House Bill 218

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF ANY MUNICIPALITY, IN THEIR DISCRETION, TO ESTABLISH A VOLUNTARY MOTOR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM TO ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN LOCATING, IDENTIFYING AND RECOVERING STOLEN OR ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLES; TO AUTHORIZE OWNERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES LICENSED AND REGISTERED IN A MUNICIPALITY, UPON PAYMENT OF A FEE, TO REGISTER AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM; TO PRESCRIBE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH MONEY DERIVED FROM THE FEES COLLECTED MAY BE EXPENDED BY THE MUNICIPALITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The governing authorities of any municipality, in their discretion, may establish a voluntary motor vehicle identification program to assist law enforcement officers in locating, identifying and recovering stolen or abandoned motor vehicles. The owner of a motor vehicle that is licensed and registered in a municipality of this state, upon payment of a fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per vehicle, may register his or her vehicle or vehicles under the program with the tax collector of the municipality, or the tax collector of the county if the municipality's motor vehicle ad valorem taxes are collected by the county tax collector. At the time of registration under the program, the motor vehicle owner shall provide the tax collector with the vehicle owner's name and address, the make, model and license tag number of the vehicle, the vehicle identification number (VIN) and such other information as the tax collector may require. Each person registering and participating in the program shall be issued by the tax collector a special decal designed and approved by the governing authorities of the municipality for placement on the lower driver's side of the windshield of the vehicle. Each decal shall expire one (1) year from the date of issue and may be renewed annually upon payment of a fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00).

(2) The monies derived from the fees collected under subsection (1) of this section may be expended by the governing authorities of the municipality to defray the costs incurred in establishing and operating the program. Monies derived from the fees that exceed program operating costs may be expended by the municipality for road repair and/or public safety.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.