MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2007 Regular Session
To: Municipalities
By: Representative Reeves
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 21-19-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A MUNICIPALITY TO IMPOUND A VEHICLE FOR THE OWNER'S FAILURE TO PAY PARKING FINES; TO AUTHORIZE SUCH MUNICIPALITY TO ADMINISTER A PAYMENT PLAN FOR PARKING FINES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 21-19-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
21-19-15. (1) The governing authorities of municipalities shall have power to make all needful police regulations necessary for the preservation of good order and peace of the municipality and to prevent injury to, destruction of, or interference with public or private property.
(2) The governing authority of a municipality shall have the power to regulate or prohibit any mill, laundry or manufacturing plant from * * * operating whereby the soot, cinders or smoke therefrom, or the unnecessary noises thereof, may do damage to or interfere with the use or occupation of public or private property.
(3) The governing authority of a municipality shall have the power to prohibit or regulate the sale or use of firecrackers, roman candles, torpedoes, sky rockets, and any and all explosives commonly known and referred to as fireworks; the term "fireworks" shall not include toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns, other devices in which paper caps manufactured in accordance with United States Interstate Commerce Commission regulations for packing and shipping of toy paper caps are used, or toy pistol paper caps manufactured as provided herein, the sale and use of which shall be permitted at all times.
(4) The governing authority of a municipality may enact an ordinance specifying the manner and means by which a motor vehicle may be impounded, towed or immobilized due to failure of the record title owner of the motor vehicle to pay parking fines, or when a warrant is outstanding against the record title owner. In addition, the governing authority of a municipality may administer a six-month payment plan for parking fines; however, if any payment is delinquent or missed then the total amount of the fine shall become due and must be paid in full.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.