House Bill 1264

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW SECTION TO BE CODIFIED AS SECTION 63-17-2, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION TO SELL ANY MOTOR VEHICLE TO ANY PERSON KNOWING SUCH PERSON TO BE ILLEGALLY IN THE UNITED STATES OR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, AND TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR SUCH VIOLATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAG OR DECAL SHALL NOT BE ISSUED TO ANY PERSON WHO DOES NOT PRESENT A VALID MISSISSIPPI DRIVER'S LICENSE AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 63-17-2, Mississippi Code of 1972:

63-17-2. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell any motor vehicle to any person knowing such person to be illegally in the United States or the State of Mississippi. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in Section 63-17-17.

SECTION 2. Section 27-19-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-19-57. (1) All persons required to pay the privilege license prescribed by this article shall register their private or commercial vehicle and pay such tax in the county in which such vehicles are domiciled or the county from which such vehicles most frequently leave and return. The tax collector of a county shall not issue a tag or decals to any vehicle domiciled or garaged in another county or to any person who does not present a valid Mississippi driver's license at the time of application.

(2) Any person owning a vehicle registered in accordance with Section 27-19-43 which changes county of domicile during a registration year shall, upon registration anniversary date, surrender to the tax collector in the new county of domicile the old tag and decals and shall be issued a new tag displaying the proper county of domicile and decals. This provision shall not apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds. Any person owning a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds which changes county of domicile during a registration year shall, upon registration anniversary date, register the vehicle in the new county of domicile but shall not be required to surrender the old tag and decals.

(3) Each person required to pay the privilege license prescribed by this article and claiming homestead exemption on a home located within a municipality shall register all private passenger vehicles to which he holds title in such municipality.

(4) If any vehicle, the license for which is issued by the county tax collector or the State Tax Commission, shall be registered in any county other than the county in which the vehicle is domiciled or garaged, or shall be registered in a municipality contrary to the requirements imposed in subsection (4) of this section, then the vehicle shall be regarded as having no privilege license; and the owner or operator thereof shall be liable for the full annual tax in the county in which such vehicle is domiciled or garaged, or in the municipality in which such vehicle is required to be registered as hereinabove provided, plus a penalty thereon of twenty-five percent (25%).

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