MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Transportation

By: Representative Dedeaux

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER'S LICENSES, IN ADDITION TO THE LAST NAME OF THE LICENSEE, SHALL INCLUDE THE FIRST NAME AND MIDDLE NAME OF THE LICENSEE; TO AUTHORIZE THE LICENSEE, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, TO DESIGNATE AN INITIAL OR CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF INITIALS FOR THE FIRST NAME, MIDDLE NAME, OR BOTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 63-1-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-1-35. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall prescribe the form of licenses issued pursuant to this article which shall, among other features, include a driver's license number assigned by the Department of Public Safety which, at the option of the licensee, may or may not be the Social Security number of the licensee. A licensee who chooses not to use his Social Security number as his driver's license number shall list his Social Security number with the department which shall cross reference the Social Security number with the driver's license number for purposes of identification. Each license also shall include the first name, middle name and last name of the licensee. At the option of the licensee, an initial may be used for the first name or for the middle name, or for both. A married woman or a widow may use her maiden name as her middle name on the license in lieu of her given middle name and, in such cases, she may use her given first name or given middle name as her first name on the license. In any case, if including the first name or the middle name of a licensee, or both, on the license would exceed space limitations provided for licensee names on driver's licenses, then the licensee shall use an initial for the first name or for the middle name, or for both, if necessary. Additionally, each license shall bear a full face color photograph of the licensee in such form that the license and the photograph cannot be separated. Such photograph shall be taken so that one (1) exposure will photograph the applicant and the application simultaneously on the same film. The department shall use a process in the issuance of a license with a color photograph which shall prevent as nearly as possible any alteration, counterfeiting, duplication, reproduction, forging or modification of such license or the superimposition of a photograph without ready detection. Such photograph shall be replaced every four (4) years by the department at the time of renewal.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.