Page 6 - Mississippi 811 Magazine 2020 Issue 3

Enforcement
It’s been three and a half years
since Mississippi’s Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board received full enforcement powers from the State Legislature, and it’s widely been hailed as a success in preventing dangerous and deadly incidents in the state.
Fortunately, just the looming threat of enforcement appears to be enough to goad stragglers into submitting a one call ticket — which was the ultimate goal of the legislative fix.
Sandy Sanford, partner with Cascio Sanford Government Law Group, and the attorney for what is known colloquially as the Enforcement Board, said the word about enforcement has convinced more excavators to call 811 who may have chanced it in the past.
“The number one measure since the law went into effect is that one call numbers have grown exponentially each year,” Sandy said.
“The number one measure since the law went into effect is that one call numbers have grown exponentially each year...”
In the last several years, Mississippi 811 has placed more emphasis than ever on education and awareness, particularly with excavators, general contractors and utility contractors, to emphasize the importance to call before you dig — warning that the failure to do so now carries enforceable penalties.
He said the revised legislation has been a game changer on getting people to follow through with those calls, which was the central goal of lobbying to change the law.
Board
Success
How a Law Change is Keeping Mississippians Safer
By Michael Downes 811 Magazines
4 • Mississippi 811
2020, Issue 3