TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 49-1-100 SO AS TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR THE RECOVERY AND LAUNCHING OF VESSELS AND WATERCRAFT, AND FOR THE USE OF ACCESS WAYS AND PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 1, Title 49 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 49-1-100.    (A)    A vehicle that is ready to recover a vessel or watercraft from the water at an access way or public landing shall have preference over those ready to launch a vessel or watercraft, the order being on a first-come basis.

(B)    The primary use of access ways and public boat landings shall be for placement in the water and the retrieval of boats from the water.

(C)    It is unlawful for individuals, vehicles, or watercraft to obstruct, interfere with, or limit the use of any pier, dock, wharf, boat ramp or the access areas to these facilities.

(D)    Any vessel, vehicle or other object left unattended which obstructs any public boat landing, access to it, or the facilities associated with it may be removed entirely at the risk and expense of the owner of the obstruction.

(E)    No person shall intentionally obstruct access to or any departure from a public boat landing by parking vehicles or submerging vessels or other obstructions in areas in or around a public boat landing.

(F)    The appropriate agency within a county is empowered to remove any watercraft, vessel, or vehicle that has been abandoned. A watercraft, vessel, or vehicle will be deemed abandoned if it is left unattended at a public boat landing for more than seventy-two hours unless express permission is obtained from the county.

(G)    The appropriate agency within a county may, in its discretion, destroy an abandoned watercraft or vessel if it is determined to have been permanently abandoned and has no salvage value. Vessels removed by a county which appear to have salvage value may be towed to and stored at a location designated by the county where they may be claimed by the owner with proper identification and payment of a five hundred dollar fee plus the actual cost of removal, towing, and storage. Vessels left unclaimed after a period of thirty days must be disposed of pursuant to state law.

(H)    No person shall park in any area where notice is posted prohibiting parking. No vehicle shall be parked at a public boat landing for more than seventy-two hours without express permission for the appropriate agency of a county.

(I)    Any person who violates a provision contained in this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one hundred dollars or not more than five hundred dollars, or both."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.