Mississippi Senate Bill SB2408

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

Law enforcement pursuits; require municipalities and counties to develop policies regarding.

Impact

The proposed legislation significantly impacts the operational protocols of law enforcement agencies within Mississippi. By outlining mandatory procedures, the bill aims to standardize how police agencies manage vehicle pursuits across different jurisdictions. This uniformity is intended to minimize the risk of accidents or collateral damage during high-stakes pursuits, thereby enhancing overall community safety. Additionally, the bill affords the Department of Public Safety authority to enforce compliance, including the ability to issue certificates of noncompliance, whereby noncompliant agencies may face withholding of state allocations.

Summary

Senate Bill 2408 mandates that county and municipal law enforcement agencies in Mississippi develop and implement a motor vehicle police pursuit policy by December 31, 2023. This policy must encompass specific criteria governing when and how police officers can initiate, continue, and terminate pursuits of fleeing vehicles. The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining public safety and outlines that pursuits may only proceed into another jurisdiction under particular circumstances, especially when there is no pre-existing agreement between the involved political subdivisions. Failure to adopt such a policy will lead to a loss of state accreditation for the agency.

Contention

Notably, the bill is likely to spark debate around issues of local control versus state oversight. Critics may argue that the imposition of a state-mandated pursuit policy undermines the ability of local agencies to tailor their responses based on specific community circumstances. Proponents, however, may contend that such guidelines are necessary to ensure officer and civilian safety, especially in an age where policing practices are under increased scrutiny. The exact parameters of the policy—especially concerning how local discretion is balanced against standardized guidelines—could be focal points of contention as stakeholders discuss the bill.