(A) Except as provided in subsection (B), a person who commits or attempts to commit a violent crime, as defined in Section 16-1-60, or threatens to commit a violent crime, as defined in Section 16-1-60, while wearing body armor is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both. A term of imprisonment imposed for violating this section may be served consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed for the crime committed or attempted. (B) Subsection (A) does not apply to: (1) a peace officer of this State or another state, or of a local unit of government of this State or another state, or of the United States, while in the performance of his official duties; or (2) a security officer while in the performance of his official duties. (C) As used in this section: (1) 'Body armor' means clothing or a device designed or intended to protect a person's body or a portion of a person's body from injury caused by a firearm; (2) 'Security officer' means a person lawfully employed to protect another person or to protect the property of another person. HISTORY: 2001 Act No. 100, Section 1.
South Carolina Legal Code