House Bill 1597

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 63-3-7 AND 63-3-415, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CHARGE A FEE FOR PREPARING AND PROVIDING BOOKLETS CONTAINING THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND FURNISHING COPIES OF THE STATEWIDE UNIFORM TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT TO OTHER AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS; TO PROHIBIT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY FROM CHARGING A FEE FOR SUCH BOOKLETS OR REPORTS TO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO COMPILE THE RULES OF THE ROAD AND STATEWIDE UNIFORM TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT AND TO MAKE SUCH RULES AND REPORTS ACCESSIBLE WITHOUT COST; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-3-7. The commissioner of public safety is hereby authorized and directed to compile in a condensed form the rules of the road as set out by this chapter and have sufficient copies printed in pocket size booklet form. The booklets shall be made available to the various law enforcement departments, other agencies and members of the public. The Department of Public Safety may charge another department or agency an amount not exceeding the actual costs incurred by the department in compiling, printing and distributing the booklets; however, no charge may be made by the Department of Public Safety or any other department or agency for distribution of the booklets to the public. The Department of Public Safety also may compile a condensed form of the rules of the road in electronic format, which shall be accessible by law enforcement departments, other agencies and the public without charge.

SECTION 2. Section 63-3-415, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-3-415. (1) The department shall prepare and furnish * * * "statewide uniform traffic accident report" forms to other agencies, municipal police departments, county sheriffs and other suitable law enforcement agencies or individuals. The department may charge another agency or department an amount not exceeding the actual costs incurred by the department in preparing and furnishing the forms; however, no charge may be made by the Department of Public Safety or any other department or agency for distribution of the forms to the public. The Department of Public Safety also may make such forms available in electronic format, which shall be accessible by law enforcement departments, other agencies and the public without charge.

(2) Every accident report required by Section 63-3-411 from a law enforcement officer or individual shall be made on the statewide uniform traffic accident report form provided by the department.

(3) In addition to the information required on the accident report forms provided for herein, the department shall include a place on such report forms for the phone numbers of the parties involved in the accident and any witnesses to such accident.

(4) "Statewide uniform accident report" forms shall not have printed upon them the name of any elected state official.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.