Southaven, MS Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)

Section 9-62, titled Automated enforcement, sits in Article II (Traffic Division) of Title IX, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Southaven, DeSoto County, Mississippi. It defines a traffic control photographic system as an electronic system of a photographic, video or electronic camera and a vehicle sensor, installed to work with an official traffic control sign, signal or device and to automatically produce images of each vehicle violating it. A system location is the approach to an intersection toward which a camera is directed and in operation. The history note dates the ordinance to January 16, 2007.

The Southaven Police Department, or an agent of the department, administers the systems and keeps the list of system locations. The code itself prints no camera addresses, so that list is where locations are recorded. Signs indicating the use of the systems must be clearly posted. The offense in subsection (c) is crossing the stop line at a system location, or violating any other traffic regulation in the Southaven Code of Ordinances or any Mississippi law. The section speaks of intersection approaches and stop lines and does not create a school-zone speed camera program.

Every citation or warning notice must carry the registered owner's name and address, the plate number, the violation charged, the location, the date and time, a copy of the recorded image, the civil penalty amount and its due date, and a signed statement by a member of the police department that inspection of the recorded images showed a violation. It must also say the citation can be contested in the city court and that failing to contest in the manner and time provided is an admission of liability, with a default judgment possible. Recorded images must include at least one image or portion of tape clearly identifying the registration plate number. Personal service on the owner is not required.

The registered owner, as identified by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, is responsible for the violation. An owner escapes responsibility by giving the city court, on the designated court date, either the name and address of whoever leased, rented or otherwise had care, custody and control of the vehicle, or an affidavit that the vehicle was stolen or was in someone's care, custody or control without permission.