South Carolina General Assembly
123rd Session, 2019-2020

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Bill 9

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 5, 2020

S. 9

Introduced by Senators Peeler, Johnson, Rice, Gregory, Turner, Bennett and Climer

S. Printed 2/5/20--S.

Read the first time January 8, 2019.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 9) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 56-5-1885 so as to provide the circumstances when it is lawful to drive a, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

LAWRENCE K. GROOMS for Committee.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-1885 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT IS LAWFUL TO DRIVE A VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, AND TO PROVIDE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A TRAFFIC TICKET MAY BE ISSUED FOR THE VIOLATION OF THIS PROVISION.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 13, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-5-1885.    (A)    A vehicle may not be driven in the furthest left lane of an interstate highway except when overtaking and passing another vehicle.

(B)    Subsection (A) of this section does not apply:

(1)    when no other vehicle is directly behind the vehicle in the left lane;

(2)    when traffic conditions and congestion make it impractical to drive in the right lane;

(3)    when snow and other inclement weather conditions make it safer to drive in the left lane;

(4)    when obstructions or hazards exist in the right lane;

(5)    when because of highway design, a vehicle must be driven in the left lane when preparing to exit; or

(6)    to law enforcement vehicles, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles engaged in official duties and vehicles engaged in highway maintenance and construction operations.

(C)    Nothing in this section shall limit the Department of Transportation's ability to establish and delineate lane restrictions for certain types of vehicles.

(D)    For a period of ninety days after the effective date of this section, only warning tickets may be issued for a violation of the provisions of subsection (A)."

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

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