Senate Bill 2012

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-67, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW EMERGENCY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES TO USE TIRES WITH STUDS DURING SNOW OR ICY CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-7-67, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-7-67. Every solid rubber tire on a vehicle shall have rubber on its entire traction surface at least one (1) inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery.

No person shall operate or move on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer having any metal tire in contact with the roadway.

No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberances of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire. However, it shall be permissible to use farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway, and it shall be permissible to use tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

It is permissible to use tires with studs on emergency and law enforcement vehicles when required for public safety because of snow, ice or other conditions causing a vehicle to skid.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may, in their discretion, issue special permits authorizing the operation upon a highway of traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with transverse corrugations upon the periphery of such movable tracks or farm tractors or other farm machinery, the operation of which upon a highway would otherwise be prohibited under this title.

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