Senate Bill 2774

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-13-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ENFORCE, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PROVISIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION LAW THAT REQUIRE THE DISPLAY OF A VALID MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION CERTIFICATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-13-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-13-7. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall, not more than once each year, require that every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer registered in this state be inspected and that an official certificate of inspection and approval be obtained for each such vehicle. Each such vehicle must display at all times a certificate of inspection and approval duly issued for such vehicle upon the lower left hand corner of the windshield thereof or upon such vehicle in such position as to be visible from the outside.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, every motor vehicle registered in any other state and operated over the highways of this state shall be inspected and shall display an inspection certificate which shall be different either in color or design from the inspection certificates issued for use on state registered vehicles.

However, the Commissioner of Public Safety may authorize the acceptance in this state of a certificate of inspection and approval issued under the authority of a qualified agency or department of another state, provided that every municipality, county and state office in such other state accepts under a mutually acceptable reciprocal agreement, Mississippi's certificate of inspection and approval. The commissioner shall except from the provisions of this chapter all passenger buses and other vehicles certified by the United States Department of Transportation and subject to its rules and regulations and its periodical inspections.

(3) The Commissioner of Public Safety shall require all school buses in the State of Mississippi to be inspected during the months of July or August each year and may provide such special certificate of inspection and approval as he may deem necessary.

(4) A motor vehicle manufactured or having a model year earlier than 1961 shall not be required to be inspected or to display a certificate of inspection under the provisions of this chapter.

(5) Members of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol and law enforcement officers of incorporated municipalities within their respective jurisdictions may enforce the provisions of this chapter requiring the display of a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate; provided, however, that a municipal law enforcement officer shall not stop a motor vehicle for a violation of this chapter, or charge an individual with a violation of this chapter, unless the motor vehicle is stopped as a result of some other offense.

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