Senate Bill 2861

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-1-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RESTRICT THE DRIVING ACTIVITIES OF PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 17 AS TO THE ALLOWABLE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS PERMITTED IN A VEHICLE OPERATED BY THE PERSON; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-1-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-1-5. (1) No person shall drive or operate a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle upon the highways of the State of Mississippi without first securing an operator's license to drive on the highways of the state, except those persons especially exempted by Section 63-1-7.

(2) A person driving under an intermediate driver license shall not operate a motor vehicle with more than one (1) passenger in the motor vehicle unless:

(a) The intermediate licensee is supervised by a parent, guardian or other person age twenty--one (21) years or older who holds a valid driver's license under this article who is actually occupying the vehicle; or

(b) Any minor passengers in excess of the one (1) permitted under this subsection are siblings or stepsiblings of the driver or are adopted or foster children residing in the same household as the driver, and the driver is in possession of a letter from the driver's parent or legal guardian authorizing the passengers to be in the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of going to or from school.

(3) A person under the age of seventeen (17) driving under a driver's license shall not operate a motor vehicle with more than two (2) passengers in the motor vehicle unless:

(a) The licensee is supervised by a parent, guardian or other person age twenty--one (21) years or older who holds a valid driver's license under this article who is actually occupying the vehicle; or

(b) Any minor passengers in excess of the two (2) permitted under this subsection are siblings or stepsiblings of the driver or are adopted or foster children residing in the same household as the driver, and the driver is in possession of a letter from the driver's parent or legal guardian authorizing the passengers to be in the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of going to or from school.

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