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HB1376 • 2026

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

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.

Did Not Pass

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

Sponsor
Varner
Last action
2026-02-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does specify that the chief deputy must assist the sheriff in carrying out duties as set out under Section 19-25-19.

Allowing Sheriffs and Chief Deputies to Use Radar for Speed Detection

This bill would allow sheriffs and their chief deputies in Mississippi counties to use radar speed detection equipment on public roads outside city limits.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a law to let sheriffs and their chief deputies use radar devices on county roads and highways that are not inside cities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Sheriffs in Mississippi counties
  • Chief deputies of sheriffs in Mississippi counties

Terms To Know

Radar speed detection equipment
Devices used by law enforcement to measure how fast cars are going.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill did not pass during its session and will not become law.
  • It only allows radar use outside of incorporated municipalities, not within cities.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (H) Referred To County Affairs;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

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

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H. B. No. 1376 *HR26/R920* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR26/R920
PAGE 1 (OM\KW)

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

By: Representative Varner

HOUSE BILL NO. 1376

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-519, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF AND HIS OR HER CHIEF DEPUTY IN ANY COUNTY 2
TO USE RADAR SPEED DETECTION EQUIPMENT UPON THE PUBLIC ROADS AND 3
HIGHWAYS WITHIN A COUNTY THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF ANY 4
INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. Section 63-3-519, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 7
amended as follows: 8
63-3-519. It shall be unlawful for any person or peace 9
officer or law enforcement agency, except the Mississippi Highway 10
Safety Patrol, to purchase or use or allow to be used any type of 11
radar speed detection equipment upon any public street, road or 12
highway of this state. However, such equipment may be used: 13
(a) By municipal law enforcement officers within a 14
municipality having a population of two thousand (2,000) or more 15
according to the latest or a previous federal census upon the 16
public streets of the municipality, but in no case where the 17
latest federal census population for the municipality is less than 18
one thousand five hundred (1,500); 19
H. B. No. 1376 *HR26/R920* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR26/R920
PAGE 2 (OM\KW)
ST: Sheriffs and chief deputies; authorize use
of radar speed detection equipment under certain
conditions.
(b) By any college or university campus police force 20
within the confines of any campus wherein more than two thousand 21
(2,000) students are enrolled; 22
(c) By municipal law enforcement officers in any 23
municipality having a population in excess of fifteen thousand 24
(15,000) according to the latest federal census on federally 25
designated highways lying within the corporate limits * * *; 26
(d) By municipal law enforcement officers upon the 27
public streets of any incorporated municipality (i) where the 28
county seat is located in the municipality and (ii) where there is 29
a public community college located in the municipality * * *; and 30
(e) By the sheriff and his or her deputy, as prescribed 31
under this paragraph, of any county on any public county road or 32
highway within the county that is located outside the corporate 33
limits of any incorporated municipality. The deputy prescribed 34
under this paragraph shall be the deputy who assists the sheriff 35
in carrying out the duties of his or her office as set out under 36
Section 19-25-19. 37
The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol shall be immediately 38
notified by municipal law enforcement of any road blockages or 39
emergencies occurring on any federally designated limited-access 40
highways lying within the corporate limits. 41
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 42
and after July 1, 2026. 43