In 1938, the Mississippi Legislature began passing laws relative to the suspension and reinstatement of driver’s licenses. Stronger suspension laws enacted in the 1980’s have resulted in a steady increase of suspensions. Patrol officers benefit from these suspensions because fees charged to reinstate licenses are deposited into the patrol retirement fund. Although this procedure gives the appearance of a conflict of interest, PEER concludes that the steady increase in suspensions has occurred in response to the stronger suspension laws. With regard to the patrol retirement fund, PEER determined that for fiscal years 1983 through 1987, the Department of Public Safety paid into the patrol retirement fund $2,394,733 more than necessary for the fund to be actuarially sound.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.