thousand one hundred dollars and mandatory imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than twenty-five years when death results.
No part of the mandatory sentences required to be imposed by this section may be suspended, and probation may not be granted for any portion.
(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 any bodily member or organ.
The department shall suspend the driver's license of any a person who is convicted or who receives sentence upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere pursuant to this section for a period to include any a term of imprisonment plus three years.
(C) One hundred dollars of each fine imposed pursuant to this section must be placed by the Comptroller General into a special restricted account to be used by the department for Highway Patrol salary increases, to hire additional Highway Patrolmen, and to purchase video cameras to be placed in Highway Patrol vehicles."
SECTION 7. Section 56-5-2952 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 235 of 2002, is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-2952. The filing fee to request an administrative hearing pursuant to Section 56-5-2951 or 56-1-286 for a person whose driver's license has been suspended for either his refusal to submit to a breath test or registering an alcohol concentration greater than the existing lawful limit, or any other administrative hearing before the Department of Public Safety, is fifty one hundred dollars. Funds generated from the collection of this fee must be used by the Office of Administrative Hearings of the Department of Public Safety to defray the costs of scheduling and conducting administrative hearings."
SECTION 8. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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