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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AMENDED
April 15, 2004
S. 848
S. Printed 4/15/04--S. [SEC 4/16/04 3:05 PM]
Read the first time January 21, 2004.
TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-170, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED TO USE AND DISPLAY ANY BLUE LIGHTS OR RED LIGHTS; TO DEFINE THE TERM "DISPLAY", AND TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY CERTAIN AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES MAY DISPLAY THE WORD "POLICE".
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-5-170 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-170. Fire department vehicles, police vehicles, ambulances and rescue squad vehicles which are publicly owned, other emergency vehicles designated by the department or the chief of police of a municipality, and public and private vehicles while transporting individuals actually engaged in emergency activities because of the membership of one or more occupants of a fire department, police department or rescue squad are 'authorized emergency vehicles'.
(A) Authorized emergency vehicles for purposes of this section include the following:
(1) fire department vehicles;
(2) police vehicles;
(3) ambulances and rescue squad vehicles which are publicly owned;
(4) vehicles of coroners and deputy coroners of the forty-six counties;
(5) emergency vehicles designated by the fire department or the chief of police of a municipality;
(6) county government litter enforcement vehicles used by certified law enforcement Class 3 litter control officers;
(7) Department of Natural Resources vehicles, federal natural resources vehicles, and forestry commission vehicles when being used in the performance of law enforcement duties; and
(8) public and private vehicles while transporting individuals actually engaged in emergency activities because one or more occupants belong to a fire department, police department, sheriff's office, authorized county government litter enforcement office, or rescue squad.
(B) Only authorized emergency vehicles and private security patrol vehicles regulated by the State Law Enforcement Division are allowed use or display of any blue lights or red lights. This includes light bars and smaller lights such as dash, deck, or visor lights. To 'display' means to be seen, whether activated or not.
(C) A vehicle shall not display the word 'police' unless it is an authorized emergency vehicle for use only by sworn police or other officers who are approved and certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
(D) The provisions of this section do not apply to automobile dealerships, to police equipment suppliers that sell, deliver, or equip police vehicles to or for a law enforcement agency, or to persons designated by an agency owning such a vehicle to drive the vehicle or drive an auxiliary vehicle transporting such a vehicle."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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