Back to Mississippi

HB1042 • 2026

Radar; authorize sheriff and deputies to use in work zones and school zones.

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF AND HIS OR HER DEPUTIES IN ANY COUNTY TO USE RADAR SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT UPON THE PUBLIC STREETS, ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WHERE A WORK ZONE OR SCHOOL ZONE IS DESIGNATED; TO DEFINE THE TERMS "WORK ZONE" AND "SCHOOL ZONE"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Education
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
McMillan
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information about whether or how other law enforcement agencies' use of radar is affected by this bill.

Allowing Sheriffs to Use Radar in Work Zones and School Zones

This bill allows sheriffs and their deputies to use radar speed detection equipment in designated work zones and school zones.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to allow county sheriffs and their deputies to use radar speed detectors in areas marked as work or school zones.
  • Defines 'work zone' as a construction or maintenance area on public roads with warning signs indicating that work is happening.
  • Defines 'school zone' as road segments near schools where school-related activities occur, marked for safety purposes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Sheriffs and their deputies in all counties of Mississippi.
  • Drivers who pass through work zones or school zones where radar speed detection is used.

Terms To Know

Work zone
A construction or maintenance area on public roads with warning signs indicating that work is happening.
School zone
Road segments near schools where school-related activities occur, marked for safety purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and therefore has no effect.
  • Other law enforcement agencies still have restrictions on using radar speed detection equipment in most areas.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/12 (H) Died On Calendar

  2. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Title Suff Do Pass

  3. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) DR - TSDP: AC To CA

  4. 2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/29 (H) DR - TSDP: CA To AC

  5. 2026-01-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/16 (H) Referred To County Affairs;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

Radar; authorize sheriff and deputies to use in work zones and school zones.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
H. B. No. 1042 *HR43/R1092* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1092
PAGE 1 (OM\KP)

To: County Affairs;
Accountability, Efficiency,
Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative McMillan

HOUSE BILL NO. 1042

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF AND HIS OR HER DEPUTIES IN ANY COUNTY TO 2
USE RADAR SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT UPON THE PUBLIC STREETS, 3
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WHERE A WORK ZONE OR SCHOOL ZONE IS DESIGNATED; 4
TO DEFINE THE TERMS "WORK ZONE" AND "SCHOOL ZONE"; AND FOR RELATED 5
PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 63-3-519, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
63-3-519. (1) It shall be unlawful for any person or peace 10
officer or law enforcement agency, except the Mississippi Highway 11
Safety Patrol, to purchase or use or allow to be used any type of 12
radar speed detection equipment upon any public street, road or 13
highway of this state. However, such equipment may be used: 14
(a) By municipal law enforcement officers within a 15
municipality having a population of two thousand (2,000) or more 16
according to the latest or a previous federal census upon the 17
public streets of the municipality, but in no case where the 18
latest federal census population for the municipality is less than 19
one thousand five hundred (1,500); 20
H. B. No. 1042 *HR43/R1092* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1092
PAGE 2 (OM\KP)

(b) By any college or university campus police force 21
within the confines of any campus wherein more than two thousand 22
(2,000) students are enrolled; 23
(c) By municipal law enforcement officers in any 24
municipality having a population in excess of fifteen thousand 25
(15,000) according to the latest federal census on federally 26
designated highways lying within the corporate limits * * *; 27
(d) By municipal law enforcement officers upon the 28
public streets of any incorporated municipality (i) where the 29
county seat is located in the municipality and (ii) where there is 30
a public community college located in the municipality * * *; and 31
(e) By the sheriff and his or her deputies in any 32
county on any public road, street or highway designated as a 33
school zone or work zone. Under this paragraph (e) the following 34
terms shall have the following meanings: 35
(i) "Work zone" means a construction or 36
maintenance area that is located on or along any public highway, 37
road or street within this state that is marked by appropriate 38
warning signs or other traffic control devices indicating that 39
work is in progress; and 40
(ii) "School zone" means a designated roadway 41
segment approaching, adjacent to, and beyond school buildings or 42
grounds, or along which school related activities occur. 43
(2) The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall be 44
immediately notified by municipal law enforcement of any road 45
H. B. No. 1042 *HR43/R1092* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1092
PAGE 3 (OM\KP)
ST: Radar; authorize sheriff and deputies to
use in work zones and school zones.
blockages or emergencies occurring on any federally designated 46
limited-access highways lying within the corporate limits. 47
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 48
and after July 1, 2026. 49