MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Judiciary, Division B
By: Senator(s) Younger
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-16-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE BY A CERTAIN AMOUNT THE FINE FOR A CONVICTION OF OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT MANDATORY LIABILITY INSURANCE; TO PROVIDE THAT A JUDGE SHALL NOT WAIVE SUCH FINE AND MAY AUTHORIZE THE REINSTATEMENT OF A DEFENDANT'S DRIVER'S LICENSE ONLY UPON PROOF OF MANDATORY LIABILITY INSURANCE AND PAYMENT OF ANY FINES, ASSESSMENTS AND/OR FEES; TO AMEND SECTION 63-15-4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-16-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-16-13. (1) If
the operator of a motor vehicle being operated on the public roads, streets or
highways of the State of Mississippi or registered in the State of Mississippi
has been found failing to have motor vehicle liability insurance in at least
the minimum amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j), it is a misdemeanor and,
upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of * * * Five Hundred
Dollars ($500.00) and suspension of driving privilege for a period of one
(1) year or until the owner of the motor vehicle shows proof of liability
insurance that is in compliance with the liability limits required by Section
63-15-3(j) and has paid the fines and assessments imposed and the driver's
license reinstatement fees imposed by the Department of Public Safety. A judge
shall * * * not waive a defendant's fine under this subsection (1) and
may authorize the reinstatement of * * * a defendant's driver's
license only upon proof of mandatory liability insurance * * * and payment * * * of any fines, assessments
and/or fees. If such fines are levied in a municipal court, the funds from
such fines shall be deposited in the general fund of the municipality. If such
fines are levied in any of the courts of the county, the funds from such fines
shall be deposited in the general fund of the county. A person convicted of a
criminal offense under this subsection (1) shall not be convicted of a criminal
offense under Section 63-15-4(4) arising from the same incident.
(2) (a) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be designated as the "Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund." The fund shall consist of monies deposited therein as provided under subsection (1) of this section and monies from any other source designated for deposit into such fund. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund; however, one-half (1/2) of any monies in excess of the amount needed to defray the expenses and costs of the verification system created under Section 63-16-3 remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall be transferred to a special fund created in the State Treasury for the purpose of funding a Highway Patrol Trooper School, and one-half (1/2) of any monies in excess of the amount needed to defray the expenses and costs of the verification system created under Section 63-16-3 remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall be transferred to the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund created under Section 41-59-75.
(b) Monies in the Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund may be used by the Department of Public Safety, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for the purpose of defraying expenses and costs for the motor vehicle insurance verification system created under Section 63-16-3. In addition, at any time during a fiscal year, if the Department of Public Safety determines that funds in the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund created under Section 45-2-1 are insufficient, the department may request the State Fiscal Officer to transfer funds from the Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund. The State Fiscal Officer may make an appropriate transfer if he determines that the funds in the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund are insufficient and the funds in the Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund will be sufficient for defraying the expenses and costs for the motor vehicle insurance verification system created under Section 63-16-3. Monies in the fund used for the purposes described in this paragraph (b) shall be in addition to other funds available from any other source for such purposes.
SECTION 2. Section 63-15-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-15-4. (1) The following vehicles are exempted from the requirements of this section:
(a) Motor vehicles exempted by Section 63-15-5;
(b) Motor vehicles for which a bond or a certificate of deposit of money or securities in at least the minimum amounts required for proof of financial responsibility is on file with the department;
(c) Motor vehicles that are self-insured under Section 63-15-53; and
(d) Implements of husbandry.
(2) (a) Every motor vehicle operated in this state shall have a motor vehicle liability insurance policy that covers the vehicle and is in compliance with the liability limits required by Section 63-15-3(j). The insured parties shall be responsible for maintaining the insurance on each motor vehicle.
(b) An insurance company issuing a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance as required by this section shall furnish to the insured an insurance card for each motor vehicle at the time the insurance policy becomes effective. The insurance card may be furnished in either paper or electronic format as chosen by the insured. Acceptable electronic formats include display of electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of electronic device. Beginning on July 1, 2013, insurers shall furnish commercial auto coverage customers with an insurance card clearly marked with the identifier, "Commercial Auto Insurance" or "Fleet" or similar language, to reflect that the vehicle is insured under a commercial auto policy.
(3) Upon stopping a motor vehicle at a roadblock where all passing motorists are checked as a method to enforce traffic laws or upon stopping a motor vehicle for any other statutory violation, a law enforcement officer, who is authorized to issue traffic citations, shall verify that the insurance card required by this section is in the motor vehicle or is displayed by electronic image on a cellular phone or other type of electronic device. However, no driver shall be stopped or detained solely for the purpose of verifying that the motor vehicle is covered by liability insurance in the amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j) unless the stop is part of such roadblock. If the law enforcement officer uses the verification system created in Section 63-16-3 and receives a response from the system verifying that the owner of the motor vehicle has liability insurance in the amounts required under Section 63-15-3(j), then the officer shall not issue a citation under this section notwithstanding any failure to display an insurance card by the owner or operator.
(4) Failure of the owner or
the operator of a motor vehicle to have the insurance card in the motor
vehicle, or to display the insurance card by electronic image on a cellular
phone or other type of electronic device, is a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction, is punishable by a fine of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) and
suspension of driving privilege for a period of one (1) year or until the owner
of the motor vehicle shows proof of liability insurance that is in compliance
with the liability limits required by Section 63-15-3(j) and has paid the fines
and assessments imposed and the driver's license reinstatement fees imposed by
the Department of Public Safety. A judge shall determine whether the defendant
is indigent, and if a determination of indigence is made, shall authorize the
reinstatement of that person's driver's license upon proof of mandatory
liability insurance subject to compliance with a payment plan for any fines,
assessments and/or fees. Fraudulent use of an insurance card shall be
punishable in accordance with Section 97-7-10. If such fines are levied in a
municipal court, the funds from such fines shall be deposited in the general
fund of the municipality. If such fines are levied in any of the courts of the
county, the funds from such fines shall be deposited in the general fund of the
county. A person eligible to be convicted of a criminal offense under * * * Section 63-16-13(1)
shall not be eligible to be convicted of a criminal offense under * * * this
subsection (4) arising from the same incident.
(5) If, at the hearing date or the date of payment of the fine the owner shows proof that such insurance was in effect at the time of citation, the case shall be dismissed as to the defendant with prejudice and all court costs shall be waived against the defendant.
(6) No law enforcement officer may access any function, feature or other electronic image on a person's cellular phone or other type of electronic device when enforcing the provisions of this section except for the electronic image of an insurance card shown to the officer.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.