Mississippi Code Title 63. Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations § 63-17-9

Automobile owners shall not be required at all times to keep the bill of sale provided for in section 63-17-1 with their automobiles. However, failure to have the same therein shall not excuse them, or any person in possession, from furnishing the information required by section 63-17-5, and upon affidavit made before the officer demanding the information that the person making the same has good reason to believe and does believe that such automobile is stolen, such officer may, in his discretion, take possession thereof and retain the same for such reasonable time as may be required for the necessary investigation to be made.