House Bill 325

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO INSTALL OR OPERATE ANY TELEVISION SCREEN, VIDEO MONITOR OR SIMILAR DEVICE IN ANY POSITION OR LOCATION WITHIN A MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATED UPON A PUBLIC ROAD, STREET OR HIGHWAY IN THIS STATE WHERE IT MAY BE VISIBLE TO THE DRIVER OR MAY INTERFERE WITH THE SAFE OPERATION OF SUCH VEHICLE; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS FROM SUCH PROHIBITION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) No television screen, video monitor or other device of a similar nature may be installed or used in this state in any position or location in a motor vehicle where it may be visible to the driver, or where it may in any other manner interfere with the safe operation and control of the vehicle. It is unlawful for any person to install or cause to be installed a television screen, video monitor or other device of a similar nature, in violation of the provisions of this section, or to operate upon the public roads, streets or highways in this state, or sell within this state, any motor vehicle that has a television screen, video monitor or other device of a similar nature installed in violation of the provisions of this section.

(2) The prohibitions contained in this section do not apply to the following:

(a) Electronic displays used in conjunction with vehicle navigation systems;

(b) Closed circuit video monitors designed to operate only in conjunction with dedicated video cameras and used in rear-view systems on motor vehicles;

(c) Television receivers or monitors used in government-owned vehicles by law enforcement officers in the course of their official duties; or

(d) Computer or other electronic displays or monitors used in utility vehicles by employees of the utility in the course of their official duties; however, such use is only permitted while the vehicle is stopped, standing or parked. As used in this paragraph (d), "utility" means any person, municipality, county, board, commission, district or entity created or authorized by law to provide electricity, natural gas, water, waste water services, telephone service or any combination thereof, for sale to consumers in any particular service area.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of this act shall be codified in Chapter 7 of Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.