MISSISSIPPI

Prior to the first state automobile registration law of 1912, various cities around the state licensed automobiles, and in some cases, issued plates.  The earliest known city ordinance dates from 1906 in Jackson.  There is a mysterious series of white-on-black porcelain plates, #113 and #172 known, with "MISS" vertically at left and "1911" vertically at right.  These are believed to have been issued by a city somewhere in the state, rather than by the state itself, since there was no state law before 1912 that had any sort of license plate requirement.

Biloxi (8,049)

Multiple news articles from the Daily Herald give us some clues concerning the automobile registration system here.  On July 5, 1911, it mentions that "The tax collector of Biloxi, H. J. Meaut, is now ready to sell automobile licenses."  A July 20, 1911, article provides this update:  "City Tax Collector Meaut stated this morning that he had sold six automobile licenses up to date.  A recent enactment by the council decreed that all local autos must carry a Biloxi license."  On September 18, 1911, an article states that "The City Tax Collector has been unable to furnish automobile numbers during the past week, but now has a supply on hand."  It appears likely that city registration ended when the state law took effect in June 1912.

During the "tween" period of 1913-14, when no state laws were in effect for state registration, Biloxi once again came out with new city plates.  On February 12, 1914, an article announced that "The automobile ordinance was amended with a provision that owners must secure numbered tags from the tax collector, the cost of which is $2.  Motorcyclists must have tags also, the cost being $1."  On March 11, 1914, an article mentioned that "Clerk Hagan was instructed to buy number plates for automobiles and motorcycles."  The next reference we have, from May 7, 1914, states that city tax collector "Mr. Meaut has sold 14 automobile numbers at $2 a piece and 4 motorcycle tags at $1 a piece."  A report on June 3, 1914, mentions that "H. J. Meaut, tax collector, reported selling 68 auto tags, 23 motorcycle tags and 24 dog tags, totaling $189.50; he also collected licenses amounting to $1,266.25 during the month."  This probably represents totals for the month of May 1914.  The amount for June was far lower, since most of the city's automobile population had already registered in May, according to this statement from a July 8, 1914, article:  "Tax Collector Meaut reported license taxes amounting to $135; auto tags $10."

It's puzzling that city registration was not discontinued again in May 1914, since the new state law which took effect then was very specific in the prohibition of cities from collecting a registration fee or a privilege tax altogether.  Seemingly unbeknownst to state officials, Biloxi went on its merry way issuing more plates.  On July 24, 1914, it was reported that "H. J. Meaut, tax collector, asserts that the supply of auto number plates ordered by the city of Biloxi when it was decided to issue number plates for all motor-driven vehicles has been exhausted.  Seventy-five numbers for automobiles and twenty-five for motorcycles were ordered at the time.  This supply would be sufficient, it was believed, to supply the city for a year...twenty-five more (automobile plates) have been ordered."  Even in 1915, city plates were being issued.  It states in an article on January 19, 1915, that "City Clerk Hagan reported that fifty auto plates and twenty-five motorcycle were needed.  Alderman Moore moved that the clerk be authorized to make the purchase."

Columbus (8,988)

The Commercial Dispatch published monthly reports of the City Marshall's collections, which included the "sale of auto numbers" for certain months in 1911-13.  The fact that the earliest listing has by far the most sold could indicate that the ordinance first took effect in August 1911.  It is unknown why the city continued to sell them after June 1, 1912, when the state took over.  Assuming that each one cost 75 cents, we have added totals in parenthesis following each listing:

August   1911   $21.75   (29)

November 1911    $3.00    (4)

December 1911    $1.50    (2)

November 1912    $ .75    (1)

December 1912    $ .75    (1)

January  1913    $ .75    (1)

March    1913    $ .75    (1)

Gulfport (6,386)

News articles in the (Biloxi) Daily Herald provide some details on the progress of registration here.  On August 16, 1911, it was reported that the City Clerk ordered 60 automobile numbers "some two weeks ago" which are expected to arrive "within the next few days."  Numbers were to begin at #100.  An August 31, 1911, article mentions that the new auto tags have been received and the annual fee is to be $2.  An article on September 7, 1911, has this passage:  "In the report submitted by City Tax Collector J. W. Bradley it was stated that auto tags...only 9 have been taken out."

Jackson (21,262)

The Jackson Daily News reported on September 5, 1906, that an ordinance had been introduced the night before to require rear plates with 4-inch-tall numbers, to be supplied by the city clerk.  The Daily News published the ordinance on September 13, 1906, which set the fee at $3, exempted non-residents, and established an effective date 30 days after passage.  Section 5 stated that "The owner of each machine shall provide a number, the figures on which shall be at least three inches in height, painted plainly on substantial metal six by fourteen inches in size, which number shall be firmly attached to the machine on the rear end of same where it can be plainly seen, said numbers shall be furnished by the clerk of this board at the issuance of the license, and to be paid for by the owner in addition to the license, but in no case shall the charge be more than the actual cost of same to the city."

The Daily News published another article on October 16, 1906, with the headline "AUTO TAGS ARE READY", stating that "At its September session the city council passed an ordinance requiring the payment of license by owners of automobiles...The license fee is small...and City Collector Lott announces that he has procured the necessary license blanks, and also numbers to be attached to autos."

State v. Lawrence, the legal case that ultimately resulted in the overturning of the first state registration law, mentions that on August 2, 1912, Mr. Lawrence's automobile was "duly registered and numbered by the...city of Jackson and the uniform registration fee of $2 paid said city."

In 2020, an undated porcelain was found, which is identical to the Vicksburg 1910 issues except that the number is J197.

Meridian (23,285)

According to the Jackson Daily News on September 24, 1912, "Meridian, Miss...Chief of Police W. H. Lyon has announced that all automobile owners who have not registered their state license number with the city clerk as required by city ordinance, will be arrested...the police have no record of the automobile numbers, the city tags having been discarded..."

Natchez (11,791)

Natchez had an automobile speed ordinance but no provisions for registration or numbering as of August 25, 1910.  By the time they got around to adding them in May 1912, it was almost too late, although it's possible the new ordinance was in force for a few weeks before the state law took over on June 1, 1912.  The Natchez Democrat reported on May 9, 1912, that "After the Board of Supervisors had decided to pass a law requiring that all automobiles be numbered, it was ascertained that a State law covered the situation.  It was ordered that the ordinance be published for a week and then rigidly enforced.  The automobile ordinance which is published elsewhere in this issue requires that all automobiles [be] numbered and registered.  A tax of $5 is charged on cars under twenty-horsepower and $10 over twenty-horsepower."  Despite the statement, the ordinance did not appear anywhere in that day's newspaper.

Vicksburg (20,814)

On January 18, 1910, Vicksburg passed an automobile ordinance requiring registration and numbering of vehicles, with a license fee of $1.50 for private automobiles and $2.50 for livery vehicles.  The Vicksburg Evening Post published an article on January 4, 1910, which included a drawing resembling closely the known porcelain plates listed below!  The text read that "When the ordinance has been properly prepared Vicksburg automobiles will have to carry 4-inch metal tags bearing the number of the machine.  The tags will be as follows, the figures being of white on a blue background:  (Following is a sketch of a plate with a full-size letter "V", a vertical line, the number "100", another vertical line, and a vertical legend "MISS".)"

The Vicksburg Evening Post reported on April 7, 1910, that "The delay in issuing automobile licenses has been owing to the fact that the numbers for the machines have not arrived.  The order is in and the city license collector expects to receive the numbers in a few days."  They must have arrived by the end of April, as the Post announced that "The owners of automobiles not provided with tags before Tuesday, May 3, will be ordered arrested..."  Another article on May 14, 1910, stated that "License tags for some 56 automobiles have been issued here to date."  Finally, one last report on December 31, 1910, said that 91 had been issued in 1910.

Undated (1910-12) white-on-blue porcelain plates #V99 to #V374 are known with "MISS" vertically at right.

Yazoo City (6,796)

The Yazoo Herald published on February 18, 1910, an ordinance which had passed on February 14, 1910, and to take effect March 1, 1910.  It required automobile owners to register with the city clerk and purchase a city-issued rear plate for $2.50.