MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2006 Regular Session

To: Transportation

By: Representative Malone

House Bill 141

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ENFORCE SPEED LIMITS FOR COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES HAVING A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT GREATER THAN TEN THOUSAND POUNDS ON HIGHWAYS AND ROADS ON THE DESIGNATED STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 63-3-519, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     63-3-519.  (1)  It is unlawful for any person or peace officer or law enforcement agency, except the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, to purchase or use or allow to be used any type of radar speed detection equipment upon any public street, road or highway of this state.  However, such equipment may be used:

          (a)  By municipal law enforcement officers within a municipality having a population of two thousand (2,000) or more upon the public streets of the municipality;

          (b)  By any college or university campus police force within the confines of any campus wherein more than two thousand (2,000) students are enrolled;

          (c)  By municipal law enforcement officers in any municipality having a population in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the latest federal census on federally designated highways lying within the corporate limits; and

          (d)  By law enforcement officers employed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation to enforce speed limits for commercial motor vehicles having a gross vehicle weight greater than Ten Thousand (10,000) pounds on highways and roads on the designated state highway system.

     (2)  The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall not set up radar on highways within municipalities with a population in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the latest federal census.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.