Mississippi driving law, answered
Every answer here comes from Mississippi Driver's License Manual, with the page or the section it is in.
Manuals fetched on 4 October 2026. How the answers are made
How far from a fire hydrant must you park?
You may not park within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. Firefighters need to reach the hydrant fast and hook up a hose without a car in the way.
Within ten feet of a fire hydrant
As of 4 Oct 2026
How far from a crosswalk at an intersection must you park?
You may not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. A car parked near the corner hides people stepping off the curb from turning drivers.
Within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
As of 4 Oct 2026
May you park in or near an intersection?
You may not park within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection. A car parked near the corner hides people stepping off the curb from turning drivers.
Within twenty feet of a crosswalk at an intersection
As of 4 Oct 2026
How far from a stop sign or traffic signal must you park?
You may not park within 30 feet of the approach to any traffic control device. A parked car near a signal or sign can block it from the drivers who need to see it.
Within thirty feet of the approach to any traffic control device
As of 4 Oct 2026
How far from a railroad crossing must you park?
You may not park within 15 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing. A train is wider than its rails, and a car parked too close can be struck.
Within fifteen feet of the nearest rail of any railroad crossing
As of 4 Oct 2026
How far from a fire station driveway must you park?
You may not park within 20 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station. Fire trucks need a clear path out, and a parked car can slow them down.
Within twenty feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station or within seventy-five feet if it is so posted
As of 4 Oct 2026
How close to the curb must you park?
When parked parallel, your tires should be within 12 inches of the curb. A car parked far from the curb sticks out into the lane where it can be clipped.
For vehicles parked parallel, tires should be within twelve inches of the curb.
As of 4 Oct 2026
When must you stop for a school bus with flashing red lights?
You must stop for a school bus each time its red lights are flashing or its stop sign is extended. Children get on and off at those stops and often cross in front of the bus.
Each time you encounter a school bus with its red lights flashing and/or with its stop sign extended, Mississippi law states that YOU MUST:
As of 4 Oct 2026
What must you do when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights?
If an emergency vehicle with lights or siren on is parked along a four-lane highway, merge into the lane away from it if it is safe to do so. Officers and crews work just feet from passing traffic, and one drifting car can kill them.
If an emergency vehicle with lights or siren activated is parked along the side of a four-lane highway, merge into the lane away from the emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so.
As of 4 Oct 2026
When must you turn on your headlights?
You should use your lights between sunset and sunrise, and any time you cannot see clearly 500 feet ahead. Without lights, other drivers may not see you until they are right on top of you.
You should use your lights between sunset and sunrise and at any other time when you cannot see clearly ahead for a distance of five hundred feet.
As of 4 Oct 2026
How far from an oncoming vehicle must you dim your high beams?
You must use your low beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and when following within 500 feet of another vehicle. High beams that close can blind the other driver, head-on or in the mirror.
You are required by law to use your low beams when you approach within five hundred feet of an oncoming vehicle or when you are following within five hundred feet of another vehicle.
As of 4 Oct 2026
Who must wear a seat belt?
In Mississippi the driver and all passengers must wear a properly fastened seat belt, in the front seat or the back. In a crash, a loose rider in the back can be thrown forward into the people up front.
Drivers and all passengers of motor vehicles shall wear a properly fastened seat belt, regardless of whether the passenger is in the front seat or back seat of the vehicle.
As of 4 Oct 2026
When must a child ride in a car seat?
Children under 4 years old must be secured in a child passenger restraint device (car seat). An adult belt does not fit a small child and can hurt them badly in a crash.
Children under the age of four years old must be properly secured in a child passenger restraint device (car seat) that meets applicable safety standards.
As of 4 Oct 2026
What is the legal blood alcohol limit for adult drivers?
A driver 21 or older is under the influence of alcohol if their BAC registers .08% or more. Above this level a driver's reactions are slowed enough that the law treats them as impaired.
21 years old or older BAC registers .08% or more under the age of 21 BAC registers .02% or more.
As of 4 Oct 2026
What is the blood alcohol limit for drivers under 21?
A driver under 21 is under the influence of alcohol if their BAC registers .02% or more. Young drivers lack experience, so the limit is set low enough to catch nearly any drinking.
under the age of 21 BAC registers .02% or more.
As of 4 Oct 2026
What happens if you refuse a breath or blood alcohol test?
Refusing the breath or chemical test gets your license administratively suspended for 90 days. Refusing to blow does not save your license; it costs you three months of driving on its own.
Your license will be administratively suspended for ninety days for refusing the breath or chemical test.
As of 4 Oct 2026
May you use a handheld phone while driving?
Reading or posting to a social networking site using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving is not allowed. Scrolling a feed pulls your eyes down to the screen far longer than a glance.
Reading or posting to a social networking site using a hand-held mobile telephone is not allowed.
As of 4 Oct 2026
May you text while driving?
Writing, sending or reading text messages while driving is not allowed. Reading a text for a few seconds at highway speed means driving blind for the length of a football field.
Writing, sending or reading text messages is not allowed.
As of 4 Oct 2026
How far before a turn must you signal?
When using arm signals, extend your arm fully and signal continuously for at least 100 feet before you slow down, turn, stop, or change lanes. A quick wave is easy to miss, so the signal has to stay out long enough to be seen.
If you are using arm signals, be sure to extend your arm fully and signal continuously for at least one hundred feet before you slow down, turn, stop, or change lanes.
As of 4 Oct 2026
May you turn right on a red light?
You may turn right on a red light unless a sign prohibits it, but you must first stop completely and yield to other traffic and pedestrians; only yielding before turning is not enough and is illegal. A rolling right turn on red is how drivers hit people stepping off the curb to their right.
You may turn right while the light is red. But first, you must STOP COMPLETELY and yield to other traffic and pedestrians.
As of 4 Oct 2026
What is the speed limit on a highway outside town when no sign is posted?
The maximum speed for a passenger car on a two-lane state or U.S. highway in Mississippi is 55 mph. On a two-lane road the oncoming cars are only a few feet away, so the top speed is lower.
Two-lane Highways (State & U.S.) 55 mph
As of 4 Oct 2026
What is the speed limit in a school zone?
The maximum speed for any vehicle in a Mississippi school zone is 15 mph. Children near a school can dart into the street, and only a crawl lets you stop in time.
The maximum speed for any vehicle in a SCHOOL ZONE is 15 mph.
As of 4 Oct 2026
When may you pass another vehicle on the right?
You may pass on the right when the vehicle you are passing is making or about to make a left turn. A car stopped to turn left blocks the lane, and going around it on the right keeps traffic moving.
When the vehicle you are passing is making or is about to make a left turn.
As of 4 Oct 2026
May you wear headphones while driving?
Never wear stereo headphones while you drive, and never play your car stereo or radio loudly, because you may be unable to hear whistles and sirens. A driver who cannot hear a siren will not pull over for the ambulance coming up behind.
Never wear stereo headphones while you drive, and never play your car stereo or radio loudly while driving.
As of 4 Oct 2026
How old must you be to get a learner's permit?
You must be at least 15 years old to apply for a Regular Learner's Permit. Starting with a permit gives a young driver a year of practice before driving alone.
You must be at least fifteen years old to apply for a Regular Learner’s Permit.
As of 4 Oct 2026
How long must you hold a learner's permit before a license?
You must hold the Learner's Permit for 1 year before you can upgrade to a Regular Driver's License. A full year of supervised driving covers every season, from rain to early dark.
You must hold the Learner’s Permit for one year before you can upgrade to a Regular Driver’s License.
As of 4 Oct 2026
Who must ride with you when you drive on a learner's permit?
A permit holder may drive only with a licensed driver aged 21 or older. An older licensed driver has years behind the wheel and can spot trouble a new driver misses.
It entitles you to drive a motor vehicle when accompanied by a licensed driver aged twenty-one years or older who is physically occupying the seat next to you.
As of 4 Oct 2026
What is the fine for a first drunk-driving conviction?
The fine for a first-offense DUI in Mississippi is $250 to $1,000. A first DUI costs real money, not just a small ticket, before any other penalty is added.
$250 - $1,000 Up to 48 hours 120 days
As of 4 Oct 2026
How long can you be jailed for a first drunk-driving conviction?
A first-offense DUI carries a jail term of up to 48 hours. Even a first DUI can put you behind bars, which can cost you a job or a school spot.
$250 - $1,000 Up to 48 hours 120 days
As of 4 Oct 2026
How long is your license suspended for a first drunk-driving conviction?
A first-offense DUI brings a license suspension of 120 days. Four months with no license can mean no way to get to work or school.
$250 - $1,000 Up to 48 hours 120 days
As of 4 Oct 2026
Who must wear a protective helmet while operating or riding a motorcycle?
A crash helmet must be worn by anyone operating or riding any motorcycle or motor scooter on Mississippi's public roads or highways. A head that hits the road at speed with no helmet is often a life lost or a brain injured for good.
A crash helmet must be worn if operating or riding any motorcycle or motor scooter upon the public roads or highways of this state.
As of 4 Oct 2026
How much light must a tinted side or rear window let through?
The windshield must carry a label certifying that all the vehicle's windows let through 28% of light or more. Glass that lets in too little light makes it hard to see out at night and hard for police to see in.
The windshield of the vehicle must have affixed to it a label certifying that all the windows of the vehicle have a light transmittance of 28% or more.
As of 4 Oct 2026
How much distance must you leave when passing a bicycle?
When passing a bicycle, leave a safe distance of at least 3 feet between your vehicle and the bicycle. Passing too close can clip the rider or push them off balance.
Leave a safe distance of at least three feet between the vehicle and bicycle when passing the bicycle.
As of 4 Oct 2026
Must a vehicle driving slower than other traffic keep to the right lane?
On a road with more than one lane in your direction, drive in the far right lane except to pass or turn left. Slow cars in the left lane force faster ones to pass on the right, where drivers do not expect them.
If you drive on a street or highway with more than one lane for your direction, drive in the extreme RIGHT lane except to pass or turn left.
As of 4 Oct 2026
What is the minimum liability insurance coverage for bodily injury or death of one person and property damage?
Mississippi's minimum liability coverage is $25,000 for one person hurt in a single-vehicle accident. A single hospital stay can cost more than a low policy pays, leaving the injured person short.
$25,000 single person, single vehicle accident
As of 4 Oct 2026
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