Mississippi Prohibits Marine Officers from Stopping Vessels Without Probable Cause

Enforcement officers of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources are prohibited from stopping or boarding a vessel without probable cause beginning July 1, 2026. The new law bans vessel stops conducted solely for safety or marine sanitation equipment inspections, making safety violations secondary offenses.

Boaters in Mississippi state waters are no longer subject to random safety or sanitation boardings by marine officers, altering law enforcement procedures and establishing probable cause as a mandatory requirement for any vessel stop.