Bill Text: MS HB1376 | 2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Sheriffs and chief deputies; authorize use of radar speed detection equipment under certain conditions.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Failed) 2026-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB1376 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2026-HB1376-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: County Affairs; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Representative Varner

House Bill 1376

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF AND HIS OR HER CHIEF DEPUTY IN ANY COUNTY TO USE RADAR SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT UPON THE PUBLIC ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WITHIN A COUNTY THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF ANY INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 63-3-519, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     63-3-519.  It shall be unlawful for any person or peace officer or law enforcement agency, except the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, to purchase or use or allow to be used any type of radar speed detection equipment upon any public street, road or highway of this state.  However, such equipment may be used:

          (a)  By municipal law enforcement officers within a municipality having a population of two thousand (2,000) or more according to the latest or a previous federal census upon the public streets of the municipality, but in no case where the latest federal census population for the municipality is less than one thousand five hundred (1,500);

          (b)  By any college or university campus police force within the confines of any campus wherein more than two thousand (2,000) students are enrolled;

          (c)  By municipal law enforcement officers in any municipality having a population in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) according to the latest federal census on federally designated highways lying within the corporate limits * * *.;

          (d)  By municipal law enforcement officers upon the public streets of any incorporated municipality (i) where the county seat is located in the municipality and (ii) where there is a public community college located in the municipality * * *.; and

          (e)  By the sheriff and his or her deputy, as prescribed under this paragraph, of any county on any public county road or highway within the county that is located outside the corporate limits of any incorporated municipality.  The deputy prescribed under this paragraph shall be the deputy who assists the sheriff in carrying out the duties of his or her office as set out under Section 19-25-19.

     The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall be immediately notified by municipal law enforcement of any road blockages or emergencies occurring on any federally designated limited-access highways lying within the corporate limits.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.

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