Legislative Alert

 

TO:   Manufacturers, Distributors, Mississippi Installers

FROM:   Ben Ford, Legislative Committee Chairman

DATE:  February 2, 2004

SUBJECT:   UPDATED!

                      Mississippi Legislation HB164, HB524, SB2204

                      Section 63-7-59 and sections 63-13-9 and 63-13-11

Representative Woods has introduced HB164 and it has been referred to the Transportation Committee. Representative Chism has introduced HB524.  These two house bills are almost identical. These amendments:

        a) Make it illegal, effective July 1, 2005, for any person to drive a motor vehicle that is registered in Mississippi with any window darkened or tinted unless each window has a label certifying that the window:

o       Has a luminous reflectance not exceeding 20%

o       Has a light transmittance of 35% or more

       b) Effective July 1, 2005, the Department of Public Safety shall issue labels to official motor vehicle inspection stations to be affixed to each window with tint applied certifying the film meets the requirements.

        c) The station shall conduct tests to determine compliance.

         d) House Bills 164 and 524 amendments delete the requirements for film to be approved by the Department of Public Safety and for decals to be provided by the manufacturer.

         e) In conjunction with the amendments to 63-7-59, section 63-13-11 is amended to allow the official inspection stations to charge a fee of $5.00 for inspecting window tint.  The inspection station retains the fee.

Previously, we have been able to defeat the Mississippi amendments.  This year we need local participation to achieve the same results.  These are not good bills, and if they pass I anticipate real turmoil.

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS

           a) The cards used by the inspection stations to measure light transmittance are inaccurate.

           b) The meters are only accurate within two percent (2%).

           c) No tolerance language is included in the bill.

           d) The additional $5.00 fee for inspecting the film will discourage use of film.

           e) This law gives no indication of how to measure reflectivity.

           f) Every state that includes the inspection of window film in the official inspection program has numerous complaints during implementation

The Mississippi House Transportation Committee members and their telephone numbers are listed on the previous alert.

The Chairman and Vice-chairman of the committee are key contacts and can advise when the bill is going to be discussed. Please communicate with Representatives Woods and Chism to let them know of your concerns.

Also, Senator Jackson has proposed SB2204, which will allow all municipal law enforcement officers to enforce the window film code.  This bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary committee, Division B.  Please contact Senator Jackson’s office if you are concerned with this bill.

To check the status of these bills, go to:  http://index.ls.state.ms.us/2004Session.html 

 

Thomas L. Woods, Sponsor of HB164

twoods@mail.house.state.ms.us

601-359-3466

Gary Chism, Sponsor of HB 524

gchism@mail.house.state.ms.us

601-359-2433

Robert Jackson, Sponsor of SB 2204

rjackson@mail.senate.state.ms.us

662-326-4000