H 4377 General Bill, By M. McLeod, A.W. Byrd, Canty, Elliott, Glover, 
J.R. Klapman, J.T. McElveen, Riser, Scott, J.R. Shirley, J.S. Shissias, 
R. Smith, C.H. Stone, C.L. Sturkie, C.Y. Waites and D. Williams
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 56-1-275 so as to provide a procedure for suspending the driver's licenses of
 persons under the age of eighteen for certain violations, and to provide for
 prohibiting, or allowing, in certain instances an increase in the automobile
 insurance premiums of such persons.

   02/06/92  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-3
   02/06/92  House  Referred to Committee on Education and Public
                     Works HJ-3
   03/03/92  House  Tabled in committee

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-275 SO AS TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR SUSPENDING THE DRIVER'S LICENSES OF PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE FOR PROHIBITING, OR ALLOWING, IN CERTAIN INSTANCES AN INCREASE IN THE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE PREMIUMS OF SUCH PERSONS.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-275. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any person under the age of eighteen years who has been issued a driver's license in accordance with the laws of this State, the Department of Highways and Public Transportation shall suspend the license of such a person for (a) three months whenever such person has committed a first offense violation of any other violations referenced in Section 56-1-720 as long as the applicable points do not exceed four, and such person's automobile insurance premiums shall not be increased, by way of surcharge or any other means, for such violation; (b) one year for a second offense whenever such person has committed a second offense violation of any of the violations referenced in Section 56-1-720 or if the violation, even if a first offense, is a violation involving more than four points, but in neither of these instances shall such person's automobile insurance premiums be increased, by way of surcharge or any other means; (c) one year or until such person attains the age of eighteen, whichever period is longer, whenever such person has committed a third, or subsequent, offense violation of any of the violations referenced in Section 56-1-720, and such person's automobile insurance premiums shall not be increased, by way of surcharge or any other means, for such violation. If a licensed driver who has not yet attained the age of eighteen is guilty of driving a motor vehicle while his license is under suspension, his license shall be suspended for an additional period of one year, and, as to such person, no provision of law shall be construed so as to prohibit an increase in his automobile insurance premiums, whether by surcharge or any other means, for such violation."

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