H 4731 General Bill, By Howard, Bales, J. Brown, Cotty, Harrison, Lourie, 
J.H. Neal, Parks, Quinn, Rutherford, Scott and J.E. Smith

Similar(S 912)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 56-5-850 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "FUNERAL PROCESSION", AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE
 DUTIES OF OPERATORS OF VEHICLES IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION AND NOT IN A FUNERAL
 PROCESSION.

   02/11/04  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-11
   02/11/04  House  Referred to Committee on Medical, Military,
                     Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-11
   03/17/04  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment
                     Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs HJ-51
   03/18/04         Scrivener's error corrected
   03/23/04  House  Debate adjourned until Wednesday, March 24, 2004 HJ-98
   03/24/04  House  Debate adjourned until Thursday, March 25, 2004 HJ-14
   03/25/04  House  Requests for debate-Rep(s). Cooper, Rice,
                     Sandifer, Duncan, MA Pitts, Whitmire, Thompson,
                     Young, Kennedy, Clark and Pinson HJ-12
   03/25/04  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, March 30, 2004 HJ-18
   03/31/04  House  Debate adjourned until Tuesday, April 13, 2004 HJ-24
   04/14/04  House  Amended HJ-105
   04/14/04  House  Read second time HJ-107
   04/14/04  House  Roll call Yeas-37  Nays-0 HJ-107
   04/15/04  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-32
   04/15/04         Scrivener's error corrected
   04/20/04  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-9
   04/20/04  Senate Referred to Committee on Transportation SJ-9

AMENDED

April 14, 2004

H. 4731

Introduced by Reps. Howard, Bales, J. Brown, Cotty, Harrison, Lourie, J.H. Neal, Parks, Quinn, Rutherford, Scott and J.E. Smith

S. Printed 4/14/04--H.    [SEC 4/15/04 3:34 PM]

Read the first time February 11, 2004.

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-850 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "FUNERAL PROCESSION", AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES OF OPERATORS OF VEHICLES IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION AND NOT IN A FUNERAL PROCESSION.

Amend Title To Conform

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

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

"Section 56-5-850.    (A)    As used in this section, 'funeral procession' means two or more vehicles accompanying the body of a deceased person when each vehicle has its headlights on or is displaying a pennant attached in a manner as to clearly be visible to approaching traffic, or is escorted by a law enforcement vehicle.

(B)    A vehicle in a funeral procession has the right-of-way at an intersection and may proceed through the intersection if the procession is led by an escort vehicle displaying flashing yellow, red, or blue lights, except when:

(1)    an emergency vehicle requires the right-of-way;

(2)    vehicles in the procession are directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer; or

(3)    the vehicle is a train or locomotive.

(C)    Before assuming the right-of-way, a person who drives a vehicle in a funeral procession shall exercise caution with regard to crossing traffic.

(D)    A person who drives a vehicle that is not part of a funeral procession shall not drive the vehicle between the vehicles of the funeral procession or interfere with the progress of the procession, except when the:

(1)    person is authorized to do so by a law enforcement officer; or

(2)    vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

(E)    A person who drives a vehicle that is not a part of a funeral procession shall not illuminate the vehicle headlights or engage in any other act for the purpose of securing the right-of-way granted to funeral processions.

(F)    The escort vehicle, hearse, or other vehicles in a funeral procession may be equipped with flashing amber lights for the purpose of notifying the general public of the procession and gaining the right-of-way at intersections, or signaling the end of a procession.

(G)    A person authorized to use flashing lights may use them while accompanying a funeral procession to warn traffic that a procession is approaching or that it is in progress.

(H)    When a funeral procession is in progress, a person driving a vehicle not in the procession shall not pass or overtake any vehicle in the procession unless the:

(1)    person is directed to do so by a law enforcement officer;

(2)    procession is on a street, road, or highway outside the corporate limits of a city, town, or urban-county; or

(3)    procession is on an interstate highway or a state parkway.

(I)    A person who violates this section is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

(J)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section applies to Richland County only."

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