TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-3-705 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN FARM TRAILERS AND TO PROVIDE THIS PROVISION APPLIES ALSO TO CERTAIN BOAT UTILITY TRAILERS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-4580, RELATING TO LIGHTING EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION OF BUSES, TRUCKS, AND TRAILERS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REAR LIGHTING EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION OF CERTAIN TRAILERS WEIGHING THREE THOUSAND POUNDS GROSS OR LESS; TO AMEND SECTION 56-5-5150, RELATING TO THE SAFETY DEVICES THAT MUST BE USED WHEN TOWING A VEHICLE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THIS PROVISION ALSO APPLIES TO TOWING A TRAILER, TO MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES, AND TO PROVIDE THIS SECTION SHALL NOT CONFLICT WITH THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 56-3-130 RELATING TO A LICENSING AND REGISTRATION EXEMPTION THAT APPLIES TO CERTAIN BOAT, FARM, AND OTHER UTILITY TRAILERS.

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

SECTION    1.    Article 5, Chapter 3, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 56-3-705.    A farm trailer may be licensed and registered without a title upon presentation with the registration application to the department as evidence of ownership satisfactory to the department. This provision also applies to boat trailers under twenty-five hundred pounds and utility trailers. Licensing and registration of an untitled utility trailer is not evidence of ownership of the trailer for any other purpose except for licensing and registration."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-5-4580(6) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "(6)    On every trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer weighing three thousand pounds gross or less, on the rear:

    (a)    two reflectors, one on each side.

    (b)    two brake lamps, one on each side; and

    (c)    two turning lamps, one on each side

If a trailer or semitrailer is loaded or is of dimensions so as to obscure the stop light on the towing vehicle then the vehicle also must be equipped with one stop light;"

SECTION    3.    Section 56-5-5150 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

    "Section 56-5-5150.    When a vehicle is towing another vehicle or trailer on a public road or highway, the towing vehicle must be properly and securely attached to the towed vehicle by a or trailer by crossing safety chain, cable, or equivalent device chains or cables in addition to the regular drawbar, tongue, trailer hitch, or other connection. The safety connections or attachments must be of sufficient strength to maintain connection of the towed vehicle or trailer to the pulling vehicle under all conditions while the towed vehicle or trailer is being pulled by the towing vehicle. The provisions of this section do not apply to vehicles using a hitch known as a fifth wheel and kingpin assembly. No part of this section shall conflict with the requirements of a vehicle subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations."

SECTION    4.    Section 56-3-130 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION    5.    This act takes effect January 1, 2022. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may be charged with the violation of having an unregistered utility trailer before April 1, 2022.