UNIVERSITY TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS

House Bill 5854

Sponsor:  Rep. Mark Meadows

Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 3-9-10

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5854 AS INTRODUCED 2-23-10

The bill would amend Public Act 291 of 1967, which authorizes the governing boards of state universities to enact and enforce parking, traffic, and pedestrian ordinances on their campuses.  The governing boards can establish civil sanctions (including fines).  The bill would tie the civil fines for infractions under campus ordinances to the fines for substantially similar violations under the Michigan Vehicle Code.

Section 2a of the act currently says that for violations of campus ordinances that are civil infractions, civil fines cannot exceed $25.  However, civil infractions involving parking in handicapper spaces must carry a fine of at least $50 and no more than $100.

House Bill 5854 would rewrite this section to specify that if a campus civil infraction substantially corresponds to a provision of the Michigan Vehicle Code, then a civil fine established by the university governing board could not exceed the maximum civil fine for the similar offense under the Vehicle Code.

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Ben Gielczyk

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.