COLUMBIA, S.C. — A bill to amend Section 56-5-1535 of the 1976 Code of Laws, relating to speeding in highway work safety zones has moved to the State Senate. The bill creates penalties based on the State’s point system, as well as financial and criminal penalties, for a host of driving maneuvers within such zones, including reckless driving, driving too fast for conditions, disobedience of a traffic control device or officer, failing to yield, passing or turning unlawfully, failing to give signal or giving improper signal for stopping, turning, failing to dim lights, and other acts and omissions. Point penalties rage from 2 to 6 points. Financial penalties range from $75 to $2,000. Criminal penalties rage from a misdemeanor to reckless vehicular homicide.
The act is referred to and cited as “Peanut’s Law” in memory of Kenneth “Peanut” Long, Jr. who was only twenty-two years old when killed on August 12, 2013 while performing his duties as a flag man for a road construction project in Williamsburg County.
Revenues generated under the proposed law are to be widely distributed: after deducting amounts provided pursuant to Section 14-1-210, the State Treasurer shall deposit the balance of the assessments with programs established pursuant the Shock Incarceration Program; the Law Enforcement Training Council; Department of Public Safety to defray the cost of erecting and maintaining the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame; State Office of Victim Assistance; the State’s general fund; the Office of Indigent Defense for the defense of indigents; the Office of the Attorney General to provide support for counties involved in complex criminal litigation; the Department of Public Safety to defray the cost of hiring additional officers for work zone enforcement and training for the Safety Improvement Team; to SLED for the programs established pursuant to Section 56-5-2953(E); the Governor’s Task Force on Litter; the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Bill Sponsors: Senators Grooms, Hembree, Bennett, Campbell, Verdin, Campsen, Gregory, Johnson, Setzler, Sabb, Nicholson and Scott
