Senate Bill 2075

AN ACT TO CREATE A NEW CODE SECTION TO BE CODIFIED AS SECTION 63-15-8, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE BEFORE RECEIVING MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE TAGS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 63-15-8, Mississippi Code of 1972:

63-15-8. (1) Every owner of a motor vehicle in this state shall furnish proof of motor vehicle liability insurance as required by this chapter before such owner may receive a license tag for a motor vehicle or renew a license tag. However, any owner of a motor vehicle exempted from the proof of insurance requirement pursuant to Section 63-15-4(1) shall be exempted from the provisions of this section. Proof of motor vehicle liability insurance as required by this chapter shall be made by presenting to the tax collector in person or by mail the insurance card, or a copy thereof, issued by the insurer for the motor vehicle.

(2) Any person who presents or causes to be presented to the tax collector or to any court of this state false evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance as required by this chapter, upon conviction, shall be guilty of perjury and shall be fined Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and shall be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment. This fine and imprisonment shall be waived if the offender chooses to purchase, and provides proof of such purchase by the court date, motor vehicle liability insurance for a minimum of six (6) months' coverage in at least the minimum amounts required under paragraph (j) of Section 63-15-3. Any person convicted of filing false proof of motor vehicle liability insurance as required by this chapter shall surrender to the department his driver's license, license plates and registration of the motor vehicle for which false proof was presented and the procedure for the suspension of licenses provided in Section 63-15-11 relating to accidents shall be followed. Such driver's license, license plates and registration shall be reinstated upon payment of any fines and reinstatement fees, serving of a sentence if applicable, and upon presentation of proof of purchase of minimum motor vehicle liability insurance in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. The district attorney of the jurisdiction where any false evidence is presented shall prosecute any violation of this section. Any person convicted under this section shall be assessed with all costs of prosecution and all court costs.

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