MCA Chapter 105

in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-1 Enactment of traffic rules and regulations.

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and empowered to enact traffic rules and regulations for the control, direction, parking and general regulation of traffic and automobiles on the campus and streets of any state institution of higher learning under the supervision of such board. Any rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall become effective only after notice of the enactment of same has been published in three consecutive weekly issues of the college newspaper and in a newspaper published and having general circulation in the county or municipality where the institution to which same pertain is located; such notice shall state where the full text of such rules and regulations may be found on file. In addition, such rules and regulations shall be posted on five bulletin boards at each such institution for a period of four weeks after their promulgation.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-3 Enforcement of traffic rules and regulations; jurisdiction of law enforcement officers appointed by state institutions of higher learning.

The traffic officers duly appointed by the president of any state institution of higher learning, or any peace officer or highway patrolman of this state, are vested with the powers and authority to perform all duties incident to enforcing such rules and regulations as may be enacted under the authority granted in Section 37-105-1, including the arrest of violators. The peace officers duly appointed by the president of any state institution of higher learning are also vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing all violations of law that occur within five hundred (500) feet of any property owned by the university, if such universities determine that they want such peace officers to exercise such powers and if reasonably determined to have a possible impact on the safety of students, faculty or staff of the university while on said property. If a university determines that it wants such peace officers to exercise such powers, the university may enter into an interlocal agreement with other law enforcement entities specifying the individual and joint duties to be exercised on property within the peace officers’ jurisdiction. Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be interpreted to require action by any such peace officer appointed by such universities to events occurring outside the boundaries of university property, nor shall any such university or its employees be liable for any failure to act to any event occurring outside the boundaries of property owned by the university. With approval from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the university may enter into an interlocal agreement with other law enforcement entities for the provision of equipment or traffic control duties, however, the duty to enforce traffic regulations and to enforce the laws of the state or municipality off of university property lies with the local police or sheriff’s department which cannot withhold its services solely because of the lack of such an agreement.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-5 Penalty for violations of traffic rules and regulations.

Violation of any rules or regulations promulgated under the authority granted in Section 37-105-1 shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person charged with a violation of such rules or regulations may be charged with such violation in the justice court of the county in which such violation occurred. Any person convicted of a violation of any such rule or regulation may be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-7 Animals running at large.

The board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning is hereby authorized and empowered to prevent or regulate the running at large of animals of all kinds on the campus and the streets of any state institution of higher learning under the supervision of such board, and to cause such animals as may be running at large to be impounded and a charge made against the owner to discharge the cost and expenses of keeping the same. If the owner of any such animal does not pay such cost within the time prescribed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning, such impounded animal may be sold to discharge the cost and expense of impounding and selling the same. If the owner of any such animal does not pay such cost within the time prescribed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning and if such impounded animal cannot be sold to discharge the cost and expense of impounding and selling the same, such impounded animal may be sold or donated to research organizations.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-105-9 Application of general criminal laws of state.

Any act which, if committed within the limits of a city, town or village, or in any public place, would be a violation of the general laws of this state, shall be criminal and punishable if done on the campus, grounds or roads of any of the state institutions of higher learning. The peace officers duly appointed by the board of trustees of state institutions of higher learning are vested with the powers and subjected to the duties of a constable for the purpose of preventing and punishing all violations of law on university or college grounds, and for preserving order and decorum thereon.