MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2021 Regular Session
To: Judiciary B
By: Representatives Gibbs (72nd), Holloway, Bell (65th), Brown (20th), Crudup, Foster, McCray, Straughter, Watson, Yates
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-1215, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL DRAG RACING TO MAKE IT A FELONY; TO MAKE IT A FELONY TO WILLFULLY OBSTRUCT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC BY USE OR OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-3-1215, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-3-1215. (1) No person
shall drive any vehicle upon the public roads in this state in any race, speed
competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical
endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a
speed record, and no person shall in any manner participate in any such race,
speed competition, drag race, test * * * of physical endurance, exhibition, or
purpose of making a speed record.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "drag race" means the operation of two (2) or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit on the public roads of this state.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "racing" means the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain, outdistance, or prevent another vehicle from passing, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes on the public roads of this state.
(4) Any person convicted of
violating this section shall be guilty of a * * * felony and, upon conviction,
shall be fined not more than * * * Two
Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or * * * commitment to the custody of the State Department of Corrections not to exceed two (2) years,
or both.
(5) The prohibitions contained in this section do not apply to events sanctioned by local governing authorities.
SECTION 2. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to willfully obstruct by the use or operation of a motor vehicle the free, convenient and normal use of any public sidewalk, street, highway, alley, road, or other passageway by impeding, hindering, stifling, retarding or restraining traffic or passage thereon, and any person or persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or commitment to the custody of the State Department of Corrections not to exceed two (2) years, or both.
(2) The provisions of this section are supplementary to the provisions of any other statute of this state.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.