HOUSE BILL NO. 5688

March 17, 2020, Introduced by Reps. LaGrand and Filler and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

"Michigan vehicle code,"

by amending sections 255, 256, and 907 (MCL 257.255, 257.256, and 257.907), section 255 as amended by 2018 PA 64, section 256 as amended by 1987 PA 34, and section 907 as amended by 2015 PA 126.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 255. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person shall not operate, nor shall an owner knowingly permit to be operated, upon any highway, a vehicle required to be registered under this act unless, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, no later than 30 days after the vehicle is registered or the vehicle's registration is renewed, a valid registration plate issued for the vehicle by the department for the current registration year is attached to and displayed on the vehicle as required by this chapter. For purposes of this subsection, a printed or electronic copy of a valid registration or verification of a valid registration through the L.E.I.N. law enforcement information network is proof that the vehicle is registered or that the vehicle's registration has been renewed. A registration plate is not required upon any wrecked or disabled vehicle, or vehicle destined for repair or junking, which that is being transported or drawn upon a highway by a wrecker or a registered motor vehicle. The 30-day period described in this subsection does not apply to the first registration of a vehicle after a transfer of ownership or to a transfer registration under section 809.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a A person who violates subsection (1) is responsible for a civil infraction. However, if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle which is required to be registered according to the schedule of elected gross vehicle weights under section 801(1)(k), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

(3) A person who operates a vehicle licensed under the international registration plan and does not have a valid registration due to nonpayment of the apportioned fee is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by a fine of not more than $100.00, or both. responsible for a civil infraction. In addition, a police officer may impound the vehicle until a valid registration is obtained. If the vehicle is impounded, the towing and storage costs of the vehicle, and the care or preservation of the load in the vehicle are the owner's responsibility. Vehicles impounded are subject to a lien in the amount of the apportioned fee and any fine and costs incurred under this subsection, subject to a valid lien of prior record. If the apportioned fee, fine, and costs are not paid within 90 days after impoundment, then following a hearing before the judge or magistrate who imposed the fine and costs, the judge or magistrate shall certify the unpaid judgment to the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the violation occurred. The prosecuting attorney shall enforce the lien by foreclosure sale in accordance with the procedure authorized by law for chattel mortgage foreclosures.

Sec. 256. (1) A person shall not lend to another person, or knowingly permit the use of, any certificate of title, registration certificate, registration plate, special plate, or permit issued to him or her if the person receiving or using the certificate of title, registration certificate, registration plate, special plate, or permit would not be entitled to the use thereof. A person shall not carry or display upon a vehicle any registration certificate or registration plate not issued for the vehicle or not otherwise lawfully used under this act. A person who violates this subsection is responsible for a civil infraction.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by a fine of not more than $100.00, or both.

(2) (3) A person who displays shall not display upon a commercial vehicle which that is required to be registered according to the schedule of elected gross vehicle weights under section 801(1)(k) any registration plate not issued for the vehicle or not otherwise lawfully used under this act. is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.A person who violates this subsection is responsible for a civil infraction.

Sec. 907. (1) A violation of this act, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of this act, that is designated a civil infraction shall not be considered is not a lesser included offense of a criminal offense.

(2) If a person is determined under sections 741 to 750 to be responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of this act, the judge or district court magistrate may order the person to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00 and costs as provided in subsection (4). However, if the civil infraction was a moving violation that resulted in an at-fault collision with another vehicle, a person, or any other object, the civil fine ordered under this section shall must be increased by $25.00 but the total civil fine shall must not exceed $100.00. However, for a violation of section 602b, the person shall must be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of $100.00 for a first offense and $200.00 for a second or subsequent offense. For a violation of section 674(1)(s) or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 674(1)(s), the person shall must be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $250.00. For a violation of section 676c, the person shall must be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of $1,000.00. For a violation of section 328, the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall be not more than must not exceed $50.00. For a violation of section 710d, the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall must not exceed $10.00, subject to subsection (12). For a violation of section 710e, the civil fine and court costs ordered under this subsection shall be is $25.00. For a violation of section 682 or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 682, the person shall must be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $500.00. For a violation of section 240, the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall be is $15.00. For a violation of section 252a(1), the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall be is $50.00. For a violation of section 676a(3), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not more than must not exceed $10.00. For a first violation of section 319f(1), the civil fine ordered under this section shall must be not less than $2,500.00 or more than $2,750.00; for a second or subsequent violation, the civil fine shall must be not less than $5,000.00 or more than $5,500.00. For a violation of section 319g(1)(a), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not more than must not exceed $10,000.00. For a violation of section 319g(1)(g), the civil fine ordered under this section shall must be not less than $2,750.00 or more than $25,000.00. For a violation of section 255 or 256(1), the civil fine ordered under this subsection is $150.00. For a violation of section 256(2), the civil fine ordered under this subsection is $500.00. Permission may be granted for payment of a civil fine and costs to be made within a specified period of time or in specified installments, but unless permission is included in the order or judgment, the civil fine and costs shall must be payable immediately.

(3) Except as provided in this subsection, section, if a person is determined to be responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of this act while driving a commercial motor vehicle, he or she shall must be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not more than $250.00.

(4) If a civil fine is ordered under subsection (2) or (3), the judge or district court magistrate shall summarily tax and determine the costs of the action, which are not limited to the costs taxable in ordinary civil actions, and may include all expenses, direct and indirect, to which the plaintiff has been put in connection with the civil infraction, up to the entry of judgment. Costs shall must not be ordered in excess of $100.00. A civil fine ordered under subsection (2) or (3) shall must not be waived unless costs ordered under this subsection are waived. Except as otherwise provided by law, costs are payable to the general fund of the plaintiff.

(5) In addition to a civil fine and costs ordered under subsection (2) or (3) and subsection (4) and the justice system assessment ordered under subsection (13), the judge or district court magistrate may order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment, education, or rehabilitation.

(6) A district court magistrate shall impose the sanctions permitted under subsections (2), (3), and (5) only to the extent expressly authorized by the chief judge or only judge of the district court district.

(7) Each district of the district court and each municipal court may establish a schedule of civil fines, costs, and assessments to be imposed for civil infractions that occur within the respective district or city. If a schedule is established, it shall must be prominently posted and readily available for public inspection. A schedule need not include all violations that are designated by law or ordinance as civil infractions. A schedule may exclude cases on the basis of a defendant's prior record of civil infractions or traffic offenses, or a combination of civil infractions and traffic offenses.

(8) The state court administrator shall annually publish and distribute to each district and court a recommended range of civil fines and costs for first-time civil infractions. This recommendation is not binding upon the courts having jurisdiction over civil infractions but is intended to act as a normative guide for judges and district court magistrates and a basis for public evaluation of disparities in the imposition of civil fines and costs throughout the state.

(9) If a person has received a civil infraction citation for defective safety equipment on a vehicle under section 683, the court shall waive a civil fine, costs, and assessments upon receipt of certification by a law enforcement agency that repair of the defective equipment was made before the appearance date on the citation.

(10) A default in the payment of a civil fine or costs ordered under subsection (2), (3), or (4) or a justice system assessment ordered under subsection (13), or an installment of the fine, costs, or assessment, may be collected by a means authorized for the enforcement of a judgment under chapter 40 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.4001 to 600.4065, or under chapter 60 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.6001 to 600.6098.

(11) If a person fails to comply with an order or judgment issued under this section within the time prescribed by the court, the driver's driver license of that person shall must be suspended under section 321a until full compliance with that order or judgment occurs. In addition to this suspension, the court may also proceed under section 908.

(12) The court may waive any civil fine, cost, or assessment against a person who received a civil infraction citation for a violation of section 710d if the person, before the appearance date on the citation, supplies the court with evidence of acquisition, purchase, or rental of a child seating system meeting the requirements of section 710d.

(13) In addition to any civil fines or costs ordered to be paid under this section, the judge or district court magistrate shall order the defendant to pay a justice system assessment of $40.00 for each civil infraction determination, except for a parking violation or a violation for which the total fine and costs imposed are $10.00 or less. Upon payment of the assessment, the clerk of the court shall transmit the assessment collected to the state treasury to be deposited into the justice system fund created in section 181 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.181. An assessment levied under this subsection is not a civil fine for purposes of section 909.

(14) If a person has received a citation for a violation of section 223, the court shall waive any civil fine, costs, and assessment, upon receipt of certification by a law enforcement agency that the person, before the appearance date on the citation, produced a valid registration certificate that was valid on the date the violation of section 223 occurred.

(15) If a person has received a citation for a violation of section 328(1) for failing to produce a certificate of insurance under section 328(2), the court may waive the fee described in section 328(3)(c) and shall waive any fine, costs, and any other fee or assessment otherwise authorized under this act upon receipt of verification by the court that the person, before the appearance date on the citation, produced valid proof of insurance that was in effect at the time the violation of section 328(1) occurred. Insurance obtained subsequent to the time of the violation does not make the person eligible for a waiver under this subsection.

(16) If a person is determined to be responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of this act and the civil infraction arises out of the ownership or operation of a commercial quadricycle, he or she shall must be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not more than $500.00.

(17) As used in this section, "moving violation" means an act or omission prohibited under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this act that involves the operation of a motor vehicle and for which a fine may be assessed.