PICKENS COUNTY — Two new safety laws hit the books last week that will affect a significant portion of Upstate residents.
On Friday, Gov. Henry McMaster signed the moped safety law into effect requiring moped operators to obtain a special license, register their vehicles and display a license plate.
The law is designed to finally close the so-called “liquor-cycle” loophole, as mopeds are a popular transportation choice for people who have lost their licenses to DUIs.
According to the new law, riders must apply to the DMV for a special moped license, which — unlike in the past — can be suspended or revoked for continuing DUI violations.
It is a similar bill to the one that Gov. Nikki Hailey vetoed a year ago.
In addition to the registration and license requirements, riders under the age of 21 must wear a helmet and cannot travel on any road where the speed limits exceed 55 mph.
The new law takes effect in November 2018.
The second safety law that made it past the Governor’s desk revolves around car seats. Specifically, how old can your kids be before they case use the car’s seat-belts alone?
Well, in South Carolina anyway, the answer is now eight.
If your child is 7-years-old or younger, according to S.C. law, he or she is required to be secured in a car or booster seat or parents could be slapped with fines up to $150.
The law also states that children under two are to be in a rear-facing car seat until they exceed the height and weight of their device.
From ages 2-4, kids are to be secured by a front facing seat with a harness (not a “booster seat”) until they out grow it and are moved to a booster seat at age 4.
No child under the age of eight — or at least 57 inches tall — is permitted to ride in the front seat of the car.
The law does make provisions for children who are unable to be transported in a standard child passenger safety restraint system due to medical problems stating they may instead be transported in a “standard child passenger safety restraint system designed for his medical needs.”
Those with the specialized restraint systems will be required to have their claims substantiated with written documentation from the child’s physician, advanced nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
