The Mississippi Department of Transportation is not responsible for the legislation or enforcement of Mississippi traffic laws. The information below is provided as a snapshot for research purposes only.

A complete list of traffic laws in Mississippi can be found in Title 63 “Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations” of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated

A few excerpts:

Safety Belts (Section 63-2-1)
When a passenger motor vehicle is operated in forward motion on a public road, street or highway within this state, every operator, every passenger and every child under the age of eighteen (18) regardless of the seat that the child occupies, must wear a properly fastened safety seat belt system, required to be installed in the vehicle when manufactured pursuant to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208.

Child Passenger Restraints (Section 63-7-301)
Every person transporting a child under the age of four (4) years in a passenger motor vehicle, and operated on a public roadway, street or highway within this state, shall provide for the protection of the child by properly using a child passenger restraint device or system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Every person transporting a child in a passenger motor vehicle operated on a public roadway, street or highway within this state, shall provide for the protection of the child by properly using a belt positioning booster seat system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards if the child is at least four (4) years of age, but less than seven (7) years of age and measures less than four (4) feet nine (9) inches in height or weighs less than sixty-five (65) pounds.

Impaired Driving (Section 63-11-30)
It is unlawful for any person to drive or otherwise operate a vehicle within this state who (a) is under the influence of intoxicating liquor; (b) is under the influence of any other substance which has impaired such person's ability to operate a motor vehicle; (c) has an alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths percent (.08%) or more for persons who are above the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages under state law, or two one-hundredths percent (.02%) or more for persons who are below the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages under state law, in the person's blood based upon grams of alcohol per one hundred (100) milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per two hundred ten (210) liters of breath as shown by a chemical analysis of such person's breath, blood or urine administered as authorized by this chapter; (d) is under the influence of any drug or controlled substance, the possession of which is unlawful under the Mississippi Controlled Substances Law; or (e) has an alcohol concentration of four one-hundredths percent (.04%) or more in the person's blood, based upon grams of alcohol per one hundred (100) milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per two hundred ten (210) liters of breath as shown by a chemical analysis of such person's blood, breath or urine, administered as authorized by this chapter for persons operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Wireless Communication Device Usage While Driving (Section 63-1-73)
A person who is authorized to drive under an intermediate license, a temporary learning permit or a temporary driving permit shall not operate a motor vehicle on a highway while using a wireless communication device to send or receive a written message while the motor vehicle is in motion.

Passing:

• When passing a bicyclist, motorists shall leave not less than three (3) feet between vehicle and bicycle AND shall maintain three (3) feet minimum clearance until safely past the bicycle.
• Motorists may pass a bicycle in a non-passing zone ONLY when it is safe to do so.
• Motorists passing a bicycle may NOT make a right turn unless turn can be made with reasonable safety.

Anti-Harassment:

• It is unlawful to harass, taunt or maliciously throw an object at or in the direction of anyone riding a bicycle. This is a fineable offense of up to $2,500 and 7 days of jail time.

• Ride Right (and WITH Traffic)
• Bicyclists must ride as close as practical to the right hand curb/edge of roadway except when:
  • Unsafe to do so
  • When passing another bicycle or vehicle
  • When preparing for a left turn
  • When proceeding straight where right turns are permitted and
  • When necessary to avoid hazardous conditions
• No more than 2 abreast:
  • Bicyclists may not ride more than two abreast except when on roads exclusively for bicycles.
• Indicate Turns:
  • Bicyclists shall indicate right turns, left turns and stops with hand signals before taking action.
  • Right turn: left arm upward, left arm to square or right arm horizontal to right.
  • Left turn: Left arm extended horizontally
  • Stop: left arm or right arm downward.

Mississippi § 63-3-1103. Pedestrians' right-of-way at crosswalks lacking traffic control signals; duty of vehicle approaching vehicle stopped for pedestrian.

Where traffic control signals are not in place or in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this article.

Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.