Signed by Governor Henry McMaster

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires a municipality to get prior approval from the South Carolina Department of Transportation before establishing, altering or restricting the use of parking facilities on a state highway facility.

Highlights:

• Defines 'highway' as the entire area within a highway right of way, including the shoulders and parking areas (Sec. 3.A).

• Prohibits a municipality from altering any state highway facility without the prior approval of the state Department of Transportation, and any use or restriction made by a municipality of a highway or highway right of way for municipality utilities, parking, or other purposes is subject to prior approval of the department by encroachment permit (Sec. 1).

• Requires parking facilities on state highway facilities located in beach communities that are eligible for beach renourishment funds to comply with the following (Sec. 2.A):

• They must include free public beach parking;

• They may include paid public beach parking; and

• They may only be restricted by the department if the department determines that the restrictions are necessary under the circumstances.

• Authorizes any municipality electing to charge for public beach parking may use the parking revenues for the operation, maintenance, preservation, or funding of (Sec. 2.B):

• Public beach parking facilities;

• Beach access, maintenance, and renourishment;

• Traffic and parking enforcement;

• First responders;

• Sanitation; and

• Litter control and removal for beaches.

• Establishes it is unlawful for any person to willfully obstruct ditches and drainage openings along any highway, to place obstructions upon any such highway, or to throw or place on any such highway any objects likely to cut or otherwise injure vehicles using them (Sec. 3.B).

• Establishes a violation of this law is punishable by a fine of not more than $100 per day, or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both (Sec. 3.C).

Full Bill Text