House Bill 325 Summary

• Changes failure to have motor vehicle liability insurance from a civil violation to a criminal misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 and driver's license suspension for one year until proof of insurance is shown.

• Reduces the fine for failure to have an insurance card in the vehicle from $500 to $100, with provisions allowing indigent drivers to have license reinstatement through a payment plan for fines and fees.

• Creates a new state assessment of $200 for first offense, $300 for second offense, and $400 for third or subsequent offense for motor vehicle liability insurance violations, deposited into the Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund.

• Directs that half of any excess funds in the Uninsured Motorist Identification Fund at fiscal year-end be transferred to a special fund for a Highway Patrol Trooper School, with the other half transferred to the Mississippi Trauma Care Systems Fund.

• Becomes effective July 1, 2018.