MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Transportation; County Affairs

By: Representative McGee

House Bill 1377

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-25-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE FOR AUTOMATED RECORDING EQUIPMENT OR SYSTEM TO BE USED TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND TRAFFIC SPEEDS IN DESIGNATED SCHOOL ZONES DURING ONLY THE SPECIFIED MONTHS, DAYS AND TIMES FOR WHICH THE SCHOOL SPEED LIMITS ARE EFFECTIVE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 17-25-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     17-25-19.  (1)  (a)  Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection (1), neither the board of supervisors of any county nor the governing authority of any municipality shall adopt, enact or enforce any ordinance authorizing the use of automated recording equipment or system to enforce compliance with traffic signals, traffic speeds or other traffic laws, rules or regulations on any public street, road or highway within this state or to impose or collect any civil or criminal fine, fee or penalty for any such violation.

          (b)  Any county or municipality using automated recording equipment or system shall remove the equipment or system before October 1, 2009.

          (c)  The board of supervisors or any county or the governing authority of any municipality may adopt, enact and enforce an ordinance authorizing the use of automated recording equipment or system to enforce compliance with traffic signals, traffic speeds or the traffic law, rules or regulations in the vicinity of a school as provided under Section 63-3-515; however, the automated recording equipment or system may only be operated on the specified months, days and times for which the school speed zone provided under Section 63-3-515 is effective.  In addition to authorizing the automated recording equipment or system to enforce compliance in accordance with this paragraph (c), the ordinance may provide for the imposition or collection of a civil or criminal fine, fee or penalty for any such violation.

     (2)  For the purposes of this section, the term "automated recording equipment or system" means a camera or optical device installed to work in conjunction with a traffic control signal or radar speed detection equipment, or both, and designed to record images that depict the license plate attached to the rear of a motor vehicle that is not operated in compliance with instructions of the traffic control signal or the posted speed limit.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.