TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-5-245 SO AS TO DEFINE THE TERM "UTILITY TRAILER" AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT MUST BE USED TO ATTACH A TOWING VEHICLE TO A UTILITY TRAILER.

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

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

"Section 56-5-245.    The term 'utility trailer', when used in Section 56-3-400 to 56-3-420, means, and includes any trailer suitable for towing by a private passenger automobile, the use of which is confined to the private hauling of personal property for intrastate or interstate use, or combined intrastate and interstate use. When a vehicle is towing a utility trailer on a public road or highway, the towing vehicle must be attached to the towed vehicle by a safety chain, cable, or equivalent device in addition to the regular drawbar, mounted trailer, and tongue and trailer coupler. The safety connections or attachments must be of sufficient strength to maintain connection of the towed vehicle to the pulling vehicle under all conditions while the towed vehicle 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."

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