Source: http://www.scag.gov/archives/category/opinions/2013opinions
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 12:56:34+00:00

Document:
Opinion inquiring about the issuance of traffic citations for driving without a license to Mexican nationals who possess both a valid Mexican driver’s license and H-2A agricultural visa.
Opinion asking, may a mayor be appointed to a county planning commission without violating the dual office holding prohibition of the South Carolina Constitution?
Opinion regarding a seat on the Francis Marion University (“the University”) Board of Trustees (“the Board”).
Opinion on the legality of counties and municipalities issuing tickets for traffic and other offenses under local ordinances. Requested by The Honorable Curtis M. Loftis, Jr., South Carolina State Treasurer. Read full opinion.
Opinion concerning the legality of counties and municipalities issuing tickets for traffic and other offenses under local ordinances as opposed to the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways (the “UTA”), S.C. Code §§ 56-5-10 et seq.
Opinion asking pursuant to South Carolina Code § 12-37-890 may the Charleston County Auditor’s Office charge an annual personal property tax on an airplane owned by a limited liability company (LLC) with a physical address outside of South Carolina when the airplane has an annual lease at an airport within your county and is physically at the airport in your county approximately half of a calendar year?
Opinion asking pursuant to South Carolina Code § 12-37-890 may the Charleston County Auditor’s Office charge an annual personal property tax on an airplane used primarily for business purposes when the airplane has an annual lease at an airport within your county and lists its home base in South Carolina in spite of the fact that an out-of-state limited liability company (LLC) with a physical address in your county is the “owner” of the airplane?
Opinion on dual office holding (serves on the board of the SC Commission on High Education and serve on the board of a local hospital). Requested by The Honorable Tom D. Corbin, Member, South Carolina Senate. Read full opinion.
Opinion concerning whether a manufacturer could sell cars to South Carolina consumers over the internet without establishing a physical presence in this state.
Opinion regarding the employment status of blind licensed vendors in the South Carolina Commission for the Blind program.
Opinion regarding Architectural Board of Appeals.
Opinion concerning whether the State Office of Victim Assistance (SOVA) has legal authority to recover money it provided to a Victim of a crime when the Victim later received money from a settlement for pain and suffering in connection with the crime.
Opinion concerning whether the State Office of Victim Assistance (“SOVA”) has legal authority to offset or recover financial assistance from a victim if they are a passenger of a motor vehicle that has insurance and/or uninsured motorist coverage.
Opinion concerning whether a builder (who is the property owner) may file a late application for a fee in order to apply for the multiple lot discount pursuant to South Carolina Code § 12-43-225.
Opinion regarding the definition of “Benefit ratio” as defined in S.C. Code Ann. § 41-3-5 (Rates of contribution to the Unemployment Trust Fund) and applied to Tax Year 2014.
Requested by: Derrick McFarland, General Counsel, SC Department of Employment and Workforce.
Opinion regarding whether or not a South Carolina eleemosynary (or charitable) organization can indemnify its officers and board members from penalties levied as a result of a recent jury verdict against the corporation for a violation of federal law.
Opinion regarding the ability of a nonprofit water company to provide a month of free water to residential customers but not business customers.
Opinion regarding whether a concurrent resolution can repeal a State law signed by the Governor.
Opinion concerning the electronic recording of mortgage satisfactions pursuant to S.C. Code § 29-3-330(c)(i) in situations where the original mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument securing payment has been lost or destroyed.
Opinion regarding question as to whether HIPPA is violated if Richland County Information Technology employees have access to the Coroner’s case files.
Opinion concerning multiple lots property tax discounts.
Opinion regarding whether or not a successful purchaser at a tax sale is entitled to payment of interest and repayment of ad valorem taxes by the County after a tax deed is set aside by a Court.
Opinion regarding whether a taxpayer may receive the legal residence (4% assessment) rate pursuant to S.C. Code § 12-43-220 when the taxpayer is living on the property as his legal residence and owns the property with a vested remainder interest subject only to a life estate which was given to two people whose legal residence is elsewhere.
Opinion as to whether two applicants—one employed as a Code Enforcement Officer for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department and another employed as a State Trooper at the South Carolina Department of Public Safety—would be permitted to serve as a fire commissioner on a Special Purpose Fire District given the South Carolina Constitution’s prohibition on dual office holding.
Opinion regarding the interpretation of Ordinance 91-21 in reference to the Savannah Lakes Village Special Tax District.
Opinion determining whether the Town of Lexington followed proper legal procedure in entering into a contract to sell Barr Pond a/k/a Wildlife Pond and in accepting $60,000.00 as the sales price.
Opinion regarding the interpretation of Sections 58-25-35 and 58-25-40 of the South Carolina Code.
Opinion regarding Home Owner Associations (HOAs) operating under the South Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act as per Section 33-31-171 of the Act.
Opinion concerning actions taken by the South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank (the “SIB”) to provide additional funding for the completion of the I-526/Mark Clark Extension Project (the “Project”) in Charleston County.
Opinion regarding a situation that is affecting the City Council of the City of Aiken.
Opinion as to the issuance of tickets for handicapped parking violations. Specifically, are law enforcement officers authorized to issue tickets for handicapped parking violations on parking lots that are open to the public and are not posted by signage as referenced by S.C. Code § 23-1-15? And, may law enforcement officers issue uniform traffic tickets for handicapped parking violations, or are law enforcement officers required to use the tickets referenced in S.C. Code §§ 56-3-1971, -1972, and -1973?
Opinion as to whether it is legal for a motor vehicle, other than a school bus or emergency vehicle, to have any colored lights other than red, white, or amber.
Opinion as to who is legally responsible for inmates housed at the Marion County Prison Camp. Specifically, you wish to know whether you, as Sheriff, are responsible for inmates in the Marion County Prison Camp even though you are not over that facility.
Opinion asking may a nonprofit water company provide a month of free water to its residential customers but not to its business customers?
Opinion regarding whether or not a real estate agent who is no longer licensed is entitled to a real estate commission.
Opinion concerning a city councilmember who is also a licensed bail bondsman. Specifically, whether the South Carolina Department of Insurance (DOI)’s letter informing Mr. Hunt that he must forfeit his position on the City Council or his license as a bondsman is correct.
Opinion asking did the South Carolina legislature intend to define a drug felony conviction to include an “element” of a controlled substance for eligibility purposes under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp program, hereinafter “SNAP”)?
Opinion asking is Greenwood County, as the owner of Lake Greenwood, authorized to charge an annual fee on docks as registering encroachments even though the South Carolina Constitution says “navigable waters and wharfs” shall not be taxed unless authorized by the General Assembly?
Opinion regarding the language of South Carolina Code Section 40-59-260 providing that “an owner must personally appear and sign” a building permit application, may an individual under a Power of Attorney authority specifying the Attorney-In-Fact’s specific authorizations, properly executed and witnessed and recorded in the permitting county be an adequate substitute to the requirement that the owner “personally appear” and meet the requirements under the law.
Opinion regarding the use of a vehicle by the Hampton County Coroner’s Office.
Opinion on whether the S.C. Dept. of Revenue may collect a submission/handling fee for the electronic recording of documents, S.C. Code 12-53-45. Requested by The Honorable Timothy L. Nanney, Register of Deeds, Greenville County. Read full opinion.
Opinion as to whether the South Carolina Department of Revenue (the “DOR”) may collect a submission/handling fee for the electronic recording of documents pursuant to S.C. Code 12-53-45 (Supp. 2012) in addition to the standard recording fee for such documents.
Opinion asking whether pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws Section 5-9-10 (1976 Code, as amended), does the mayor has the authority to suspend or remove the city administrator; municipal clerk; city attorney; or municipal judges?
Opinion asking may a constituent receive the homestead exemption for his real property taxes pursuant to S.C. Code §12-37-250 for tax year 2012 if he moved to the property in May of 2011 and if he was already 65 years old when he moved?
Opinion concerning the meaning of the term “invasive surgical procedure” inasmuch as it is not defined in S.C. Code Ann. §17-5-530.
Opinion concerning dual office holding. Specifically, whether a member of City Council, who is also a business owner, may also serve as a member of the South Carolina Small Business Regulatory Review Committee (the “Review Committee”).
Opinion on a magistrate’s general contempt authority. Requested by The Honorable Ernest M. O’Brien, Magistrate, Greenville County. Read full opinion.
Opinion regarding the interpretation of Act No. 292 of 1985.
Opinion asking is the Probate Court required under S.C. Code § 20-1-570 to record marriages conducted without a statutorily-required marriage license under S.C. Code § 20-1-230 and § 20-1-340 (et al. statutes), where no license was applied for, and where both parties are still alive and not a part of any other proceeding in Probate Court?
Opinion regarding S.C. Code Ann. § 16-11-788(C). Specifically asking whether a site must therefore be designated by statute as “prehistoric or historical” for § 16-11-788(C) to apply and whether the statute is applicable to private lands not so designated by statute.
Opinion on Section 16-11-780(C) of the S.C. Code of Laws (definition of prehistoric or historical site). Requested by The Honorable C. Ryan Johnson, Magistrate, Greenwood County. Read full opinion.
Opinion as to whether S.C. Code § 16-17-680, as recently amended, permits a secondary metals recycler to enter into a cash transaction for the purchase of copper, catalytic converters, and beer kegs from certain individuals or entities.
Opinion asking, is the City of Mullin’s Ordinance number 11-304 enforceable under South Carolina law?

References: § 12
 § 12
 § 12
 § 41
 § 29
 § 12
 § 23
 §12
 §17
 § 20
 § 20
 § 20
 § 16
 § 16
 § 16