Mississippi Code
Chapter 27 - Proceedings for Intoxicating Beverage Offenses
§ 99-27-21. Search of motor vehicles, etc. and seizure of liquor without warrant

It shall be the duty of any sheriff or constable of a county, or any sheriff, constable or marshal, or policeman in a municipality who has reason to believe and does believe that intoxicating liquor is being transported in violation of law, in any wagon, cart, buggy, automobile, motorcycle, motor truck, water or air craft, or any other vehicle, forthwith to make a reasonable search of such vehicle and to seize any intoxicating liquor so found being transported or being attempted to be transported in violation of law and at once to arrest the person or persons in possession or control thereof and transporting or attempting to transport same in violation of law; and such officer or officers proceeding in good faith shall not be liable either civilly or criminally for such a search and seizure without a warrant, so long as said search and seizure is conducted in a reasonable manner, it appearing that the officer or officers had reason to believe and did believe that the prohibition laws of the State of Mississippi were being violated at the time such search was instituted. And the officers making such search shall be a competent witness, or witnesses, to testify as to all facts ascertained, and discoveries made, by means of said reasonable search, and all liquor, and all appliances for its manufacture or transportation, so seized shall be admitted in evidence. But this section shall not authorize the search of a residence or home or room or building or the premises belonging to or in the possession lawfully of the party suspected, without a search warrant.

Structure Mississippi Code

Mississippi Code

Title 99 - Criminal Procedure

Chapter 27 - Proceedings for Intoxicating Beverage Offenses

§ 99-27-1. Petition to subpoena witnesses having knowledge of violations

§ 99-27-3. Taking testimony and filing for delivery to grand jury

§ 99-27-5. Grand jury not prevented from making investigation

§ 99-27-7. Duty of mayor or justice of the peace to issue warrant for offender

§ 99-27-9. Statement not limited to proof of single violation at trial

§ 99-27-11. Seizure and destruction of intoxicating liquors and appliances permitted; writ of seizure for vehicles, etc.

§ 99-27-13. Owner may interpose claim to seized property; jurisdiction and procedure

§ 99-27-15. Affidavit for search warrant; contents of warrant; service and return

§ 99-27-17. Affidavit for search warrant; form

§ 99-27-19. Search warrant; form

§ 99-27-21. Search of motor vehicles, etc. and seizure of liquor without warrant

§ 99-27-23. Clubs, boats, places where liquor found may be abated as nuisance

§ 99-27-25. Club to forfeit charter; boat may be sold

§ 99-27-27. Common carriers, etc., required to produce books for examination

§ 99-27-29. Common carriers, etc. to keep record of alcohol and wine deliveries; inspection by officers; competent evidence at trial

§ 99-27-31. Common carriers, etc. to file statement of deliveries with circuit clerk; procedure to compel compliance

§ 99-27-33. Circuit clerk to file and record statement; inspection by officers; competent evidence at trial; grand jury to investigate compliance

§ 99-27-35. Venue of prosecutions for unlawful shipment

§ 99-27-37. Counties and municipalities may appropriate money to procure evidence of liquor and narcotics violations

§ 99-27-39. Payment by liquor dealers of penalty to state, county, or municipality

§ 99-27-41. Concurrent jurisdiction given chancery courts for enforcing § 99-27-39

§ 99-27-43. Justices of the peace not to suspend sentences

§ 99-27-45. Witnesses compelled to testify; disclosure not to be used against witness