Bridget clerkin february 26, 2018 a new law in michigan relieves the states motorists of driver responsibility feesonerous fines charged on top of traffic tickets that became burdensome to the poor. Michigan driver responsibility fee will they freeze my assets. Michigan vehicle code excerpt act 300 of 1949 chapter v financial responsibility act administration 257. Lawmakers passed a fee forgiveness plan at the end of 2017 on the grounds that the driver responsibility fees are an unfair punishment.
The driver responsibility law in michigan, and similar laws in other states, remain on the books, because they are legal, and because they serve three primary functions. Read more about qualifying installment agreements on this website. Public act 165 of 2003, known as the driver responsibility law, took effect october 1, 2003. If i had driver responsibility fees do i still have to. Michigans driver responsibility law is unconstitutional november 4, 2010 this fanpage is for people interested in starting a class action suit against the state of michigan, not just for the repeal of this ridiculous law, but for recovery of. Repeal drivers responsibility fees for all michigan drivers.
Buh bye, driver responsibility fees the michigan lawyer. Michigan has developed a driver responsibility program to deter potentially dangerous driving behavior by accessing a monetary fee. Michigan driver responsibility fees repealed in some cases michiganders caught driving without a license or auto insurance will no longer be on the hook for a driver responsibility fee payable to the state and some local twitter users celebrated the news. Driver responsibility fees, created in 2003, require michigan drivers to pay a fee to have their drivers licenses reinstated after accumulating a number of points on it or being cited for certain offenses. Michigan driver responsibility fees repealed in some cases. Driver responsibility fees may come to an end in 2018. This includes those driving with or without a license in the state of michigan and can include violations from other states. West michigan judge hailed for his part in killing the multimilliondollar driver responsibility fee kelly worked with legislators, most notably former state rep. Snyder signs bills to end driver responsibility fees, wiping out debts. New bill would waive michigan driver responsibility fees. Michigan finally does away with driver responsibility fees by. The traffic ticket for the local government, and the driver responsibility fee for the state. New house plan to repeal and forgive driver responsibility.
Hi, i was assessed a drivers responsibility fee for a drunk driving. A bill that would repeal michigans unpopular driver responsibility fee is expected to be introduced in the state senate this week, laura weber reports. Wood its hard to think of many laws more universally opposed than michigans driver responsibility fee. Drivers who owed too much under the previous law were stripped of their. Call us, toll free, at 18003427896 if you have questions about michigan driver responsibility fees and how they might affect your criminal case. Legality of the michigan driver responsibility fees. Secretary of state if i had driver responsibility fees do i still have to pay reinstatement fees to get my license back.
My question is can the state of michigan charge me this fee when the offense took place in missouri. The secretary of state through the director of driver services or. Its just one of many driving infractions that fall under the responsibility fee. Michigan sportsman online michigan hunting and fishing resource. We are working to repeal the michigan drivers responsibility fee. Michigan repeals speeding ticket tax michigan repeals driver responsibility program and forgives all outstanding debt. Though it was advertised as a public safety measure, johnson and others believe the law was really designed to rake in more money for state government. In an effort to promote greater traffic safety, michigan has developed a driver responsibility program to deter potentially dangerous driving behavior. When she was a state representative in 2003, oakland county clerk ruth johnson was one of a minority to vote against a law that imposed stiff financial penalties on socalled bad drivers. The state of texas, which has a program similar to michigans, also is considering repealing it. Accumulate seven 7 or more qualifying points on their driving records. Snyder signed legislation ending the states muchhated driver responsibility fees drfs. This law was designed to deter potentially dangerous or fatal driving behaviors by assessing monetary fines to drivers who commit traffic offenses.
After 15 years michigan lawmakers decided to pull the plug on the driver responsibility program that imposes massive fees on traffic ticket recipients. The judiciary committee of the michigan house of representatives is expected this week to consider repealing the states driver responsibility act dra. Even the michigan district judges association mdja spoke up in favor of getting rid of driver responsibility fees. Eligible drivers can contact the michigan secretary of states office for additional.
John gleason d on july 17, 2007 to repeal the driver responsibility fees or bad driver fees tacked on to various traffic violations and paid to the state, which were imposed as a revenueraising measure in 2003. However, a driver responsibility fee shall not be assessed under this subdivision for a violation committed on or after october 1, 2012. With a city in economic hard times, the cities financial problems naturally trickle down to the citizens and we have been burdened with additional fees that make it nearly impossible to maintain a. Its costly for locals to collect and has no connection to driver safety. With a city in economic hard times, the cities financial problems naturally trickle down to the citizens and we have been burdened with additional fees that make it nearly impossible to maintain a valid michigan drivers license. Most michigan motorists cited for driving without a license or insurance will no longer be required to pay annual responsibility fees on top of ticket and court costs. To pay a driver responsibility fee to the state of michigan are the michigan secretary of state changed another driver responsibility fee. One lawmaker there said the law has created more problems than its. Snyder signs bills to end driver responsibility fees, wiping out debts on oct. If the fine is not paid in a timely manner, the michigan department of state may suspend their driving privileges until the assessment and any other required fees are paid which can include a. The state government has burdened its citizens with this law, to fund the state. Michigan drivers are now free from the onerous and costly michigan driver responsibility fee, which no longer exists as of october 1, 2018. Its a second punishment for the same crime double jeopardy. The law requires the secretary of state to revoke that persons driver license.
New law passed in michigan regarding driver responsibility. The program calls for a monetary fee for drivers who. When michigan secretary of state driver responsibility fees are assessed, a notice will be sent to the driver giving the driver 30 days to pay the fine. If you fail to pay your driver responsibility fees, your drivers license can be suspended and may subject you to additional collection efforts, such as levying your wages or bank accounts. Michigans driver responsibility law is unconstitutional. Starting october 1, 2018, the fee has been eliminated. Driver responsibility fee page 6 michigan sportsman. Michigan secretary of state driver responsibility fees. The senate voted unanimously to end driver responsibility fees on oct. Michigan driver responsibility fees categories 1 and 2.
Michigan lawmakers should repeal unreasonable driver. The driver responsibility act is bad law, and it should have been done away with years ago. For other questions related to paying your driver responsibility fee, contact the michigan department of treasury. I am a college student, the money in my bank account is verifiable as coming from federal loans.
Michigan driver responsibility fee dui lawyer michigan. Dui attorney driver responsibility fees farmington. I could understand if it happened here in michigan. Repeal driver responsibility fees sb638 senate bill 638 would repeal michigans very punitive driver responsibility law as of october 2007. This law charges the states citizens more than once for the same offense. Forgiveness isnt always easy, but michigan seems ready to offer some to its drivers.
Five things to know about the end of michigans driver. Michigan motorists no longer face responsibility fees. Rick snyder signed legislation thursday that ends the dreaded driver responsibility fees and. Michigan considers repeal of driver responsibility tax. This is the law that adds hundreds or thousands of dollars to ticket fines over three years and improperly suspends the drivers license of those that do not or cannot pay. To obtain information regarding your driving record contact the michigan department of state at telephone number 1888sosmich 18887676424. The annual fee goes to michigan drivers who have seven or more points on their license. Joe haveman rholland, left, and kentwood district court judge william kelly celebrated the implementation of the first step to phase out the driver responsibility fee at kentwood. When points have accumulated on your drivers license because of traffic violations such as failure to stop at a red light or speeding, you may be required to pay a driver responsibility fee. Rick snyder on thursday signed a law to forgive any driver responsibility fees debts in october and allow affected motorists to reinstate their license for free through the end. The driver responsibility fee is a tax on the poorest people in our state, kelly told lawmakers. Forums general discussions sound off driver responsibility fee discussion in sound off started by uniborn, mar 3, 2004.
Theyve been a controversial subject for years, and a number of efforts have been made in the past to have them eradicated. Reinstatement may be delayed if your license is suspended or revoked for other reasons. Im asking you to please fight for the repeal of the drivers responsibility fee. Some michiganders have felt compelled to file for bankruptcy to escape the onerous clutches of the driver responsibility fee law.
The citiziens of the state of michigan feel that this law needs to be repealed. No moremichigan driver responsibility fee waived in 2018. Originally created to encourage safe driving, driver responsibility fees are currently being charged to over 300,000 state residents. Too many michigan drivers lost their license because of driver. While placing unjust financial hardship on the violator, and families. Offenses that have taken place after october 1, 2011 will no longer be calculated under the driver responsibility fees. Slamming the brakes on driver responsibility fees michigan senate. Rick snyder signed the law that went into effect thursday, oct. A repeal of the fee was approved by the state house last year but it stalled in the state senate. In 2003, the driver responsibility law took effect in michigan.
Michigan has connected all of its varied fines and fee payments to a wealthbased drivers license revocation scheme which was designed to incentivize debt repayment but in ways often entirely. Michigans driver responsibility fee phaseout begins. Joe haveman, rholland, for years to get the law repealed. Michigan driver responsibility fee program ends detroit free press. Michigan to forgive driver responsiblity fees under new law. This law was amended by public act 52 of 2004 and public act 460 of 2008. If you have been cited with a violation that includes a driver responsibility fee or have questions about a case, please. New house plan to repeal and forgive driver responsibility fees categories.
Due to the fact that when a person violates a law that is effected by the drivers responsibility fee law, they are accessed fines by more than one government entity. Michigan, is amnesty for driver responsibility fees enough. An experienced case analyst is available 247 to speak with you about the specific details of your alleged crime. Earlier this year michigan governor rick snyder signed a bill that eliminates all driver responsibility fees.
The legislature has since moved to phase out the fees. Fifteen years after enactment of the controversial driver responsibility fees drfs legislation all fees will be repealed on october 1, 2018. The state of virginia passed a similar law in 2007 and repealed it the next year. Notice regarding elimination of driver responsibility fees. Under the driver responsibility law, the state of michigan can assess fees to people who have traffic violations andor have accumulated seven or more points on their driving record. The subject of michigans driver responsibility fees is one weve discussed several times in the past.
Petition to repeal the mi drivers responsibility fee. Is there still a michigan driver responsibility fee. Michigan driver responsibility fees detroit lawyers pllc. Snyder signed bills that end driver responsibility fees, wipes out. At that time, they were needed to fill a budget hole.
Snyder signs bills to end driver responsibility fees. Only 37,000 michigan drivers have gotten licenses back since fee. As the driver responsibility fee repeal was debated during. Drivers happy about responsibility fee repeal, some want. Convicted persons are prohibited from renewing vehicle registration and are subject to drivers license suspension until valid proof of insurance is shown. There was a new law in michigan that is going to abolish responsibility fees for particular offenses by drivers. Michigan finally does away with driver responsibility fees. Driver responsibility fees michigan duiowi attorney. Under section 303 of the michigan vehicle code the code. Michigan drivers have been plagued by biased and unfair drivers responsibility fees that are creating a vicious cycle for the average michigander. Reportedly only around 42 percent of the fees are actually collected, and they have imposed hardships on those.