This is all over the cycling mailing lists I’m on. Hopefully, other states will be close behind (including North Carolina). Below is basically a repost of an email on the Gyros mailing list. I don’t think they’ll mind me reposting it and educating fellow cyclists of the laws and/or the potential laws advocating bicycle safety.
The South Carolina general assembly has passed a bicycling safety law, signed by the governor on June 10, 2008. There is presently some interest in similar legislation in North Carolina as well. Highlights of the SC Bicycling Safety Law include:
Harassment of cyclists law – any motorist who harasses a bicyclist by honking or throwing something at them could face jail time:
Section 56-5-3445. It is unlawful to harass, taunt, or maliciously throw an object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
Minimum passing width between motor vehicles – motorists must leave safe operating distance when overtaking a cyclist. The new requirement would mean that if a motorist strikes a bicyclist, that would strongly indicate the motorist was not keeping a safe distance and therefore was breaking the law. This will give a needed legal tool to prosecute motorists who hit bicyclists.
It is now illegal for cars to park/block bike lanes and motorists must now yield to cyclists in bike lanes
For a more complete picture of the entire law go here:
http://www.pccsc.net/advocacy.htm
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