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TO AMEND SECTION 50-21-860, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF AIRBOATS, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO USE AIRBOATS DURING THE PERIOD FROM ONE HOUR AFTER LEGAL SUNSET TO LEGAL SUNRISE AND AT ANYTIME DURING THE SEASON FOR HUNTING WATERFOWL.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 50-21-860 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 420 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 50-21-860. As used in this section, 'airboat' means a watercraft propelled by air pressure caused by a motor mounted on the watercraft aboveboard.
(A) It is unlawful for a person to operate an airboat on the public waters of this State from the freshwater-saltwater dividing line, established by Section 50-17-30, seaward.
(B) It is unlawful to operate an airboat on the waters of the Waccamaw, the Great Pee Dee, the Little Pee Dee, the Black, and the Sampit Rivers in Georgetown and Horry Counties this State during the period from one hour before after legal sunset to one hour after legal sunrise and anytime during the season for hunting waterfowl.
(C) It is unlawful to operate an airboat on the waters of that portion of Lake Marion and Santee Swamp west of the I-95 bridge upstream to the confluence of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers during the season for hunting waterfowl.
A person violating the provisions of this section, upon conviction, must be punished as provided by Section 50-1-130.
The provisions of this section do not apply to the operation of airboats by law enforcement, emergency medical, civil defense, noxious weed control, military personnel, state and federally approved wildlife banding, surveying, biological research programs, and private waters."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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