Mississippi laws you should know about

The Biloxi SunHerald took an in-depth look at 8 Mississippi laws that impact various aspects of daily life.

1. In Mississippi, recent laws around protesting influence how residents can demonstrate, requiring approval for gatherings near government buildings and potentially holding organizers accountable. This highlights a legal shift affecting public assembly rights.

2. Seafood labeling laws resulted in changes on menus, requiring clear identification of products as "domestic" or "imported," aiming for consumer transparency and supporting local fisheries. Businesses must adapt signage and documentation to comply with these new regulations.

3. Questions around underage drinking laws reveal specific circumstances where minors, over 18 years old, can consume alcohol, such as at home with parents. Understanding these nuances is important for families navigating local alcohol restrictions.

4. Regarding traffic laws, speeding to pass a vehicle remains illegal, stressing adherence to "absolute" speed limits. These laws guide driving behaviors, ensuring safety and structure on Mississippi's roadways.

5. Phone usage while driving is another traffic law of interest in Mississippi. It's illegal to text while driving if the phone is in your hand even when stopped at a red light.

6. Wondering if you can go skinny dipping at a Mississippi beach? The short answer is no.

7. If you need something from a store, can you send your minor child? It depends on the circumstances.

8. Some folks like to have a little fun and scribble a note on a dollar bill; however, that is somewhat illegal.

NO. 1: ARE YOU BREAKING MS LAWS WHEN YOU WRITE ON CASH OR TOSS PENNIES AWAY?

Ever doodled on a dollar or tossed a penny? Here’s what you should know. | Published June 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sundi Rose

NO. 2: CAN MINORS DRINK ALCOHOL AT HOME WITH THEIR PARENTS? WHAT MS LAW SAYS

Summer sippin’ is here, for ages 21 and older, of course. But what if you’re a minor with parental supervision? Here’s what Mississippi law allows. | Published June 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chelsea Madden

More than 100 demonstrators rallied in Moore Square in Raleigh on Monday, June 9, 2025, to protest recent nationwide ICE raids and arrests, including the detention of labor leader David Huerta during a raid in Los Angeles on Friday. By Travis Long

NO. 3: WHAT MS LAW SAYS ABOUT RIGHTS, PROTESTS, POLICE & PHONES IN MARCHES

Mississippi law protects your right to protest, but with restrictions. Here’s what to know about your rights, legal changes & staying safe during demonstrations. | Published June 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sundi Rose

Do children need supervision to shop? By Minan

NO. 4: CAN CHILDREN SHOP ALONE IN MISSISSIPPI STORES? WHAT TO KNOW

How young is too young? If you want to send your child to finish up your shopping list, here’s what age they need to be and what else to know about parental supervision guidelines. | Published June 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chelsea Madden

Nearly every state in the U.S. has laws against texting while operating a vehicle. By Hassan Ouajbir

NO. 5: CAN YOU SEND A TEXT MESSAGE AT A RED LIGHT? WHAT MISSISSIPPI LAW SAYS

Do you know all of the laws of texting and driving? Here’s everything you need to know, including possible fines and fees. | Published June 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Mona Moore

NO. 6: IS IT LEGAL TO GO NUDE ON MS COAST BEACHES? HERE’S WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Read this before baring your birthday suit at the beach. | Published July 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chelsea Madden

Bethany Fayard, right, and factory manager Ken Lee, left, unload a carton of shrimp to be processed inside Biloxi Bay Processing in Biloxi on Friday, May 31, 2024. Fayard’s father, Earl Fayard Jr., who owns Ocean Springs Seafood, part owns the processing factory, Biloxi Bay Processing, which opened in 2020. By Hannah Ruhoff

NO. 7: NEW LAW DRAWS EXCITEMENT, CONFUSION, CHANGES TO SOME MISSISSIPPI SEAFOOD MENUS

House Bill 602 requires seafood vendors and processors to label their products as domestic or imported. | Published July 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lillian Foster

Is it legal to speed in order to pass someone on the road?

NO. 8: IS SPEEDING TO PASS A VEHICLE LEGAL IN MISSISSIPPI? HERE’S WHAT THE LAW SAYS

Here’s a guide to vehicle-passing laws. | Published July 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chelsea Madden

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.