South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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H. 4592

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Littlejohn, Cobb-Hunter, Leach, Mahaffey, M.A. Pitts, Scarborough, Umphlett, Cotty and Neilson
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\5405cm08.doc

Introduced in the House on January 29, 2008
Currently residing in the House Committee on Education and Public Works

Summary: Cell phones

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/29/2008  House   Introduced and read first time HJ-36
   1/29/2008  House   Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works HJ-36
    4/2/2008  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Cotty
   4/22/2008  House   Committee report: Favorable with amendment Education and 
                        Public Works HJ-5
   4/24/2008  House   Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Neilson, 
                        Bedingfield
   4/24/2008  House   Requests for debate-Rep(s). Simrill, Kirsh, GR Smith, 
                        Mulvaney, Skelton, Williams, Umphlett, Ott, Whitmire, 
                        Hosey, Weeks, Weeks, JH Neal, Thompson, Alexander, 
                        Witherspoon, Bedingfield, Knight, and Cobb-Hunter HJ-66
   4/24/2008          Scrivener's error corrected
   4/29/2008  House   Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Bedingfield
   4/29/2008  House   Debate adjourned HJ-62
   4/30/2008  House   Recommitted to Committee on Education and Public Works 
                        HJ-69

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/29/2008
4/22/2008
4/24/2008

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

COMMITTEE REPORT

April 22, 2008

H. 4592

Introduced by Reps. Littlejohn, Cobb-Hunter, Leach, Mahaffey, M.A. Pitts, Scarborough, Umphlett and Cotty

S. Printed 4/22/08--H.    [SEC 4/24/08 5:37 PM]

Read the first time January 29, 2008.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLIC WORKS

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4592) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 56-1-55 so as to provide that it is unlawful for a person who holds, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-55.    (A)    Except as provided in subsection (B), it is unlawful for a person who holds a beginner's permit, conditional driver's license, or a special restricted driver's license to operate a motor vehicle while using a cellular telephone or another wireless communications device when the vehicle is in motion. It is not a violation of this section if the person is using a hands-free communication device.

(B)    Subsection (A) does not apply when a cellular telephone or another wireless communications device is used to report illegal activity, summons medical or other emergency help, or prevent injury to a person or property.

(C)    A person who violates subsection (A) of this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows:

(1)    first offense, must have his driver's license suspended for thirty days;

(2)    second offense, must have his driver's license suspended for six months; and

(3)    third offense, must have his driver's license suspended for one year."

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

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

ROBERT E. WALKER for Committee.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-55 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON WHO HOLDS A BEGINNER'S PERMIT, CONDITIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE, OR A SPECIAL RESTRICTED DRIVER'S LICENSE TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE USING A CELLULAR TELEPHONE OR ANOTHER WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS PROVISION.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-55.    (A)    It is unlawful for a person who holds a beginner's permit, conditional driver's license, or a special restricted driver's license to operate a motor vehicle while using a cellular telephone or another wireless communications device when the vehicle is in motion.

(B)    A person who violates subsection (A) of this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction for a:

(1)    first offense, must have his driver's license suspended for not more than thirty days;

(2)    second offense, must have his driver's license suspended for not more than six months; and

(3)    third offense, must have his driver's license suspended for not more than one year."

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

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