Mississippi: Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division, Jackson, MS. 601-359-7350.

63-5-55.  Spilling loads on highways prohibited.

No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any highway unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping therefrom, except that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction or, water or other substance may be sprinkled on a roadway in cleaning or maintaining such roadway.

63-7-83.  Cover required for open top vehicles carrying sand, dirt, gravel or rock.

Every truck, trailer or other carrier with an open top, while traveling upon any state, United States or interstate highway in the State of Mississippi and while carrying any load of sand, dirt, gravel or rock shall be equipped with a tarpaulin, canvas or other such top and same to be secured over the top of any load of sand, dirt, gravel or rock.

63-7-85.  Use of sideboards on open top vehicles carrying sand, dirt, gravel or rock.

In lieu of the tarpaulin provided in section 63-7-83, a truck, trailer or other carrier with an open top while traveling upon any state, United States or interstate highway in the State of Mississippi and while carrying any load of sand, dirt, gravel or rock shall be in full compliance with sections 63-7-83 through 63-7-89 provided same is not loaded within six (6) inches of the top of the bed or is equipped with four (4) six-inch (6") sideboards, which sideboards shall be attached one (1) each to the front, back and two (2) sides of the carrier body, and shall remain lowered while the body is being loaded, provided that no part of the load shall extend above the body of the carrier.  After loading, the sideboards shall be raised and secured to remain raised during travel, and the space between the top of the sideboards and the top of the load making contact with the sideboards shall not be less than six (6) inches.

Enforcement of Secs. 63-7-83 and 63-7-85.

The State Tax Commission, Mississippi Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are hereby charged with enforcement of Sections 63-7-83 through 63-7-89.

Sources: Laws, 1974, ch. 521, § 3; Laws, 2001, ch. 596, § 64, SB 2699, eff from and after July 1, 2001.

63-7-89.  Penalties

Any person, firm or corporation operating a truck, trailer or other carrier on any state, United States or interstate highway not properly covered as set forth in section 63-7-83 or without sideboards as set forth in section 63-7-85 or in violation of any of the other provisions of said section 63-7-85 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) for each separate and distinct violation.