South Carolina General Assembly
107th Session, 1987-1988

Bill 710


                    Current Status

Bill Number:               710
Ratification Number:       190
Act Number                 136
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Traffic-related deaths of persons under
                           twenty-one where use of beverages containing
                           alcohol, illegal drugs, or controlled
                           substances is suspected
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


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

(A136, R190, S710)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE INVESTIGATION BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, AND THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL COMMISSION OF TRAFFIC-RELATED DEATHS OF PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE WHERE USE OF BEVERAGES CONTAINING ALCOHOL, ILLEGAL DRUGS, OR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IS SUSPECTED TO BE A CAUSE.

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

Detailed investigation

SECTION 1. In any accident involving injury or death of a person under the age of twenty-one, where there is cause to believe that any beverage containing alcohol was consumed prior to the accident by the person under twenty-one, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction to investigate the accident shall commence a detailed investigation to determine the circumstances under which the beverage was obtained.

Upon initiation of this investigation by the local investigating law enforcement agency, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission shall assist in whatever capacity necessary to fully complete the inquiry and shall cooperate and assist in the prosecution of appropriate criminal charges against any person who provided a beverage containing alcohol to the person under twenty-one.

Detailed investigation

SECTION 2. In any motor vehicle accident involving injury or death of a person where there is cause to believe that an illegal drug or controlled substance was used prior to the accident by any person involved therein, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction to investigate the accident shall commence a detailed investigation to determine the circumstances under which the illegal drug or controlled substance was obtained.

Upon initiation of this investigation by the local investigating law enforcement agency, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division shall assist in whatever capacity necessary to fully complete the inquiry and shall cooperate and assist in the prosecution of appropriate criminal charges against any person who provided the illegal drug or controlled substance to that person.

Time effective

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