Bill 2953

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2953
Ratification Number:       440
Act Number                 360
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Require noise control of motorboats
                           operating on waters on Lake Wylie

(A360, R440, H2953)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 TO CHAPTER 25 OF TITLE 50 SO AS TO REQUIRE NOISE CONTROL OF MOTORBOATS OPERATING ON WATERS WYLIE; AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS AND PENALTIES.

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

Noise control requirements for motor boats operating on Lake Wylie

Section 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding to Chapter 25 of Title 50:

"Article 11

Section 50-25-1110. Any motorboat operating upon waters on Lake Wylie shall comply with the following noise control requirements:

(1) Motorboats with inboard-outboard propulsion machinery shall exhaust through the propeller.

(2) Inboard motorboats with 'V'--drives--jets or propeller propulsion machinery with exhaust through the transom shall be water cooled with a steady stream of water or exhaust underwater while under way or exhaust through an automotive type sealed (baffle) muffler for each exhaust stack, with exhaust openings not to exceed two inches in diameter. Boats with original propulsion machinery made before 1970 are exempt from the requirements of this item.

(3) Motorboats and their propulsion machinery which exhaust over the transom shall exhaust through an automotive sealed (baffle) type muffler for each exhaust stack, with exhaust openings not to exceed two inches in diameter. Glass pack mufflers, resonators and above water open exhausts are prohibited for such motorboats. Baffle inserts are prohibited on all inboard boats.

(4) Motorboats with outboard propulsion machinery shall exhaust under water at all times unless designed or modified to exhaust above water and comply with the provisions of item (3) of this section.

Section 50-25-1120. The motorboats competing in a regatta, boat race, marine parade, tournament or exhibition approved as provided in Section 50-21-1010 shall be exempted from the provisions of this article. Exceptions may also be granted during designated hours for pretrial runs and for trial runs for speed records immediately following the event.

Section 50-25-1130. The operator of any motorboat who violates any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined for a first offense not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. For a conviction of a second offense the punishment shall be by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than thirty days. For the conviction of a third or subsequent offense the punishment shall be by a fine of not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months or both such fine and imprisonment."

Time effective

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Governor.