Several new laws went into effect Wednesday, including the elimination of vehicle inspection stickers and the elimination of the need for a concealed-carry license.
Prior to Wednesday, vehicles were required to have their vehicle inspected once a year and display a sticker in the front drivers side windshield.
The inspection cost $5 and consisted of checking the vehicles turn signals, horn and tires, and making sure the vehicle was street legal, said Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop K Spokesman Ben Siebert.
In a release issued when the bill was passed to eliminate the inspection sticker, Lieutenant Governor Tate Reeves said he felt the sticker was no longer necessary.
“Many states are eliminating the inspection sticker as vehicles are manufactured with improved safety features, and I think we should join them,” said Reeves.
Siebert said even though the inspection stickers are no longer necessary, drivers with aftermarket window tint on their vehicle still require inspections.
Reeves also stated in the release that he felt it was more important for troopers to be out protecting the public instead of making sure vehicles were up to date with the inspection sticker.
“These fine men and women were trained with taxpayer dollars to protect Mississippi’s safety on the road, lets allow them to put their skills to their highest and best use,” said Reeves in the release.
Siebert said the elimination of the inspection sticker has little affect on the duties of highway patrol officers.
“Anything on a vehicle that is unsafe we can still address,” said Siebert.
The new concealed carry law allows citizens to carry a legal firearm without a permit.
Shane Tucker, chief deputy of the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, said he is in full support of the new law.
“We are talking about legal firearms, and the majority of people are very responsible. With everything going on in the world today I definitely see it as a good thing,” said Tucker.