Senate Bill 2596

AN ACT TO CREATE SECTION 63-7-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT USE OF NITROUS OXIDE IN ANY MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTORCYCLE DRIVEN ON THE STREETS OR HIGHWAYS AND TO PRESCRIBE PENALTIES FOR THE USE OF NITROUS OXIDE IN MOTOR VEHICLES OR MOTORCYCLES DRIVEN ON THE STREETS OR HIGHWAYS; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 63-3-502, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT RACING AND TO MAKE THE USE OF NITROUS OXIDE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTORCYCLE THAT IS DRIVEN IN A RACE ON THE STREETS OR HIGHWAYS AN ADDITIONAL OFFENSE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 63-7-103, Mississippi Code of 1972:

63-7-103. (1) This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Trooper Steve Hood Act: The Nitrous Prohibition Act."

(2) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning ascribed in Section 27-19-3.

(b) "Motorcycle" has the meaning ascribed in Section 27-19-3.

(c) "Nitrous oxide" means a gas or liquid form of nitrous oxide that is used to increase the speed or performance of a motor vehicle or motorcycle.

(d) "Street" or "highway" means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular traffic.

(3) (a) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle or motorcycle that is equipped to supply the engine with nitrous oxide on a street or highway.

(b) A person convicted for the first offense of violating this subsection shall be fined not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), imprisoned for not more than forty-eight (48) hours, or both.

(c) (i) For a second conviction of any person violating this subsection, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, the person shall be fined not less than Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) nor more than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), shall be imprisoned not less than five (5) days nor more than one (1) year, and shall be sentenced to community service work for not less than ten (10) days nor more than one (1) year.

(ii) The minimum penalties shall not be suspended or reduced by the court and no prosecutor shall offer any suspension or sentence reduction as part of a plea bargain. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall suspend the driver's license of such person for two (2) years.

(d) (i) For a third or subsequent conviction of any person violating this subsection, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, the person shall be guilty of a felony and fined not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and shall serve not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections; however, for any such offense that does not result in serious injury or death to any person, the sentence of incarceration may be served in the county jail at the discretion of the circuit court judge.

(ii) The minimum penalties shall not be suspended or reduced by the court and no prosecutor shall offer any suspension of sentence reduction as part of the plea bargain.

(iii) After conviction and upon receipt of the court abstract, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall suspend the driver's license and driving privileges of the person for not less than five (5) years.

(e) The law enforcement agency shall seize the vehicle owned by any person charged with a third or subsequent violation of this subsection, if the convicted person was driving the vehicle at the time the offense was committed. The vehicle may be forfeited in the manner provided by Sections 63-11-49 through 63-11-53.

SECTION 2. The following shall be codified as Section 63-3-502, Mississippi Code of 1972:

63-3-502. (1) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning ascribed in Section 27-19-3.

(b) "Motorcycle" has the meaning ascribed in Section 27-19-3.

(c) "Nitrous oxide" means a gas or liquid form of nitrous oxide that is used to increase the speed or performance of a motor vehicle or motorcycle.

(2) Any person driving a motor vehicle or motorcycle upon a street or highway in a race shall, upon conviction, be punished as follows:

(a) A person convicted for the first offense of violating this subsection shall be fined not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), imprisoned for not more than forty-eight (48) hours, or both.

(b) (i) For a second conviction of any person violating this subsection, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, the person shall be fined not less than Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) nor more than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), shall be imprisoned not less than five (5) days nor more than one (1) year, and shall be sentenced to community service work for not less than ten (10) days nor more than one (1) year.

(c) (i) For a third or subsequent conviction of any person violating this subsection, the offenses being committed within a period of five (5) years, the person shall be guilty of a felony and fined not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and shall serve not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years in the custody of the Department of Corrections; however, for any such offense that does not result in serious injury or death to any person, the sentence of incarceration may be served in the county jail at the discretion of the circuit court judge.

(ii) The minimum penalties shall not be suspended or reduced by the court and no prosecutor shall offer any suspension of sentence reduction as part of the plea bargain.

(3) It is unlawful and considered an additional offense for a person to use nitrous oxide in a race on a street or highway in violation of Section 63-7-103.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.