South Carolina General Assembly
107th Session, 1987-1988

Bill 1128

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               1128
Ratification Number:       500
Act Number                 452
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Towing of watercraft by the Wildlife and
                           Marine Resources Department
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A452, R500, S1128)

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 50-1-260 AND 50-21-105 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO VANDALIZE, TAMPER WITH, OR ENTER ON WATERCRAFT, VEHICLES, DEVICES, OR PIECES OF EQUIPMENT SEIZED AND HELD BY THE WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND TO PERMIT THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES TO TOW AWAY AND STORE ANY UNATTENDED WATERCRAFT, A WATERCRAFT THE OPERATOR OF WHICH IIS ILL OR INTOXICATED AND UNABLE TO FUNCTION IN A SAFE MANNER, OR OTHER OBJECT WHICH CONSTITUTES A HAZARD TO NAVIGATION AND WHICH IS NOT WITHIN AN APPROVED UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ANCHORAGE AREA AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE OWNER SHALL PAY REASONABLE STORAGE FEES AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

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

Towing of watercraft by the Wildlife and Marine Resources Department

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-21-105. The department may tow away and store at the nearest commercial marina or any other suitable facility any unattended watercraft, a watercraft the operator of which is ill, intoxicated, or under a disability which renders him incapable of functioning safely, or other object which constitutes a hazard to navigation and which is not within an anchorage area approved by the Untied States Coast Guard.

The owner may regain control of the watercraft or other object by proving ownership to the operator of the facility and paying the fee charged for storage."

Vandalizing property seized by the Wildlife and Marine Resources Department

SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 50-1-260. It is unlawful to vandalize, tamper with, or enter on or into watercraft, vehicles, devices, or pieces of equipment seized and held as required or permitted by law by the Wildlife and Marine Resources Department. Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Magistrates have jurisdiction of violations of this section. The department shall attach a notice to each unit of impounded property stating the prohibition and the penalties for violations."

Time effective

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.