It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(A) Interfere with any office of emergency management enforcement officer, fire marshal, official or employee while conducting official emergency management activities or investigations;
(B) Communicate over any public safety or other designated emergency communications system any threat; false, harassing call; malicious interference or other nonauthorized communications; and attempt to disrupt emergency communications or fail to stop communications when ordered to do so;
(C) Spill, leak, discharge or release any hazardous substance, chemical or material or have knowledge of such and not report it immediately or not begin cleanup procedures immediately upon authorization by the office of emergency management;
(D) Fail to report any chemical listed as hazardous and in quantities required to be reported under any state, federal or local regulations;
(E) Increase prices of essential goods during emergencies or otherwise engage in price gouging; horde essential supplies; and accept or obtain donated emergency provisions or services for other than the intended use for which it was obtained;
(F) Falsely represent oneself as an official representative of the county or emergency department or agency, or attempt to obtain access to any emergency scene if not an official representative of the department or agency with jurisdiction;
(G) Operate any vehicle not belonging to the county or any municipality as an emergency vehicle without the vehicle being registered as such with the office of emergency management. Vehicles used as emergency vehicles of the fire service must be registered with the fire prevention bureau; (It shall be the decision of each emergency organization to allow the use of personal vehicles as emergency vehicles in accordance with the applicable state laws.)
(H) Withhold information necessary to the protection of lives and property or information beneficial to the allocation of essential services in an emergency or disaster;
(I) Operate on any county communications device or system not owned by the county without the written permission of the director, or install, program, build or otherwise create a device with the capability to broadcast, transmit or access any county communications system without written permission of the director;
(J) Participate in any activity which could pose a potential risk to emergency responders while engaged in official emergency activities;
(K) Respond to any emergency scene unless dispatched or respond without being certified/trained to the required level for the emergency situation; and
(L) Obtain photographs, recordings, information or other items by being a part of an emergency response and sell, distribute, share, give or provide, in any way, any portion except as authorized by the director.
(‘77 Code, § 6-13) (Ord. 1996, passed 5-6-98; Am. Ord. 6018, passed 12-17-18) Penalty, see § 10.99 and S.C. Code § 16-11-700