MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Judiciary B

By: Representative Snowden

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-17-87, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR TRESPASS AS APPLIED TO AIRPORTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 97-17-87, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-17-87. (1) Any person who shall be guilty of a wilful or malicious trespass upon the real or personal property of another, for which no other penalty is prescribed, shall, upon conviction, be fined not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned not longer than six (6) months in the county jail, or both.

(2) (a) Any person who shall wilfully trespass upon any air operations area or sterile area of an airport serving the general public shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail for up to one (1) year, or both.

(b) Any person who violates the provisions of the paragraph (a) while in the unlawful possession of a firearm or other deadly weapon shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for up to five (5) years.

(c) For the purposes of subsection (2) of this section "air operations area" means a portion of an airport designed and used for landing, taking off, or surface maneuvering of airplanes; and "sterile area" means an area to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property in accordance with an approved security program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.