House Bill 1063

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-2-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS OF VIOLATIONS OF THE MANDATORY SAFETY BELT LAW SHALL BE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS NOR MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-2-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-2-7. (1) A violation of this chapter shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) upon first conviction and by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for second and subsequent convictions; however, only the operator of a vehicle may be fined for a violation of this chapter by the operator, for a violation of this chapter by a front-seat passenger or for a violation of this chapter by a child who is under seven (7) years of age and who is not required to be protected by the use of a child passenger restraint device or system or a belt positioning booster seat system under the provisions of Sections 63-7-301 through 63-7-311, regardless of the seat that the child occupies. The maximum fine that may be imposed against the operator of a vehicle for a violation of this chapter by the operator or for a violation of this chapter by one or more passengers upon a first conviction shall be Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) in the aggregate. The maximum fine that may be imposed against the operator of a vehicle for a violation of this chapter by the operator or for a violation of this chapter by one or more passengers upon a second or subsequent conviction shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) in the aggregate.

(2) A violation of this chapter shall not be entered on the driving record of any individual so convicted, nor shall any state assessment provided for by Section 99-19-73, or any other state law, be imposed or collected.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.