Bill Text: MS HB219 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Motor vehicles; abolish inspection sticker and increase fees for reinstatement of driver's license after first reinstatement.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2014-02-04 - Died In Committee [HB219 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2014-HB219-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2014 Regular Session

To: Transportation; Ways and Means

By: Representative Moak

House Bill 219

AN ACT TO REPEAL SECTIONS 63-13-1 THROUGH 63-13-29, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND FOR THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF INSPECTION; TO AMEND SECTION 63-7-59, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 99-19-73, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Sections 63-13-1, 63-13-3, 63-13-5, 63-13-7, 63-13-8, 63-13-9, 63-13-11, 63-13-13, 63-13-15, 63-13-17, 63-13-19, 63-13-21, 63-13-23, 63-13-25, 63-13-27 and 63-13-29, Mississippi Code of 1972, which provide for annual safety inspections of motor vehicles and for the issuance of certificates of inspection, are repealed.

     SECTION 2.  Section 63-7-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     63-7-59.  (1)  No person shall drive any motor vehicle required to be registered in this state upon the public roads, streets or highways in this state with any sign or poster, or with any glazing material which causes a mirrored effect, upon the front windshield, side wings or side or rear windows of the vehicle, other than a certificate or other paper required or authorized to be so displayed by law.  No person shall drive any motor vehicle required to be registered in this state upon the public roads, streets or highways in this state with any tinted film, glazing material or darkening material of any kind on the windshield of a motor vehicle except material designed to replace or provide a sun shield in the uppermost area as authorized to be installed by manufacturers of vehicles under federal law.

     (2)  From and after July 1, 2006, no person shall drive any motor vehicle required to be registered in this state upon the public roads, streets or highways in this state with any window  tinted or darkened, by tinted film or otherwise, unless * * *

  (a)  The windshield of the vehicle has affixed to it a label as provided under subsection (6) of this section certifying that all the windows of the vehicle have a light transmittance of twenty-eight percent (28%) or more; or

  (b)  Tthe owner or operator of the vehicle has a certificate of medical exemption issued under subsection (4) of this section.

     (3)  The prohibitions of subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to (a) school buses, other buses used for public transportation, any bus or van owned or leased by a nonprofit organization duly incorporated under the laws of this state or any funeral home services vehicle, any limousine owned or leased by a private or public entity, or any government-owned law enforcement or fire department vehicle or any volunteer fire department vehicle; (b) any window behind the front two (2) side windows, including the rear window, of any pickup truck, van, motor home, recreational vehicle, sport utility vehicle or multipurpose vehicle that has been tinted or darkened after factory delivery to the extent that the light transmittance of the window meets the minimum light transmittance requirements authorized to be installed for that window and for that vehicle under federal law or regulations before factory delivery; or (c) any other motor vehicle the windows of which have been tinted or darkened before factory delivery as permitted by federal law or federal regulations.

     (4)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, it shall be lawful for any person who has been diagnosed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of Mississippi as having a physical condition or disease that is seriously aggravated by minimum exposure to sunlight to place or have placed upon the windshield or windows of any motor vehicle which he owns or operates or within which he regularly travels as a passenger tinted film or other darkening material that would otherwise be in violation of this section.  However, any vehicle, in order to be exempt under this subsection (4), shall have prominently displayed on the vehicle dashboard a certificate of medical exemption on a form prepared by the Commissioner of Public Safety and signed by the person on whose behalf the certificate is issued.  The special certificate authorized by this subsection (4) shall be issued free of charge to the applicants through the offices of the tax collectors of the counties.  Each applicant shall present to the issuing official (a) an affidavit signed personally by the applicant and signed and attested by a physician which states the applicant's physical condition or disease which entitles him to an exemption under this subsection (4); and (b) proof of ownership of the motor vehicle by the applicant, or a signed affidavit by the owner of a motor vehicle operated for the use of the applicant, for which he is obtaining the certificate.

     (5)  The windshield on every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow or other moisture from the windshield, which device shall be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle.

 * * *

     (6)  The Department of Public Safety shall issue labels to official motor vehicle inspection stations for affixing to the windshield of every motor vehicle required to be inspected in this state with a window therein which has been tinted or darkened with any tinted film or other darkening material after factory delivery.  The label shall be affixed to the lower left corner of the windshield directly above the certificate of inspection, shall be legible from outside the vehicle, and shall indicate the label registration number, a certification of compliance with Mississippi law, and such other information as the Commissioner of Public Safety deems appropriate.  The labels shall be of a type which is pressure-sensitive, self-destructive upon removal, and no larger than one (1) inch square in size.  Before affixing the label, the inspection station shall conduct a test to determine that the window complies with the light transmittance requirements prescribed under subsection (2) of this section.  The test shall be conducted using such methods or devices as may be approved and certified not less often than annually by the Department of Public Safety.  An inspection station shall not be required by the department to enter into a bond separate and apart from any bond required for official inspection stations as provided under Section 63-13-5, but the bond required under Section 63-13-5 shall be considered entirely sufficient for the purposes of this section.  For conducting such tests, motor vehicle inspection stations shall charge and collect a fee of Five Dollars ($5.00).  Two Dollars ($2.00) of the fee shall be retained by the inspection station, and Three Dollars ($3.00) of the fee shall be remitted to the Department of Public Safety and may be expended, upon legislative appropriation, for the operational expenses of the department.  No fee shall be charged unless a test is actually performed under this subsection (6), and no inspection station shall be required to perform a test to determine if the windows of a motor vehicle have been tinted or darkened with any tinted film or other darkening material after factory delivery so long as the inspection station does not issue a motor vehicle inspection certificate for any such vehicle.  The presence of a label upon the windshield of a motor vehicle shall indicate that the person who affixed the label certifies that the windows of the vehicle meet the restrictions of subsection (2) of this section as to light transmittance.

     ( * * *(7)6)  No person shall install any tinted film, darkening material, glazing material or any other material upon the windshield or any window of a motor vehicle which, after the installation thereof, would result in such vehicle being in violation of subsection (2) of this section.

 * * * (8)  No motor vehicle inspection certificate shall be issued for a vehicle on which the windshield or any window of the vehicle has been darkened by the installation of tinted film or by other means, except as authorized under this section.  Inspection certificates may be issued for motor vehicles having labels affixed pursuant to subsection (6) of this section and for motor vehicles for which a certificate of medical exemption has been issued pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

     ( * * *(9)7)  It shall be unlawful for any person to alter or reproduce any * * * label or certificate of medical exemption approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety under this section for the purpose of misleading law enforcement officers * * * or motor vehicle inspection stations, or to knowingly use any approved * * * label or certificate except as authorized by this section.

     ( * * *(10)8)  Any person violating subsection (6) or (7) * * *, (8) or (9) of this section, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than three (3) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

     ( * * *(11)9)  Any violation of this section other than a violation of subsection (6) or (7) * * *, (8) or (9) of this section shall be punishable upon conviction as provided in Section 63-7-7.

     ( * * *(12)10)  Violations of this section shall be enforced only by law enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and municipal law enforcement officers of municipalities having a population of two thousand (2,000) or more on the public roads, streets and highways under their jurisdiction.

     ( * * *(13)11)  The Department of Public Safety shall initiate a public awareness program designed to inform and educate persons of the provisions of this section.  Funds for such public awareness program shall be available through the office of the Governor's representative for highway safety programs.

     SECTION 3.  Section 99-19-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, is brought forward as follows:

     99-19-73.  (1)  Traffic violations.  In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation in Title 63, Mississippi Code of 1972, except offenses relating to the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.) and offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:

     FUND                                                  AMOUNT

State Court Education Fund....................... $  .85

State Prosecutor Education Fund..................    1.25

Vulnerable Persons Training,

Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund.........    1.50

Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.............     .30

Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund..........    7.00

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund...........    5.00

     Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund

(for all moving violations).................    5.45

Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund........   20.00

Mississippi Leadership Council on Aging Fund.....    1.00

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death

Benefits Trust Fund.........................     .50

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters

Disability Benefits Trust Fund...............    .15

     State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose

          of providing additional compensation for district

attorneys and their legal assistants.......    10.00

Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund...........   10.00

Drug Court Fund..................................   10.00

Capital Defense Counsel Fund.....................    2.89

Indigent Appeals Fund............................    2.29

Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.............    2.33

Victims of Domestic Violence Fund................     .49

Public Defenders Education Fund..................    1.00

Domestic Violence Training Fund..................    1.00

Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..............    2.50

Children's Justice Center Fund...................    2.21

DuBard School for Language Disorders Fund.........    .88

Children's Advocacy Centers Fund

through June 30, 2014.......................    1.91

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT through June 30, 2014..... $ 90.50

     TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT

from and after July 1, 2014................. $ 88.59

     (2)  Implied Consent Law violations.  In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or any other penalty for any violation of the Mississippi Implied Consent Law (Section 63-11-1 et seq.):

     FUND                                                  AMOUNT

Crime Victims' Compensation Fund................. $ 10.00

State Court Education Fund.......................    1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund..................    2.00

     Vulnerable Persons Training,

Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund.........    1.50

Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.............     .50

Driver Training Penalty Assessment Fund..........   22.00

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund...........   11.00

Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund........   45.00

Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program Fund    5.00

Federal-State Alcohol Program Fund...............   10.00

     Mississippi Crime Laboratory

Implied Consent Law Fund....................   25.00

Spinal Cord and Head Injury Trust Fund...........   25.00

Capital Defense Counsel Fund.....................    2.89

Indigent Appeals Fund............................    2.29

Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.............    2.33

Victims of Domestic Violence Fund................     .49

State General Fund...............................   35.00

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death

Benefits Trust Fund.........................     .50

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability

Benefits Trust Fund.........................    1.00

     State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose

          of providing additional compensation for district

attorneys and their legal assistants.......    10.00

Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund...........   10.00

Drug Court Fund..................................   10.00

     Statewide Victims' Information and Notification

System Fund.................................    6.00

Public Defenders Education Fund..................    1.00

Domestic Violence Training Fund..................    1.00

Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..............    2.50

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT........................... $243.50

     (3)  Game and Fish Law violations.  In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of the game and fish statutes or regulations of this state:

     FUND                                                  AMOUNT

State Court Education Fund....................... $  1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund..................    2.00

     Vulnerable Persons Training,

Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund....    1.50

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund...........    5.00

Hunter Education and Training Program Fund.......    5.00

State General Fund...............................   30.00

Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death

Benefits Trust Fund.........................     .50

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability

Benefits Trust Fund.........................    1.00

     State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose

          of providing additional compensation for district

attorneys and their legal assistants.......    10.00

Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund...........   10.00

Drug Court Fund..................................   10.00

Capital Defense Counsel Fund.....................    2.89

Indigent Appeals Fund............................    2.29

Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.............    2.33

Victims of Domestic Violence Fund................     .49

Public Defenders Education Fund..................    1.00

Domestic Violence Training Fund..................    1.00

Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..............    2.50

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT........................... $ 89.00

     (4)  [Deleted]

     (5)  Speeding, reckless and careless driving violations.  In addition to any assessment imposed under subsection (1) or (2) of this section, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for driving a vehicle on a road or highway:

(a)  At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by

at least ten (10) miles per hour but not more than twenty (20) miles per hour........................................ $ 10.00

(b)  At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by at least twenty (20) miles per hour but not more than thirty (30) miles per hour............................ $ 20.00

(c)  At a speed that exceeds the posted speed limit by thirty (30) miles per hour or more................. $ 30.00

(d)  In violation of Section 63-3-1201, which is the offense of reckless driving........................... $ 10.00

(e)  In violation of Section 63-3-1213, which is the offense of careless driving........................... $ 10.00

     All assessments collected under this subsection shall be deposited into the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund established under Section 41-59-75.

     (6)  Other misdemeanors.  In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any misdemeanor violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section, except offenses relating to vehicular parking or registration:

     FUND                                                   AMOUNT

Crime Victims' Compensation Fund................. $ 10.00

State Court Education Fund.......................    1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund..................    2.00

     Vulnerable Persons Training,

Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund....    1.50

Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.............     .50

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund...........    5.00

Capital Defense Counsel Fund.....................    2.89

Indigent Appeals Fund............................    2.29

Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.............    2.33

Victims of Domestic Violence Fund................     .49

State General Fund...............................   30.00

State Crime Stoppers Fund........................   1.50

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death

Benefits Trust Fund.........................     .50

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability

Benefits Trust Fund.........................    1.00

     State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose

          of providing additional compensation for district

attorneys and their legal assistants.......    10.00

Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund...........   10.00

Drug Court Fund..................................    8.00

Judicial Performance Fund........................    2.00

     Statewide Victims' Information and Notification

System Fund.................................    6.00

Public Defenders Education Fund..................    1.00

Domestic Violence Training Fund..................    1.00

Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..............    2.50

Information Exchange Network Fund................    4.00

Motorcycle Officer Training Fund.................     .75

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT........................... $106.75

     (7)  Other felonies.  In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any felony violation not specified in subsection (1), (2) or (3) of this section:

     FUND                                                   AMOUNT

Crime Victims' Compensation Fund................. $ 10.00

State Court Education Fund.......................    1.50

State Prosecutor Education Fund..................    2.00

     Vulnerable Persons Training,

Investigation and Prosecution Trust Fund....    1.50

Child Support Prosecution Trust Fund.............     .50

Law Enforcement Officers Training Fund...........    5.00

Capital Defense Counsel Fund.....................    2.89

Indigent Appeals Fund............................    2.29

Capital Post-Conviction Counsel Fund.............    2.33

Victims of Domestic Violence Fund................     .49

State General Fund...............................  60.00

Criminal Justice Fund............................   50.00

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death

Benefits Trust Fund.........................     .50

     Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Disability

Benefits Trust Fund.........................    1.00

     State Prosecutor Compensation Fund for the purpose

          of providing additional compensation for district

attorneys and their legal assistants.......    10.00

Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund...........   10.00

Drug Court Fund..................................   10.00

     Statewide Victims' Information and Notification

System Fund.................................    6.00

Public Defenders Education Fund..................    1.00

Domestic Violence Training Fund..................    1.00

Attorney General's Cyber-Crime Unit..............    2.50

Crime Laboratory DNA Identification System Fund.. 100.00

TOTAL STATE ASSESSMENT........................... $280.50

     (8)  Additional assessments on certain violations:

          (a)  Railroad crossing violations.  In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment in addition to all other state assessments due under this section from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation involving railroad crossings under Section 37-41-55, 63-3-1007, 63-3-1009, 63-3-1011, 63-3-1013 or 77-9-249:

Operation Lifesaver Fund.......................... $25.00

          (b)  Drug violations.  In addition to any monetary penalties and any other penalties imposed by law, there shall be imposed and collected the following state assessment in addition to all other state assessments due under this section from each person upon whom a court imposes a fine or other penalty for any violation of Section 41-29-139:

Drug Evidence Disposition Fund.................... $25.00

     (9)  If a fine or other penalty imposed is suspended, in whole or in part, such suspension shall not affect the state assessment under this section.  No state assessment imposed under the provisions of this section may be suspended or reduced by the court.

     (10)  After a determination by the court of the amount due, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the court to promptly collect all state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section.  The state assessments imposed under the provisions of this section may not be paid by personal check.  It shall be the duty of the chancery clerk of each county to deposit all such state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor.  The chancery clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the circuit, county and justice courts in such county during such month.  It shall be the duty of the municipal clerk of each municipality to deposit all such state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality on a monthly basis with the State Treasurer pursuant to appropriate procedures established by the State Auditor.  The municipal clerk shall make a monthly lump-sum deposit of the total state assessments collected in the municipal court in such municipality under this section, and shall report to the Department of Finance and Administration the total number of violations under each subsection for which state assessments were collected in the municipal court in such municipality during such month.

     (11)  It shall be the duty of the Department of Finance and Administration to deposit on a monthly basis all such state assessments into the proper special fund in the State Treasury.  The monthly deposit shall be based upon the number of violations reported under each subsection and the pro rata amount of such assessment due to the appropriate special fund.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall issue regulations providing for the proper allocation of these special funds.

     (12)  The State Auditor shall establish by regulation procedures for refunds of state assessments, including refunds associated with assessments imposed before July 1, 1990, and refunds after appeals in which the defendant's conviction is reversed.  The Auditor shall provide in such regulations for certification of eligibility for refunds and may require the defendant seeking a refund to submit a verified copy of a court order or abstract by which such defendant is entitled to a refund. All refunds of state assessments shall be made in accordance with the procedures established by the Auditor.

     SECTION 4.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2014.


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