House Bill 1206

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-2-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO ISSUE CITATIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE SEAT BELT LAW AT ROADBLOCKS, MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SCENES AND UPON PROBABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THE MOTORIST TO BE IN VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-2-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-2-7. (1) A violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) upon conviction; however, only the operator of a vehicle may be fined for a violation of this chapter by the operator or for a violation of this chapter by a passenger. Upon stopping a motor vehicle at a roadblock where all passing motorists are checked as a method to enforce traffic laws and promote public safety, upon investigating the scene of a motor vehicle accident in which the motor vehicle operator is involved, or upon stopping a motor vehicle with probable cause to believe the motorist to be in violation of some other offense not in this chapter, a law enforcement officer, who is authorized to issue traffic citations, shall determine whether the operator or any passenger is in violation of this chapter. However, no vehicle operator shall be stopped or detained solely for the purpose of determining whether the operator or any passenger is in violation of this chapter. The maximum fine that may be imposed against the operator of a vehicle for a violation of this chapter by the operator or for a violation of this chapter by one or more passengers shall be Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) in the aggregate.

(2) A violation of this chapter shall not be entered on the driving record of any individual so convicted, nor shall any state assessment provided for by Section 99-19-73, or any other state law, be imposed or collected.

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