MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Agriculture

By: Representative Holland

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 75-27-113, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MARKINGS ON MOTOR VEHICLES CARRYING LOADS OF PULPWOOD OR TIMBER; TO REQUIRE THAT PERSONS PURCHASING TIMBER SHALL RETAIN CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 75-27-113, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-27-113. (1) Timber purchased by weight or measured volume shall be purchased by weight on the basis of tonnage or pounds with one (1) ton equaling two thousand (2,000) pounds avoirdupois weight, or by measured volume so long as the measured volume is not calculated by weight but is derived from any of the standards provided in subsection (2).

(2) When timber is purchased by measured volume, the timber shall be measured by either cubic feet, Doyle Log Rule, International 1/4 Inch Rule or Scribner Decimal C Rule.

(3) No person, firm or corporation, shall use any scales or measuring device in the purchase of timber unless the same is true and accurate. All devices used for buying or selling timber shall comply with specifications and tolerances and other requirements of Chapter 27 of Title 75, Mississippi Code of 1972, and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

(4) Purchaser specifications shall be made available to the haulers and timber owners and shall be posted in a place easily accessible to the haulers or timber owners at the location where the timber is weighed or measured. Scale tickets shall be made available to the haulers and timber owners for each load before the close of the following business day and shall include the measured volume or weight, the standard of weight or measurement used, and the basis and amount of any deductions.

(5) Any person, firm or corporation purchasing timber that has been cut eight (8) feet in length or longer shall retain information described herein for subsequent inspection by the Deputy Director of Weights and Measures, or his designee, for a period of three (3) years. This information shall include either the contract or the name, address and county origin of both cutter-hauler and the payee for the timber. The information may be maintained in paper or electronic format.

(6) (a) All motor vehicles carrying loads of pulpwood or timber within the state shall have markings displaying the following information:

(i) The name or trade name of the motor carrier operating the self-propelled motor vehicle;

(ii) The city or community and state in which the carrier maintains its principal place of business or in which the motor vehicle is customarily based;

(iii) The Department of Transportation number, if applicable;

(iv) If the name of any person other than the operating carrier appears on the motor vehicle operated under its own power, either alone or in combination, the name of the operating carrier shall be followed by the information required by this subsection and shall be preceded by the words "operated by"; and

(v) Other identifying information may be displayed on the motor vehicle if it is not inconsistent with the information required by this subsection.

(b) The marking shall:

(i) Appear on both sides of the self-propelled motor vehicle;

(ii) Be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background on which the letters are placed;

(iii) Be readily legible, during daylight hours, from a distance of fifty (50) feet while the motor vehicle is stationary; and

(iv) Be kept and maintained in a manner that retains the legibility required by this subsection.

(c) The marking may be painted on the motor vehicle or may consist of a removable device, if that device meets the identification and legibility requirements of this subsection, and such marking shall be maintained in such a manner as to remain legible as required by this subsection.
(7) (a) The State Director of Weights and Measures, the

Deputy Director of Weights and Measures and any state inspector of weights and measures are hereby vested with police powers, such as given to sheriff and constables, for the sole purpose of issuing citations, without warrant, to any person who the Director, Deputy Director or inspector has probable cause to believe is violating this section, or who shall impede, hinder or otherwise prevent or attempt to prevent the testing of scales or measuring devices or enforcement of this chapter. The citation shall be returnable to the Deputy Director of Weights and Measures. No citation for a violation of this section shall be issued after one (1) year from the date of the violation.

(b) The Deputy Director of Weights and Measures, or his designee, shall within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the citation, dismiss the citation, issue a written warning or levy a fine of not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for the first offense; not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the second offense if the second offense occurs within six (6) months of the first offense; or not more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for the third and subsequent offenses, if the third or subsequent offenses occur within six (6) months of the first offense. If the Deputy Director of Weights and Measures, or his designee, determines the violation was unintentional and due to an act of God or was beyond the reasonable control of the person, firm or corporation committing the violation, no fine shall be levied. A person, firm or corporation operating any scales or measuring devices in the purchase of timber at more than one (1) location in the state shall not be subject to fines for second or subsequent offenses unless the offenses occur at the same location on separate days. A citation shall record each and every violation of this section but for the purposes of determining second and subsequent offenses under this section, all violations of this section committed by one (1) person, firm or corporation at one (1) location during one (1) day shall constitute one (1) offense.

(c) Any person, firm or corporation may appeal a fine to the State Director of Weights and Measures or his designee. The appeal must be filed within thirty (30) days after the levy of the fine. Any party aggrieved by the final order of the State Director of Weights and Measures, or his designee, may appeal to the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, by filing an appeal within thirty (30) days of a final order of the Director of Weights and Measures. If no appeal is taken and the fine is not paid within sixty (60) days of the order or if the fine is upheld on appeal and no further appeal is taken and the fine is not paid within sixty (60) days of the ruling on the appeal, the Director of Weights and Measures may forward an abstract of the order or judgment to the circuit clerk of any county in the State of Mississippi for enrolling as any other judgment. After enrolling the judgment, the Director of Weights and Measures may institute an action to recover the fines assessed under this section in the name of the State of Mississippi in any court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise proceed as a judgment creditor pursuant to the laws of the State of Mississippi.

(8) This section does not apply to pulpwood as defined in Section 75-79-5 of the Mississippi Uniform Pulpwood Scaling and Practices Act.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.