Radar; authorize limited use of by sheriffs.
The bill requires counties to ensure that the radar speed detection equipment is used in a limited manner. Each sheriff's department is restricted to purchasing no more than two radar guns and is prohibited from deploying them within 500 yards of municipal boundary lines, county boundary lines, and areas where speed limits change. This regulation is designed to prevent potential overreach and ensure that the use of radar is concentrated where it is most needed without infringing on local governance. Additionally, any fines collected from speeding violations detected via these methods must be allocated to the school district where the offense occurred, which ties enforcement directly to local educational funding.
Senate Bill 2868 amends the Mississippi Code of 1972 to permit sheriffs and their deputies in counties with populations of 140,000 or more to utilize radar speed detection equipment on public streets, roads, and highways that lie outside incorporated municipalities. This legislative move is aimed at enhancing traffic enforcement capabilities in larger counties, where the presence of more vehicles may necessitate stricter monitoring of speed limits. The bill excludes the use of radar on interstate or state highways, indicating a targeted approach to local traffic regulation rather than broad-spectrum surveillance.
One potential point of contention revolves around the balance between state law enforcement powers and local governance. Critics may argue that granting counties the authority to use radar equipment could lead to over-policing in certain areas, effectively criminalizing minor infractions. Furthermore, the stipulation that funds from fines should be directed towards educational purposes could be debated; some may question whether this effectively uses traffic enforcement as a revenue-generating tool for schools, rather than solely focusing on public safety.