Bill 4991

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                    4991
Ratification Number:            490
Act Number:                     350
Type of Legislation:            General Bill GB
Introducing Body:               House
Introduced Date:                19980414
Primary Sponsor:                Baxley 
All Sponsors:                   Baxley 
Drafted Document Number:        gjk\21427sd.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:   19980603
Date of Last Amendment:         19980526
Governor's Action:              S
Date of Governor's Action:      19980608
Subject:                        Motor vehicle accident reports,
                                law enforcement officer may refer to
                                when testify in court; Transportation,
                                Traffic

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

------  19980617  Act No. A350
------  19980608  Signed by Governor
------  19980604  Ratified R490
Senate  19980603  Read third time, enrolled for
                  ratification
Senate  19980603  Reconsidered vote whereby
                  amendment was adopted on 19980526,
                  amendment withdrawn
Senate  19980603  Reconsidered vote whereby
                  read third time
Senate  19980603  Read third time, returned to House
                  with amendment
Senate  19980526  Amended, read second time
Senate  19980513  Committee report: Favorable              11 SJ
Senate  19980421  Introduced, read first time,             11 SJ
                  referred to Committee
House   19980417  Read third time, sent to Senate
House   19980416  Read second time, unanimous consent
                  for third reading on the next
                  Legislative day
House   19980415  Recalled from Committee                  25 HJ
House   19980414  Introduced, read first time,             25 HJ
                  referred to Committee

(A350, R490, H4991)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-1290, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORTS SHALL NOT BE REFERRED TO IN ANY WAY OR USED AS EVIDENCE OF NEGLIGENCE OR DUE CARE AT TRIALS REGARDING SUCH ACCIDENTS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MAY REFER TO THESE REPORTS WHEN TESTIFYING IN ORDER TO REFRESH THEIR RECOLLECTION OF EVENTS.

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

Reference to traffic accident reports

SECTION 1. Section 56-5-1290 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

Section 56-5-1290. None of the reports required by Sections 56-5-1260 to 56-5-1280 may be evidence of the negligence or due care of either party at the trial of any action at law to recover damages. However, law enforcement officers may refer to these reports when testifying in order to refresh their recollection of events.

Time effective

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

Approved the 8th day of June, 1998.