South Carolina General Assembly
107th Session, 1987-1988

Bill 1438

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               1438
Ratification Number:       788
Act Number                 665
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Property damage increased for required
                           report
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A665, R788, S1438)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1270, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND SECTION 56-9-350, RELATING TO FORMS FOR VERIFICATION OF INSURANCE COVERAGE AFTER AN ACCIDENT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE WHICH RESULTS IN A REQUIRED REPORT AND FORM FROM TWO HUNDRED TO FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS.

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

Property damage increased for required report

SECTION 1. Section 56-5-1270 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-5-1270. The operator or owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of four hundred dollars or more which was not investigated by a law enforcement officer, within fifteen days after the accident, shall forward a written report and verification of liability insurance coverage of the accident to the Department, the proof and report to be in a manner prescribed by the Department. The completed and verified form must be returned by the operator or owner to the Department within fifteen days from the accident date. Failure to forward the accident report verified in the proper manner in respect to liability insurance coverage for the operation of the vehicle involved in the accident is prima facie evidence that the vehicle was uninsured.

Every law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of duty, investigates a motor vehicle accident either at the time of and at

the scene of the accident or after the accident by interviewing participants or witnesses, within twenty-four hours after completing the investigation, shall forward a written report of the accident to the Department including the names of interviewed participants and witnesses. If a two-wheeled motorized vehicle is involved in the accident and the operator or a passenger of the vehicle suffers a head injury the injury must be indicated on the report."

Property damage increased for required form

SECTION 2. Section 56-9-350 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 56-9-350. The operator or owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in property damage of four hundred dollars or more, or in bodily injury or death, must be furnished a written request form at the time of the accident, or as soon after the accident as possible, by the investigating officer for completion and verification of liability insurance coverage, the form to be in a manner prescribed by the Department.

The completed and verified form must be returned by the operator or owner to the Department within fifteen days from the date the form was delivered by the officer. Failure to return the form, verified in the proper manner, is prima facie evidence that the vehicle was uninsured.

The operator or owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in property damage of four hundred dollars or more, or in bodily injury or death, which was not investigated by a law enforcement officer shall furnish to the Department a written report and verification of liability insurance coverage, the proof to be in a manner prescribed by the Department."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.