South Carolina General Assembly
106th Session, 1985-1986

Bill 2007


                    Current Status

Bill Number:               2007
Ratification Number:       53
Act Number:                33
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                        Cutting or destroying timber
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A33, R53, H2007)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-11-615, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT PAYMENT OF TREBLE DAMAGES IN PROSECUTIONS FOR CUTTING OR DESTROYING TIMBER MAY RESULT IN DISCHARGE FROM PROSECUTION UNDER SECTIONS 16-11-520, 16-11-580, AND 16-11-610, AND TO PROVIDE FOR TREBLE DAMAGES IF CIVIL ACTION IS NECESSARY TO RECOVER THE VALUE OF THE TIMBER.

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

Cutting or destroying timber

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-11-615. In all criminal prosecutions for violation of the provisions of Sections 16-11-520, 16-11-580, and 16-11-610, relating to cutting or destroying timber, the defendant may plead the payment of not to exceed exactly three times the fair market value of the timber as determined by a registered forester and upon the plea being legally established and the payment of all costs accrued at the time of the plea he must be discharged from further penalty. If it is necessary to institute civil action to recover the fair market value of the timber, the State, in case of state lands, and the owner, in case of private lands, shall receive damages of not to exceed exactly three times the fair market value of the timber established by a registered forester if judgment is in favor of the State or the owner."

Time effective

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