Bill > H3393

This bill establishes a new civil offense for littering in South Carolina that allows local law enforcement to issue citations to registered vehicle owners when litter is improperly discarded from their vehicle, even if no officer directly witnesses the act. Under this new law, a $50 mandatory civil penalty can be issued based on evidence like eyewitness testimony, with a presumption that the vehicle's registered owner is responsible for the littering. The citation would be mailed to the owner, who must either pay the fine or challenge it in magistrate or municipal court within 30 days. Additionally, the bill increases criminal penalties for littering: for amounts under 15 pounds, fines are raised from $25-$75 to $75-$150, and for amounts between 15-500 pounds, fines are set at $250-$500 with mandatory community service hours. Importantly, a person cannot be both civilly and criminally charged for the same littering incident, and the bill aims to provide a more comprehensive approach to deterring littering by offering multiple enforcement mechanisms. The law will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3393&session=126&summary=B