South Carolina Code 51-3-147. Authority of park rangers, superintendents, and other officials as state constables; procedure upon apprehension of violators
(A) Each designated park ranger, superintendent or other official shall have the authority to issue an official summons to any person apprehended for violating any law, the enforcement of which by a state constable is authorized by law, and such summons duly served shall give the proper judicial official jurisdiction to dispose of the matter after trial upon the date set in the summons.
Terms Used In South Carolina Code 51-3-147
- Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(B) When any person is apprehended by a designated park ranger, superintendent or other official upon a charge of violating any law, the enforcement of which by a state constable is authorized by law, the persons so being charged, upon being served with the official summons issued by such arresting officer and in lieu of being immediately brought before the proper judicial official to enter into a formal recognizance or make direct the deposit of a proper sum of money in lieu of a recognizance or incarceration, may deposit with the apprehending officer a sum of money as bail, not less than the minimum nor more than the maximum fine but in no case to exceed the sum of two hundred dollars. Such sum shall be turned over to the judicial official as money for bail, in lieu of entering into a recognizance for his appearance for trial as set in the aforesaid summons or being incarcerated by the arresting officer and held for further action by the appropriate judicial official. A receipt for such sum so deposited shall be given to such person by the arresting officer. The summons duly served as herein provided shall give the judicial official jurisdiction to dispose of the matter. Upon receipt of the fixed sum of money, the arresting officer may release the person so charged for his further appearance before the proper judicial official as provided for and required by the summons.