5/20/05-Gov. Haley Barbour has signed a bill intended to boost enforcement of motor vehicle insurance laws by giving Mississippi towns a cut of fines collected for violations.
The new law, previously HB1238, allocates 25 percent of fines collected from drivers who cannot provide proof of vehicle insurance to cities and counties. It takes effect July 1.
Under previous Mississippi law, the violation was one of the only traffic fines that local agencies did not receive a portion of.
Law enforcement officers will be permitted to ticket drivers who fail to show proof of insurance when stopped at a roadblock.
In the past, officers could only ask for proof of insurance if a motorist were stopped for another infraction, such as speeding.
The new law also drops the fine for first-time offenders who fail to provide proof of insurance when pulled over to $500. Existing law fines those offenders $1,000.
If an offender purchases insurance before their court date, the fine is $100. If they can prove they had insurance at the time of ticketing, the fine would be removed.

4/1/05-A bill intended to boost enforcement of motor vehicle insurance laws by giving Mississippi towns a cut of fines collected for violations have been forwarded to Gov. Haley Barbour.
House and Senate lawmakers reached agreement on a bill offered by Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, on March 30 – a deadline day for compromise bills to move to the governor.
HB1238 would allocate 25 percent of fines collected from drivers who cannot provide proof of vehicle insurance to cities and counties.
The violation is one of the only traffic fines that local agencies do not receive a portion of.
A provision added to the bill would allow law enforcement to ticket drivers who fail to show proof of insurance when stopped at a roadblock. Provisions to require drivers to show their insurance cards during a vehicle inspection or upon purchasing a new vehicle tag were left off the final version.
Currently, law enforcement officers can only ask for proof of insurance if a motorist is stopped for another infraction, such as speeding.
Also left off the final version was a requirement that the Department of Public Safety maintain a database of insured motorists.
The fine for the first-time offenders who fail to provide proof of insurance when pulled over is $1,000. The bill sent to the governor would drop the fine to $500.
If they purchase insurance before their court date, the fine is $100. If an offender can prove they had insurance at the time of ticketing, the fine would be removed.
For bill status, call (601) 359-3719.

3/9/05-The Senate voted on March 8 to approve a bill intended to boost enforcement of motor vehicle insurance laws by giving cities a cut of fines collected for violations.
HB1238, which passed the House in early February, is headed back to the House for final approval before heading to Gov. Haley Barbour.
Sponsored by Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, the measure would allocate 25 percent of fines collected from drivers who cannot provide proof of vehicle insurance to cities and counties.
The violation is one of the only traffic fines that local agencies do not receive a portion of.
Senators added a provision to the bill that would require drivers to show proof of insurance when they get a vehicle inspected, were stopped at a roadblock or bought a new vehicle tag.
The Senate removed a requirement that the Department of Public Safety maintain a database of insured motorists.
The fine for the first-time offenders who fail to provide proof of insurance when pulled over is $1,000.
If they purchase insurance before their court date, the fine is $100. Under House and Senate versions of the bill, the fine would increase to $500.
For bill status, call (601) 359-3719.

3/8/05-The Senate Insurance Committee voted Feb. 25 to approve a bill intended to boost enforcement of motor vehicle insurance laws by giving cities a cut of fines collected for violations.
HB1238, which previously passed the House, now moves to the full Senate for further consideration.
Sponsored by Rep. Mark Formby, R-Picayune, the measure would allocate 25 percent of fines collected from uninsured drivers to cities and counties.
The violation is one of the only traffic fines that local agencies do not receive a portion of. It also requires insurance companies to supply customer lists to the Department of Public Safety.
A provision added to the bill calls for a $500 fine to companies that do not hand over a customer’s information within 30 days.
Fines for the first-time offenders would drop from $1,000 to $500. Subsequent violations would be $1,000.
For bill status, call (601) 359-3719.

2/10/05-The House passed a bill this week intended to boost enforcement of motor vehicle insurance laws by giving cities a cut of the fine.
The measure would allocate 25 percent of fines collected from uninsured drivers to cities and counties.
The violation is one of the only traffic fines that local agencies do not receive a portion.
HB1238, which passed with a 76-41 vote, also requires insurance companies to supply customer lists to the Department of Public Safety.
A provision added to the bill would assess a $500 fine to companies that do not hand over a customer’s information within 30 days.
Fines for the first-time offenders would drop from $1,000 to $500. Subsequent violations would be $1,000.
The bill is awaiting transfer to the Senate for consideration. For bill status, call (601) 359-3719.