House Bill 20

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-9-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ISSUING A TRAFFIC TICKET TO RETURN IT TO THE APPLICABLE CLERK OF THE COURT WITHIN FIFTEEN DAYS OF ITS ISSUANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-9-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-9-21. (1) This section shall be known as the Uniform Traffic Ticket Law.

(2) All traffic tickets shall be printed in the original and at least two (2) copies and such other copies as may be prescribed by the State Auditor. All traffic tickets shall be uniform as prescribed by the State Auditor and the Attorney General, except as otherwise provided in subsection (3)(b) and except that such state officers may alter the form and content of traffic tickets to meet the varying requirements of the different law enforcement agencies. The State Auditor and the Attorney General shall prescribe a separate traffic ticket, consistent with the provisions of subsection (3)(b) of this section, to be used exclusively for violations of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law.

(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, every traffic ticket issued by any sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, county patrol officer, municipal police officer or State Highway Patrol officer for any violation of traffic or motor vehicle laws shall be issued on the uniform traffic ticket consisting of an original and at least two (2) copies and such other copies as may be prescribed by the State Auditor.

(b) The traffic ticket, citation or affidavit which is issued to a person arrested for a violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law shall be uniform throughout all jurisdictions in the State of Mississippi. It shall contain a place for the trial judge hearing the case or accepting the guilty plea, as the case may be, to sign, stating that the person arrested either employed an attorney or waived his right to an attorney after having been properly advised of his right to have an attorney. If the person arrested employed an attorney, the name, address and telephone number of the attorney shall be written on the ticket, citation or affidavit.

(c) Every traffic ticket shall show, among other necessary information, the name of the issuing officer, the name of the court in which the cause is to be heard, and the date and time such person is to appear to answer the charge. The ticket shall include information which will constitute a complaint charging the offense for which the ticket was issued, and when duly sworn to and filed with a court of competent jurisdiction, prosecution may proceed thereunder.

(4) All traffic tickets shall be bound in book form, shall be consecutively numbered and each traffic ticket shall be accounted for to the officer issuing such book. Said traffic ticket books shall be issued to sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and county patrol officers by the chancery clerk of their respective counties, to each municipal police officer by the clerk of the municipal court, and to each State Highway Patrol officer by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

(5) The chancery clerk, clerk of the municipal court and the Commissioner of Public Safety shall keep a record of all traffic ticket books issued and to whom issued, accounting for all books printed and issued.

(6) The original traffic ticket shall be delivered by the officer issuing the traffic ticket to the clerk of the court to which it is returnable within fifteen (15) days from the date of its issue, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. The original traffic ticket shall be retained in that court's records and the number noted on the docket. The officer issuing the traffic ticket shall also give the accused a copy of the traffic ticket. The clerk of the court shall file a copy with the State Auditor within forty-five (45) days after judgment is rendered showing the amount of the fine and cost or, in cases in which no judgment has been rendered, within one hundred twenty (120) days after issuance of the ticket. Other copies that are prescribed by the State Auditor pursuant to this section shall be filed or retained as may be designated by the State Auditor. All copies shall be retained for at least two (2) years.

(7) Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.