House Bill 975

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DECREASE THE MINIMUM POPULATION REQUIREMENTS FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND FOR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES UPON WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OR CAMPUS MAY USE RADAR SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT; TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF AND DEPUTY SHERIFFS OF ANY COUNTY TO USE RADAR SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT UPON ANY PUBLIC ROAD, STREET OR HIGHWAY THAT IS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION AND THAT IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF A MUNICIPALITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-3-519, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-3-519. (1) It is unlawful for any person or peace officer or law enforcement agency, except the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, to purchase or use or allow to be used any type of radar speed detection equipment upon any public street, road or highway of this state. However, such equipment may be used:

(a) By municipal law enforcement officers within a municipality having a population of five hundred (500) or more upon the public streets of the municipality;

(b) By any college or university campus police force within the confines of any campus wherein more than five hundred (500) students are enrolled;

(c) By municipal law enforcement officers in any municipality having a population in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the latest federal census on federally designated highways lying within the corporate limits; and

(d) By the sheriff and deputy sheriffs of any county upon any public road, street or highway that (i) is under the jurisdiction of the county board of supervisors for maintenance and construction, and (ii) is located outside of the corporate limits of a municipality.

The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall not set up radar on highways within municipalities with a population in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the latest federal census.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.