Mississippi

For the purposes of Mississippi's section on operating off-road vehicles on public property, an off-road vehicle means any all-terrain vehicle, dirt bike or recreational off-highway vehicle. A dirt bike means a motor-powered vehicle possessing two or more tires, designed to travel over any terrain and capable of travelling off of paved roads, whether or not the vehicle may be operated legally on a public street. The terms off-road vehicle and dirt bike do not include electric bicycles.

Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(5)(a), (c), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for Mississippi, Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(5)(a), (c), external site Statute text read through a published copy of Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(5)(a), (c), external site where the official page would not load.

No person may operate any off-road vehicle, a term that includes a dirt bike, on any public property in Mississippi unless each person under 16 years of age who is operating or riding on it is wearing a crash helmet that complies with the minimum guidelines established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 (49 CFR 571.218) for helmets designed for use by motorcyclists. A violation is punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $50.

Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(1)(b), (2), (5)(a), (c), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for Mississippi, Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(1)(b), (2), (5)(a), (c), external site Statute text read through a published copy of Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(1)(b), (2), (5)(a), (c), external site where the official page would not load.

No off-road vehicle, a term that includes a dirt bike, may be operated on any public property by any person unless the person possesses a valid driver's license or a certificate from an off-road vehicle safety course. The courses must be held by the Cooperative Extension Service using 4-H safety course materials and curricula, taught by instructors with qualifications approved by the Department of Public Safety, and may also be held by any organization the department approves; a certificate is issued to each person who satisfactorily completes the course. Each person under 16 years of age who is operating or riding on an off-road vehicle on public property must be wearing a crash helmet that complies with federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218.

Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(1), (3)-(5), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for Mississippi, Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(1), (3)-(5), external site Statute text read through a published copy of Miss. Code Ann. § 63-31-3(1), (3)-(5), external site where the official page would not load.

The off-road vehicle section, which defines a dirt bike "whether or not the vehicle may be operated legally on a public street", states that nothing in it shall be construed to authorize operation of an off-road vehicle on a public road or highway of the state. Under the motor vehicle privilege tax article, any person who operates a vehicle on the highways of the state without having paid the privilege license tax or fee that article requires, or without the license tag or required license tag and decals affixed as required by law, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-31-3(5)(c), (6); 27-19-131(1), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for Mississippi, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-31-3(5)(c), (6); 27-19-131(1), external site Statute text read through a published copy of Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-31-3(5)(c), (6); 27-19-131(1), external site where the official page would not load.

Mississippi defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a saddle or seat for the rider, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets one of three classes. Class 1 and Class 3 motors provide assistance only when the rider is pedaling and cease to assist at 20 and 28 miles per hour respectively; a Class 2 motor may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 miles per hour. An electric bicycle, so defined, is not a motor vehicle and is not subject to the code's provisions on financial responsibility, driver's licenses, registration, certificates of title, off-road vehicles, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles and license plates.

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-3-103(l); 63-3-1315(2), checked 2026-10-01. Official text for Mississippi, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-3-103(l); 63-3-1315(2), external site Statute text read through a published copy of Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-3-103(l); 63-3-1315(2), external site where the official page would not load.