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S. 358
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Leatherman
Document Path: l:\council\bills\swb\6256cm05.doc
Introduced in the Senate on January 26, 2005
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry
Summary: All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/26/2005 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-19 1/26/2005 Senate Referred to Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry SJ-19
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 27 TO TITLE 50 SO AS TO ENACT THE ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SAFETY ACT BY PROVIDING FOR A DEFINITION OF ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES, TO ESTABLISH AN ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE SAFETY EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONS WHO OPERATE ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES, TO PROVIDE THAT AN ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN SAFETY FEATURES, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN STANDARDS FOR THE OPERATION AND SALE OF AN ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS CHAPTER.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Title 50 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 50-27-10. For purposes of this chapter:
(1) 'All-terrain vehicle' means a motorized off-highway vehicle designed to travel on three or four low-pressure tires, having a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control, and intended for use by a single operator and no passengers.
(2) 'Dealer' means a person engaged in the business of selling, leasing, or renting all-terrain vehicles at retail, and a regular place of business.
(3) 'Department' means the Department of Natural Resources.
(4) 'Owner' means a person, other than a person with a security interest, having a property interest or title to an all-terrain vehicle and entitled to the use and possession of the vehicle.
(5) 'Person' means every natural person, firm, copartnership, association, or corporation.
Section 50-27-20. (A) The department shall promulgate regulations establishing procedures for a comprehensive all-terrain vehicle safety education and training program. The program shall provide for the hands-on training of all-terrain vehicle operators, and for the issuance of all-terrain safety certificates to operators who successfully complete the training. Course content must be adopted from curriculum developed by the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute or another nationally recognized safety organization.
(B) The department may authorize political subdivisions of the State or any other entity to conduct classes and issue all-terrain vehicle safety certificates for a reasonable fee.
Section 50-27-30. (A) Except as provided in subsection (D) of this section, all operators seeking a safety certificate must receive training as required by Section 50-27-20.
(B) The training program must be offered to anyone who may lawfully operate an all-terrain vehicle under Section 50-27-60.
(C) After January 1, 2006, a person who operates an all-terrain vehicle on public land must have a safety certificate issued pursuant to this chapter or issued by another state or Canadian province, unless operating in the State temporarily for a period not to exceed thirty days.
(D) The department may issued an 'exceptional' safety certificate to a person who is at least eighteen years of age upon a satisfactory showing by the person of a least three years all-terrain vehicle operating experience.
Section 50-27-40. (A) The department shall establish a program to certify or license all-terrain vehicle safety instructors, and other entities to conduct a training program and to issue safety certificates in the department's name.
(B) All-terrain vehicle safety instructors at a minimum shall meet the following requirements to become certified:
(1) posses a current all-terrain vehicle safety instructor certification or license issued by a recognized all-terrain safety organization;
(2) be at least eighteen years of age;
(3) have no convictions relating to or as a result of the use of alcohol or drugs during the immediately preceding two years; and
(4) have no felony convictions.
Section 50-27-50. The department may collect a fee of ten dollars from each applicant for a safety certificate. Fees collected must be retained in a dedicated fund to support the all-terrain vehicle safety training and education program.
Section 50-27-60. (A) An all-terrain vehicle with an engine capacity of 70 cubic centimeter displacement('cc') up to an including 90 cc may be operated on public land only by a person at least twelve years of age.
(B) An all-terrain vehicle with an engine capacity greater than 90 cc may be operated on public land only by a person at least sixteen years of age.
(C) A person under sixteen years of age must be under continuous adult supervision while operating an all-terrain vehicle on public land.
Section 50-27-70. When operated on public land an all-terrain vehicle:
(1) Operated during hours of darkness shall display a lighted head lamp and tail lamp. The lights must be in operation during the period of from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and at any time when visibility is reduced due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, unless use of lights is prohibited by other applicable state laws;
(2) must be equipped with a brake system maintained in good operating condition;
(3) must be equipped with an effective muffler system in good working condition;
(4) must be equipped with an effective spark arrester in good working condition; and
(5) participating in competitive events may be exempted from the provision contained in this section at the discretion of the director.
Section 50-27-80. (A) A person may not operate an all-terrain vehicle without having been issued an all-terrain vehicle safety certificate.
(B) A person may not operate an all-terrain vehicle in a careless or reckless manner that endangers, causes injury, or damage to a person or property.
(C) An all terrain vehicle may not be driven or operated on a public street, road, or highway of this State except for purposes of crossing a highway if:
(1) the crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing;
(2) the vehicle is brought to a complete stop before crossing the shoulder or main traveled way of the highway;
(3) the operator yields the right-of-way to all oncoming traffic that constitutes an immediate potential hazard; and
(4) when equipped, both the head lamp and tail lamp are on when the crossing is made.
(D) An all-terrain vehicle may not cross an interstate or limited access highway.
(E) a person may not operate an all-terrain vehicle unless the person wears eye protection and an approved safety helmet.
(F) An operator of an all-terrain vehicle may not carry a passenger.
(G) A person may not operate an all-terrain vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance, or under the influence of a prescription or non-prescription drug that impairs vision or motor coordination.
(H) A person may not operate an all-terrain vehicle in a manner inconsistent with the age restrictions or the equipment requirements contain in this chapter.
Section 50-27-90. (A) A person may not knowingly sell or offer to sell at retail an all-terrain vehicle with an engine capacity of 70 cc or greater for use by a person less than twelve years of age.
(B) A person may not knowingly sell or offer to sell at retail an all-terrain vehicle with an engine capacity of greater than 90 cc for use by a person less than sixteen years of age.
Section 50-27-100. Any person who violates a provision of this chapter must be fined not less than one hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars. However, for offenses committed with intent to defraud or mislead, or for a second or subsequent offense, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars must be imposed."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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