Motor Vehicles

State laws vary when it comes to motor vehicle insurance requirements, licensing and registration. The term vehicle generally includes automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trailers and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight. Service members and their families will want to understand their state’s laws on registration and licensing before moving to a new state. Visit the USA.gov Motor Vehicle Services page for links to state-specific websites.

Registration & Licensing Requirements

Mississippi State law requires you to have sufficient liability insurance and a valid driver’s license in order to operate a vehicle. The term “vehicle” generally includes automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trailers and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight. Further, your vehicle must be properly registered. Access complete information on insurance, driver’s licensing, and where and how to register your vehicle by visiting the State Department of Motor Vehicles website.

State Laws

Mississippi law requires the following while traveling in private passenger vehicles:

• All children under 4 years of age be in child safety seats
• Every driver and every front seat passenger must wear a properly fastened safety seat belt system that meets each person's age and weight requirements
• Every child who is at least 4 years of age but under 8 years of age, regardless of the location inside the vehicle, must wear a properly fastened safety seat belt system that meets each child's age and weight requirements.

Motorcycles and their operators are subject to special laws. If you own and operate a motorcycle, you must comply with those laws. Visit the State Department of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Many States and local jurisdictions have strict laws about the use of cell phones and other digital devices while driving. Research these laws on the State Department of Motor Vehicles website. Tickets will be issued and fines assessed for violating these laws. Play it safe and always use a “hands free” device if you must use a cell phone or other PDA while driving. Hands-free devices must be used while operating a motor vehicle on ALL military installations worldwide.

Base Regulations

Seat Belts/Child Restraints

Mississippi State traffic regulations apply on Columbus AFB. Seat belt and/or restraints are mandatory for everyone on base and mandatory for service members off base. Mississippi requires seat belt use for drivers and all passengers 7 years of age and over or taller than 57 inches or 65 pounds or over. Base officials can stop vehicles for suspected non-use of seat belts. Child safety seats and/or restraints are mandatory in Mississippi for all children. 

Children under the age of 4 must be protected by a child restraint device. Children 4-7 years old and under 57 inches or 65 pounds must be in a booster seat.  Under the federal magistrate program, family members, civilian workers, and military retirees in violation of base traffic regulations can be ticketed by the Security Forces and be subject points against driving privileges.

Cell Phones or any other Electronic Devices

The Air Force Safety Center maintains AFI 91-207, “The US Air Force Traffic Safety Program.”  The following is a summary of requirements that affect you and your dependents:

1. Text messaging while operating a government motor vehicle, operating a PMV on official government business or utilizing a government owned electronic device are prohibited on and off a DOD installation.

2. Using cell phones, any listening device or other hand-held electronic devices, that take attention away from driving is prohibited.  Drivers may use a single ear bud or voice-activated hands-free device, where allowed by law.  However, use of hands-free devices is also discouraged as they create significant distractions from safe driving performance.

3. All personnel on Air Force installations are prohibited from using portable headphones, earphones, cellular phones, iPods, or other listening and entertainment devices (other than hearing aids) while walking, jogging, running, bicycling, skating or skateboarding on any roadway, including perimeter road and base housing areas.  The previous rule of one ear bud while running or walking on the roads is rescinded, however, headphones and ear buds may be used on sidewalks and on the base running track.

Additional requirements in AFI 91-207

4. All personnel who jog, walk or run on Columbus AFB during periods of inclement weather or at night, are required to wear retro-reflective clothing or retro-reflective accessories visible from the front and back.  This requirement does not apply to the running track.

5. Motorcycle riders are reminded that proper PPE is required to ride on base, which includes sturdy over the ankle footwear, long pants, long sleeves, a DOT approved helmet with eye protection or a full face shield and full-fingered gloves.

Implied Consent

When you drive in Mississippi, you give your implied consent to testing for the presence of alcohol or drugs. If a Law Enforcement Officer has good reason to suspect you're driving under the influence, they can ask you to take a breath or chemical test. You have the right to refuse, in which case you must surrender your driver's license on the spot.

Mississippi enacted "Zero Tolerance" to curb teenage drinking and related accidents. The blood alcohol content of .02 applies to anyone under the age of 21. A person who drinks as little as one to two beers could be cited under DUI laws. The standard for drivers 21 or older is .08 percent. Columbus AFB aggressively pursues driving under the influence.

Registering Vehicles on Base

Registering your vehicles on base (including motorcycles) is no longer a requirement at Columbus AFB.

State and local laws regulate the operation of motor vehicles, and these laws can vary by location. Many states regulate the following:

• Seatbelt use
• Child safety seats
• Motorcycle operation
• The use of cellphones and other digital devices while driving

Learn more about motor vehicle laws in your state at the Distraction.gov State Laws page.