South Carolina General Assembly
108th Session, 1989-1990

Bill 3390

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3390
Ratification Number:       251
Act Number                 165
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Driver's license endorsement for
                           firefighters
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A165, R251, H3390)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-1-135, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO A SPECIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE ENDORSEMENT FOR A DESIGNATED DRIVER FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT AND TO SAFETY OFFICERS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SECTION TO APPLY TO A PAID OR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AND A FIREFIGHTING VEHICLE, PROVIDE FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE ENDORSEMENT, AND PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SAFETY OFFICER BY A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AND AN UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY OPERATING A FIRE DEPARTMENT.

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

Driver's license endorsement for firefighters

SECTION 1. Section 56-1-135 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 532 of 1988, is amended to read:

"Section 56-1-135. (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 56-1-130, a paid or volunteer firefighter of a lawfully and regularly organized fire department designated to drive a firefighting vehicle may have a special endorsement affixed to his driver's license which authorizes him to drive this vehicle for the purpose of carrying out the duties and responsibilities of a fire department and related activities.

(B) Every political subdivision and unincorporated community operating a lawfully and regularly organized fire department of this State shall designate a law enforcement officer or the fire chief or his designee as its safety officer. The safety officer shall meet the qualifications set forth in the Department of Highways and Public Transportation guidelines. However, he does not have to be a full-time employee. A firefighter desiring to drive the vehicle referred to in subsection (A) shall demonstrate his ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of this vehicle to a safety officer. The fire department, including volunteer fire departments, shall submit to the Department of Highways and Public Transportation a list of the persons designated to drive the vehicle.

(C) It is the responsibility of the agency or fire department who operates the vehicle to keep the list of designated drivers current. Changes in the list of drivers must be reported to the Department of Highways and Public Transportation within thirty days from the change."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.