S 182 Session 110 (1993-1994)
S 0182 General Bill, By Hayes, Martin and H.S. Stilwell
A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Article 7
to Chapter 13, Title 61 so as to provide relief for damages against licensees
and permittees to sell regulated beverages when an injury results from the
operation of a motor vehicle by setting forth definitions, circumstances under
which claims are established, the amount of relief authorized, and
requirements for financial responsibility.
01/13/93 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-5
01/13/93 Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-5
A BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
BY ADDING ARTICLE 7 TO CHAPTER 13, TITLE 61 SO AS TO
PROVIDE RELIEF FOR DAMAGES AGAINST LICENSEES AND
PERMITTEES TO SELL REGULATED BEVERAGES WHEN AN
INJURY RESULTS FROM THE OPERATION OF A MOTOR
VEHICLE BY SETTING FORTH DEFINITIONS,
CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH CLAIMS ARE
ESTABLISHED, THE AMOUNT OF RELIEF AUTHORIZED, AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 13, Title 61 of the 1976 Code is amended
by adding:
" Article 7
Liability and Proof of Insurance
Section 61-13-1210. As used in this article :
(1) `Injury' includes the direct and indirect consequences of the
injury including loss of means of support.
(2) `Licensee' or `permittee' means a person who is licensed or
permitted by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission to sell
regulated beverages for on or off premises consumption.
(3) `Intoxication' means the condition of a person whose mental
or physical functioning is impaired substantially as a result of the use
of regulated beverages.
(4) `Regulated beverages' include alcoholic liquors, beer, ale,
porter, and wine.
(5) `Underage person' means a person who is less than the age
legally required for purchase of regulated beverages.
Section 61-13-1220. When an injury results from the operation of
a motor vehicle and was a result of and caused by the intoxication of
the person operating the motor vehicle or an underage person's
operation of a motor vehicle after he consumed regulated beverages,
whether or not he was intoxicated, a person other than the intoxicated
person or underage person has a claim for relief for damages for that
injury against a licensee or permittee and the manager of an
establishment if all of the following circumstances exist:
(1) The licensee or permittee, his manager, or an agent or
employee negligently sold or furnished regulated beverages to the
underage or intoxicated person.
(2) The consumption of the regulated beverages sold or furnished
in whole or in part caused the person's intoxication if he was not
underage.
(3) If he was underage, traces of regulated beverages which
reasonably are expected to be the regulated beverages sold or
furnished were found in his bodily system at the time of the injury.
Section 61-13-1230. The sale or furnishing of regulated beverages
to an underage or intoxicated person is considered negligent unless the
defendant establishes by the greater weight of the evidence that the
sale or furnishing was not negligent. Proof of good practices
including, but not limited to, training of employees, enforcement
techniques, and inquiry about the age or degree of intoxication of the
person is admissible as evidence that the sale or furnishing was not
negligent.
Section 61-13-1240. Damages that may be awarded pursuant to a
claim for relief under this article are limited to no more than one
hundred thousand dollars a person and three hundred thousand dollars
for each occurrence.
Section 61-13-1250. The claim for relief created by this article is
in addition to other statutory or common law relief.
Section 61-13-1260. No licensee or permittee or the manager of
his establishment may be held liable for damages resulting from the
refusal to sell or furnish regulated beverages to a person who fails to
show proper identification, appears to be an underage person, or
appears to be intoxicated.
Section 61-13-1270. No licensee or permittee subject to this article
may operate his establishment unless he presents to the commission
proof of financial responsibility in meeting liability that may arise
under this article . Proof of responsibility may be established by
either:
(1) one or more certificates of insurance issued by insurance
companies licensed or admitted to transact business in this State that
provide insurance against liability arising under this article , with
aggregate coverages of one hundred thousand dollars a person and
three hundred thousand dollars for each occurrence. These coverages
must be maintained continuously during the period of the license; or
(2) a cash bond or other acceptable surety of three hundred
thousand dollars to satisfy liabilities arising under this article . The
bond or surety must be posted with the commission, and the amount
must be maintained continuously by the licensee or permittee with the
commission during the effective period of the license."
SECTION 2. Article 7, Chapter 13, Title 61 of the 1976 Code
added in this act applies only to acts and omissions occurring on or
after the effective date of this act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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