MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 Regular Session
To: Insurance; County Affairs
By: Representative Formby, Fillingane, Beckett, Aldridge, Turner, Nicholson, Chism, Snowden, Davis, Ellington, Martinson, Akins, Moore, Carlton, Wells-Smith, Lott
AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW CODE SECTION TO BE CODIFIED AS SECTION 63-15-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE OR OTHER FORM OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS REQUIRED BY THIS CHAPTER BEFORE RECEIVING MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAGS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 63-15-8, Mississippi Code of 1972:
63-15-8. (1) Every owner of a motor vehicle in this state shall furnish proof of motor vehicle liability insurance or other form of financial responsibility as required by this chapter before such owner may receive a license tag for a motor vehicle or renew a license tag. Proof of motor vehicle liability insurance or other form of financial responsibility as required by this chapter shall be made either by presenting an insurance card to the tax collector's office or by signing a certificate on a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Insurance stating that the motor vehicle owner is insured or otherwise financially responsible for at least the minimum requirements as provided by this chapter and in any form as provided by this chapter. Such certificate shall state in bold print that anyone who shall affirmatively sign such certificate who is not insured or otherwise financially responsible for at least the minimum requirements as provided by this chapter shall be subject to a fine of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). Such certificate shall be furnished to each motor vehicle owner by the tax collector of the county where the motor vehicle is registered. The tax collector shall mail such certificate with a motor vehicle tag renewal notice that shall be mailed back to the tax collector before a tag may be renewed. The tax collectors shall also make such certificates available at the tax collectors' offices during regular business hours. The tax collector shall keep the original in the tax collector's records.
(2) Any person who presents or causes to be presented to the department or to any court of this state false evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance or other form of financial responsibility as required by this chapter, upon conviction, shall be fined Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). This fine shall be waived if the offender chooses to purchase, and provides proof of such purchase by the court date, motor vehicle liability insurance for a minimum of six (6) months' coverage in at least the minimum amounts required under paragraph (j) of Section 63-15-3.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.