Bill Text: MI HB5688 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Vehicles; registration plates; penalties for invalid or improper registration plates; modify. Amends secs. 255, 256 & 907 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.255 et seq.). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5802'19
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-07-23 - Referred To Committee On Judiciary And Public Safety [HB5688 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-HB5688-Engrossed.html
Substitute For
HOUSE BILL NO. 5688
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 255 (MCL 257.255), as amended by 2020 PA 127.
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 for a wrecked or disabled vehicle, or
vehicle destined for repair or junking, that is
being transported or drawn on 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 person who violates subsection
(1) is responsible for a civil infraction. However, if the vehicle is a
commercial vehicle which that 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.
(4) A noncommercial vehicle registration described in subsection
(1) that expires on or after March 1, 2020 but is renewed on or before
September 30, 2020 is not in violation of this section. A commercial vehicle
registration described in subsection (1) that expires on or after March 1, 2020
but is renewed on or before September 30, 2020 is not in violation of this
section.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless House Bill No. 5802 of the 100th Legislature is enacted into law.
