MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representative Snowden

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW CODE SECTION 27-19-56.32, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF DISTINCTIVE LICENSE TAGS FOR MEMBERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE GUARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 27-19-56.32, Mississippi Code of 1972:

27-19-56.32. (1) In recognition of their patriotic services rendered the state and the citizens thereof, any owner of a motor vehicle who is a member of the Mississippi State Guard established under Section 33-5-51, upon application and payment of the road and bridge privilege taxes, ad valorem taxes and registration fees as prescribed by law for private carriers of passengers, pickup trucks and other noncommercial motor vehicles, and subject to the provisions of this section, shall be issued a distinctive license tag for any motor vehicle registered in his name identifying the person as a member of the Mississippi State Guard. The distinctive license tags so issued shall be of such color and design as the State Tax Commission, with the advice of the Mississippi State Guard, may prescribe, shall bear the words "Mississippi State Guard," and shall consist of such letters or numbers, or both, as may be necessary to distinguish each license tag.

(2) The distinctive license tags authorized in this section shall be prepared by the State Tax Commission and shall be issued through the tax collectors of the several counties of the state in the same manner as are other motor vehicle license tags, and the tax collectors shall be entitled to their regular fees for their services. Application for the distinctive license tags authorized by this section shall be made to the county tax collector on forms prescribed by the State Tax Commission. Applicants for the distinctive license tags shall present to the tax collector proof of their membership in the Mississippi State Guard by means of a certificate signed by the commanding officer of the applicant on forms prescribed by the State Tax Commission. The application shall be remitted to the State Tax Commission within seven (7) days of the date the application is made.

(3) The distinctive license tags shall be used only upon and for personally or jointly owned private passenger vehicles (including station wagons, recreational motor vehicles and pickup trucks) registered in the name, or jointly in the name, of the member making application therefor, and when so issued to the applicant, shall be used upon the vehicle for which issued in lieu of the standard license tag normally issued for the vehicle.

(4) The distinctive license tags issued under this section shall not be transferable between motor vehicle owners. If the owner of a vehicle bearing a distinctive license tag sells, trades, exchanges or otherwise disposes of the vehicle, the tag shall be retained by the owner to whom issued and returned by the owner to the tax collector of the county.

(5) A regular license tag must be properly displayed as required by law until replaced by a distinctive license tag under this section. The regular license tag must be surrendered to the tax collector upon issuance of the distinctive license tag under this section. The tax collector shall issue up to two (2) license decals for each distinctive license tag issued under this section, which will expire the same month and year as the regular license tag.

(6) In the case of loss or theft of a distinctive license tag issued under this section, the owner may make application and affidavit for a replacement distinctive license tag as provided by Section 27-19-37.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.