MS HB1321

Establishes a $5.00 electronic citation fee charged to defendants in traffic, misdemeanor, municipal ordinance, and conservation cases when guilty pleas or guilty judgments are entered.

Distributes collected fees with 60% deposited into a Court Clerk Electronic Citation Fund established by each clerk and 40% disbursed to arresting agencies to defray electronic citation establishment and maintenance expenses.

Allows law enforcement officers to file traffic tickets, including implied consent violations, by electronic means if they conform to all substantive requirements of uniform traffic ticket standards and comply with the fee provisions.

Permits boards of supervisors or municipal governing authorities to opt out of the electronic citation fee through ordinance, with any previously collected funds then disbursed to the Department of Public Safety.

Effective date is July 1, 2015.