MOTORCYCLE INDORSEMENT: PENALTIES                                                        H.B. 4651:

                                                                               SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

House Bill 4651 (as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Julie Plawecki

House Committee:  Criminal Justice

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

Date Completed:  10-17-16

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to prescribe a misdemeanor penalty for an individual who operated a motorcycle without an indorsement on his or her license.

The Code requires a person to obtain a motorcycle indorsement on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license before operating a motorcycle, other than an autocycle, upon a public street or highway in Michigan. The license must be issued, suspended, revoked, canceled, or renewed in accordance with the Code.

The bill specifies that an individual who violated this requirement would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as follows:

-- For the first violation, by imprisonment for up to 90 days or a maximum fine of $500, or both.

-- For any subsequent violation that occurred after a prior conviction, by imprisonment for up to one year or a maximum fine of $1,000, or both.

The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.

MCL 257.312a                                                         Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a negligible fiscal impact on the State and could have both a positive and a negative fiscal impact on local government. It is currently a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $100 and imprisonment for up to 90 days, to operate a motorcycle without a motorcycle indorsement. The bill would increase the maximum fine to $500 for a first violation and up to $1,000 for repeat violations. Any associated increase in fine revenue would be dedicated to public libraries. The bill would maintain the maximum length of imprisonment of 90 days for a first violation, but would increase the penalty to a term of up to one year for repeat violations. An increase in jail sentences could place incremental resource demands on jails.

                                                                                       Fiscal Analyst:  Ryan Bergan

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.