South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 3172


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-990, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO CERTAIN PEDESTRIAN CONTROL SIGNALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THIS SECTION ALSO APPLIES TO PEDESTRIAN CONTROL SIGNALS THAT EXHIBIT THE SYMBOLS FOR "WALK" OR "DON'T WALK", AND TO PROVIDE THAT FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS EQUIPPED WITH COUNTDOWN INDICATORS, A PEDESTRIAN MAY CROSS IF HE CAN COMPLETE THE CROSSING DURING THE REMAINING TIME SHOWN; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3130, RELATING TO A PEDESTRIAN'S RIGHT OF WAY IN A CROSSWALK, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE SHALL STOP TO YIELD TO A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING A ROADWAY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-3425, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM "BICYCLE LANE" AND OPERATIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND BICYCLES ALONG BICYCLE LANES, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM "BICYCLE LANE".

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

SECTION    1.    Section 56-5-990 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-5-990.    (A)    Whenever special pedestrian control signals exhibiting the words or symbols for 'Walk' or 'Wait' 'Don't Walk' are in place such signals shall indicate as follows:

(1)    'Walk' indicates that a pedestrian facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right of way by the drivers of all vehicles; and

(2)    'Wait' 'Don't Walk' indicates that no pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the wait signal is showing.

(B)    For pedestrian crosswalks equipped with countdown indicators, a pedestrian may cross if he can complete the crossing during the remaining time shown."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-5-3130(a) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(a)    When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be stop to yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger."

SECTION    3.    Section 56-5-3425(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A)        For purposes of this section, 'bicycle lane' means a portion of the roadway or a paved lane separated from the roadway that has been designated by striping, pavement markings, and signage for the preferential or exclusive use of by bicyclists by pavement markings or signs which are used exclusively for the designation of bicycle facilities."

SECTION    4.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION    5.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on December 18, 2018 at 2:54 PM