This petition has been drafted in an attempt to amend the Mississippi Vehicle Code to legalize the use of under-chassis lighting when emitting a white or amber color, not to exclude "neon lighting," wheel lights, rock lights, underglow, or any other variations of these lighting devices, provided devices are intended to be installed in the wheel wells, around brake equipment, or underneath the chassis of a vehicle being operated on public roadways. According to current Mississippi laws, as seen in Mississippi Code Title 63 Chapter 7 Article 23, Subsection 4 per legislation in effect as of 11/27/2022, 

"(4) Any lamps illuminated when the vehicle is in motion, other than those expressly required or permitted by the provisions of this chapter or other law, shall, if visible from the front, display only a white or amber light; if visible from either side, display an amber light; and if visible from the rear, display a red light."

In 1999, an official AG opinion was released to state the following, "The use of lights of colors other than white or amber shining from underneath motor vehicles is a violation of this section. (Smith, August 20, 1999, A.G. Opinion #99-0432). The use of white/amber underglow not being clarified as legal or illegal in the state law has produced a divided opinion of the legality of these devices by law enforcement officers, which has resulted in some officers issuing citations, while others will not even see the use of them as probable cause to intiate a traffic stop.

Additionally, other states, including California, Kansas, and Arizona currently allow underglow to be in use while vehicles are in operation on public roadways, with stipulations varying from state to state, but the common denominator is the use of white under-chassis/underbody lighting being legal in these states. Additionally, the use of after-market lighting on motorcycles in a variety of colors is legal, backed by the fact that they are considered an added safety feature due to the size of the vehicle which provokes inherented reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a collision, potentially causing an accident. Tractor-trailer operators are also allowed to use after-market lighting devices in a variety of colors, even under the strict requirements of DOT regulations.

The same mindset can be applied to passenger cars and trucks being operated on Mississippi roads, especially at night when the visibility of surroundings is reduced. Adding white or amber lighting devices to the underside of vehicles will increase the ability to obtain visuals on vehicles in low light or no light conditions when the size of headlights can cause a discrepancy in the judgment of distance of oncoming vehicles when attempting to merge onto roadways when departing parking lots or intersections. 

With your help, this attempted amendment could potentially become a reality. Thank you for your time.