EXPIRED REGISTRATION PENALTY - H.B. 4086 (H-4): COMMITTEE SUMMARY
sans-serif">House Bill 4086 (Substitute H-4 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Mary Ann Middaugh
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to make it a civil infraction, instead of a misdemeanor, to operate a noncommercial vehicle without displaying a valid registration plate issued for the current year. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2003.
Under the Code, a person must attach to and display on a vehicle a valid registration plate issued for the vehicle by the Secretary of State (SOS) for the current registration year. A person who violates this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to 90 days, a maximum fine of $100, or both. Under the bill, the person would be responsible for a civil infraction. (Under the Code, a person determined to be responsible for a civil infraction may be fined up to $100, and must be ordered to pay at least $5 but not more than $100 for the costs of the action against the person (MCL 257.907).)
Currently, if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle required to be registered according to the schedule of elected gross vehicle weights under Section 801(1)(k) of the Code, the driver is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to 90 days, a maximum fine of $500, or both. The bill would retain this provision. (Section 801(1)(k) establishes a registration fee schedule for trucks weighing 8,000 pounds or less towing a trailer or any other combination of vehicles, and trucks weighing 8,001 pounds or more, road tractors, and truck tractors.)
MCL 257.255 - Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State and an indeterminate fiscal impact on local governments.
There are no Statewide data available regarding misdemeanors. To the extent that current offenders driving with expired registration are actually being sentenced to jail, the bill could potentially reduce local corrections costs.
- Fiscal Analyst: Bethany Wicksall S0304\s4086sa
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.