CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) -- Charleston County could soon join the list of local governments in South Carolina imposing stiffer penalties for people who commit hate-motivated crimes.

The county council is expected to take up a newly drafted hate intimidation ordinance for first reading during its 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday.

The ordinance would create a separate offense for crimes committed against another person based on the "actual or perceived ethnicity, national origin, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, and gender or physical or mental disability" of the victim.

Violations would be punishable by a fine of up to $500 or 30 days in jail.

If passed, Charleston County would become the third county to approve a similar measure. Richland and Orangeburg counties enacted their

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