S 0307(Rat #0138)  General Bill, By Peeler, Verdin, Cromer, Ryberg, Knotts, 
Alexander and Thomas
 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 56-5-1885 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT IS LAWFUL TO DRIVE A
 VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND TO PROVIDE THE
 CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A TRAFFIC TICKET MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE VIOLATION OF
 THIS PROVISION. - ratified title

   01/20/05  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-4
   01/20/05  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-4
   02/02/05  Senate Committee report: Favorable Transportation SJ-26
   03/08/05  Senate Read second time SJ-16
   03/09/05  Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-27
   03/10/05  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-9
   03/10/05  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-9
   05/18/05  House  Committee report: Favorable Judiciary HJ-142
   05/24/05  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, May 25, 2005 HJ-40
   05/26/05  House  Read second time HJ-17
   05/26/05  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-18
   05/27/05  House  Read third time and enrolled HJ-3
   06/01/05         Ratified R 138
   06/07/05         Vetoed by Governor
   06/14/05  Senate Veto overridden by originating body Yeas-36  Nays-6
   06/14/05  House  Veto sustained Yeas-50  Nays-59

NOTE: THIS COPY IS A TEMPORARY VERSION. THIS DOCUMENT WILL REMAIN IN THIS VERSION UNTIL PUBLISHED IN THE ADVANCE SHEETS TO THE ACTS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS. WHEN THIS DOCUMENT IS PUBLISHED IN THE ADVANCE SHEET, THIS NOTE WILL BE REMOVED.

(R138, S307)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-1885 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT IS LAWFUL TO DRIVE A VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A TRAFFIC TICKET MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION.

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

Driving in the left lane

SECTION    1.    Article 13, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-5-1885.    (A)    A vehicle may not be driven in the furthest left lane of an interstate highway except when overtaking and passing another vehicle.

(B)    Subsection (A) of this section does not apply:

(1)    when no other vehicle is directly behind the vehicle in the left lane;

(2)    when traffic conditions and congestion make it impractical to drive in the right lane;

(3)    when snow and other inclement weather conditions make it safer to drive in the left lane;

(4)    when obstructions or hazards exist in the right lane;

(5)    when because of highway design, a vehicle must be driven in the left lane when preparing to exit; or

(6)    to law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles engaged in official duties and vehicles engaged in highway maintenance and construction operations.

(C)    Nothing in this section shall limit the Department of Transportation's ability to establish and delineate lane restrictions for certain types of vehicles.

(D)    For a period of ninety days after the effective date of this section, only warning tickets may be issued for a violation of the provisions of subsection (A)."

Time effective

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

Ratified the 1st day of June, 2005.

__________________________________________

President of the Senate

___________________________________________

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Approved the ____________ day of _____________________2005.

___________________________________________

Governor