Biloxi Police Department delivers warnings ahead of Scrapin’ the Coast
Scrapin’ the Coast draws thousands of automotive enthusiasts to South Mississippi every year for a three-day exotic car show and events throughout the Coast. This year, the Biloxi Police Department is reminding attendees of a law that bans squatted vehicles.
House Bill 349, passed in July 2024, outlaws “squatted” vehicles with front fenders raised four or more inches higher than the rear fenders. The police department said vehicles found to be breaking the law will be cited, with penalties depending on the severity of the offense.
“It’s going to be a ticket, and probably a tow, unless it can be fixed when seen fairly easily,” said Lt. Matthew Jalanivich, a spokesman with the Biloxi Police Department.
Scrapin’ the Coast promoter partner Ronny Tolar said squatted vehicles can be a danger to motorists.
“It impairs your vision of the road when you’re driving a vehicle,” Tolar said. “That’s the reason that that law came about, was just simply from a safety standpoint.”
The police department also said unauthorized “pop-up” events will be shut down.
“We’re going to be pretty heavily enforcing everything,” Jalanivich said.
Tolar said the event, which runs from June 26–28 in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, hasn’t been affected by the law.
“It’s our 24th year on the Coast. We have a big lineup of things going on,” Tolar said. “We’re here to be a positive event.”
