Back in 88 i was told by a lawyer that ms . Has two laws governing trailer tags . One says you must have, the other says if your gross tongue weight is less than 5000 lbs . And you are not making a living with the trailer you don;t have to have one . In ms . I went from 1990 - 2012 without one . If you go out of state you best have one ! Tennessee will write you in a heartbeat ! Have been told alabama will also . The reason ms . Got all mixed up was over a truck patch farmer faught a ticket back in the 70/80 's and won . It aint worth the trouble , will run one from now on . Those that live on the lake ( same county ) would never be stopped . None of my buddies in water valley have ever bought one . But they only fish enid .