South Carolina § 16-11-725 - Rummaging through or stealing household garbage for purposes of committing identity theft; penalty; exception for officers of the law.

§ 16-11-725. Rummaging through or stealing household garbage for purposes of committing identity theft; penalty; exception for officers of the law.

(A) It is unlawful for a person to rummage through or steal another person's household garbage or litter, as defined in Section 44-67-30(4), for the purpose of committing financial identity fraud or identity fraud or identity theft as defined in Sections 16-13-510 and 37-20-110.

(B)(1) A person that violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars for the first violation and one thousand dollars for each subsequent violation.

(2) A person who knowingly and wilfully violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class F felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than five years and fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both.

(C) A conviction pursuant to the provisions of this section and the possession of identifying information as defined in Section 16-13-510 is prima facie evidence of financial identity fraud, identity fraud, or identity theft pursuant to Sections 16-13-510 and 37-20-110.

(D) This section does not prohibit a duly constituted officer of the law from performing his official duties in ferreting out offenders or suspected offenders against violating the laws of this State or a county or municipality for the purpose of apprehending the suspected violator. The provisions of this section must not be construed to give an officer any additional rights or powers upon private property but must be construed as preserving only his previous powers.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 190, SECTION 5, eff December 31, 2008.

Editor's Note

Section 44-67-30(4), referenced in (A), was repealed by 2015 Act No. 8.