MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Transportation

By: Representative Guice

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 63-3-501, 63-3-1201 AND 63-3-1213, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE ENFORCEMENT OF SPEEDING, CARELESS AND RECKLESS DRIVING VIOLATIONS BY MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICERS ON ANY PART OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THAT RUNS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF A MUNICIPALITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-3-501, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-3-501. No person shall operate a vehicle on the highways of the state at a speed greater than sixty-five (65) miles per hour.

The Mississippi Transportation Commission may, in its discretion, by order duly entered on its minutes, increase the speed restrictions on any portion of the Interstate Highway System provided such speed restrictions are not increased to more than seventy (70) miles per hour. The commission may likewise increase the speed limit to seventy (70) miles per hour on controlled access highways with four (4) or more lanes.

No municipal police officer shall enforce the provisions of this section on any part of an interstate highway that runs within the boundaries of a municipality.

SECTION 2. Section 63-3-1201, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-3-1201. Any person who drives any vehicle in such a manner as to indicate either a wilful or a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. Reckless driving shall be considered a greater offense than careless driving.

Every person convicted of reckless driving shall be punished upon a first conviction by a fine of not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), and on a second or subsequent conviction he may be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) days or by a fine of not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both.

No municipal police officer shall enforce the provisions of this section on any part of an interstate highway that runs within the boundaries of a municipality.

SECTION 3. Section 63-3-1213, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-3-1213. Any person who drives any vehicle in a careless or imprudent manner, without due regard for the width, grade, curves, corner, traffic and use of the streets and highways and all other attendant circumstances is guilty of careless driving. Careless driving shall be considered a lesser offense than reckless driving.

Every person convicted of careless driving shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) nor more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00).

No municipal police officer shall enforce the provisions of this section on any part of an interstate highway that runs within the boundaries of a municipality.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.