COLUMBIA,
S.C. (AP) - South Carolinians convicted of violent crimes
would have a special code put on their driver's licenses
identifying them as felons under a bill given key second
reading in the House on Wednesday.
Supporters of the bill say it will help law enforcement
officers know when they're dealing with a violent criminal,
while opponents say it adds another penalty for long-past
crimes.
"If this bill goes into place, it very well could save one
officer's life," said Rep. Mike Pitts, R-Laurens. "If it saves
one officer's life, then it's worth it."
Rep. Phil Sinclair, R-Spartanburg, said 10 police officers
have died in recent years after taking driver's licenses at
traffic stops and returning to the suspect's cars without
knowing they had stopped a felon.
But several members said the coding feeds the opportunity
for negative profiling and the system already allows for an
officer to review a driver's criminal record.
"This is mean-spirited to me that we would want to label
people like this," said Rep. Ken Kennedy, D-Greeleyville.
Rep. Bessie Moody-Lawrence, D-Rock Hill, said the bill
compelled her to address the House for the first time this
session. "Are they to pay their debt to society for the rest
of their lives?" she asked.
Rep. John Scott, D-Columbia, said criminal pasts would be
known more widely since driver's licenses are used in a
variety of daily dealings.
"It could have negative impact on individuals getting a
job," he said.
Sinclair said most job applications already ask whether a
person has been convicted of a crime.
"Everybody's driver's license has some kind of identifying
mark on it," Sinclair said. "They've (felons) already set
themselves apart by what they've done."
The bill passed on a 71-26 vote and needs a routine third
reading before it is sent to the Senate.
