House Bill 1204

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-37-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF A MUNICIPALITY TO DELEGATE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE PARKING REGULATIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 21-37-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

21-37-29. The governing authorities of any municipality in this state are hereby authorized and empowered to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, and to install and maintain parking meters for the regulation of the parking of vehicles on the municipal streets. When such parking meters are installed and operated by any municipality, the governing authorities thereof shall have the power to prescribe, by ordinance, reasonable rules and regulations for the use and operation of same, and to provide and prescribe penalties for the violation of such rules and regulations. Such governing authorities may also fix, prescribe, and collect fees for the use of the parking space adjacent to any such meters and to require that such fee shall be paid by the deposit of the appropriate coin or coins in such meters.

The governing authorities of a municipality may, by ordinance, delegate the authority to enforce any regulations concerning parking that may be required, including, but not limited to, penalties for violations, deadlines for the payment of fines and late payment penalties for fines not paid when due to a department or official of the delegated authority. The ordinance also may provide that a summons or parking ticket for the violation of the ordinance or regulations may be issued by a law enforcement officer, other uniformed municipal employees or by uniformed personnel serving under contract with the municipality.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.