Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
CIVIL INFRACTIONS FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 4143 as introduced Analysis available at
Sponsor: Rep. TC Clements http://www.legislature.mi.gov
House Bill 4145 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. Graham Filler
House Bill 4146 as introduced House Bill 4147 as introduced
Sponsor: Rep. David LaGrand Sponsor: Rep. Mari Manoogian
Committee: Judiciary
Revised 2-22-21
SUMMARY:
House Bills 4143, 4145, 4146, and 4147 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to
remove criminal penalties for certain violations of the act and instead make them civil
infractions.
House Bill 4143 would amend several sections that deal with vehicle registrations, titles,
and license plates. Among other things, these sections prohibit a person from driving a
vehicle that is not properly registered, prohibit the improper use of temporary plates,
require certain procedures and documentation when applying for a new title or transferring
plates to another vehicle, prohibit certain holders of suspended or revoked licenses from
buying or leasing a car during the suspension or revocation, and require certain procedures
concerning the registration of vehicles by nonresident owners. Currently, a person
convicted of violating these provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by
imprisonment for up to 90 days (or, in two cases, 93 days) or a fine of up to $100, or both.
Under the bill, the person would be responsible for a civil infraction. (As introduced,
another bill, HB 4153, would provide that a civil infraction described above could result in
a civil fine of up to $150. HBs 4143 and 4153 are tie-barred to one another, which means
that neither could take effect unless both were enacted.)
MCL 257.215 et seq.
House Bill 4145 would amend section 244, which provides for special plates for
manufacturers, transporters, and dealers, and registration plates for those picking up or
delivering vehicles for repair, service, storage, or the like. Among other things, the section
prohibits unauthorized use of special plates, requires certain people to have specified
documentation in their possession while using the plates, and provides penalties for failure
to return or procure plates under certain circumstances. Currently, a person convicted of
violating the section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 90
days or a fine of up to $100, or both. Under the bill, the person would be responsible for a
civil infraction. (As introduced, another bill, HB 4153, would provide that a civil infraction
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 4
 described above could result in a civil fine of up to $150. HBs 4145 and 4153 are tie-barred
to one another, which means that neither could take effect unless both were enacted.)
MCL 257.244
House Bill 4146 would amend section 255, which prohibits a person from operating
vehicles with no registration plates. Currently, a person convicted of operating a vehicle
licensed under the international registration plan without a registration due to nonpayment
of the fee is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 90 days or a
fine of up to $100, or both. Under the bill, a person violating these provisions would be
responsible for a civil infraction.
Currently, a person convicted of operating certain commercial vehicles without a plate or
with unauthorized or illegal plates is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment
for up to 90 days or a fine of up to $500, or both. Under the bill, a person operating such a
commercial vehicle with no plates would be responsible for a civil infraction.
(As introduced, another bill, HB 4153, would provide that a civil infraction described
above could result in a civil fine of up to $150. HBs 4146 and 4153 are tie-barred to one
another, which means that neither could take effect unless both were enacted.)
MCL 257.255
House Bill 4147 would amend sections 306 and 907. Section 306(3) provides that a student
enrolled in a driver education course or motorcycle safety course may, while under the
direct supervision of the program instructor, operate a motor vehicle without holding a
license or permit as long as the vehicle does not require a group designation under section
312e. Under the bill, a person who violated section 306(3) would be responsible for a civil
infraction and would have to be ordered to pay a civil fine of up to $150.
MCL 257.306 and 257.907
FISCAL IMPACT:
House Bill 4143 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the state and on local units
of government. The bill would reduce the penalties for a number of offenses from the
current misdemeanor charges to civil infractions. Also, the bill would add civil infraction
penalties for a number of offenses. Changing penalties from misdemeanors to civil
infractions and adding civil infraction penalties would impact costs to local county jails,
revenue deposited into the state’s Justice System Fund, and revenue used to support public
and county law libraries. Costs to local county jails would be reduced as misdemeanor
convictions would be replaced with civil infraction penalties. Costs of incarceration in local
county jails varies by jurisdiction, so the savings to local units cannot be determined.
Revenue collected from the payment of civil infraction penalties is used to support public
and county law libraries. Any increase in the amount of fine revenue received would benefit
the libraries. Under section 907(13) of the Michigan Vehicle Code, for any civil fines
House Fiscal Agency HBs 4143, 4145, 4146, and 4147 as introduced Page 2 of 4
 ordered to be paid, the judge or district court magistrate is required to order the defendant
to pay a justice system assessment of $40 for each civil infraction determination, except
for parking violations. Revenue deposited into the state’s Justice System Fund supports
various justice-related endeavors in the judicial branch, the Departments of State Police,
Corrections, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, and the Legislative Retirement
System. Because there is no practical way to determine the number of violations that will
occur under provisions of the bill, an estimate of the amount of additional revenue the state
would collect cannot be made.
House Bill 4145 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the state and on local units
of government. The bill would reduce the penalty from the current misdemeanor charge to
a civil infraction. Also, the bill would add a civil infraction penalty. Changing the penalty
from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction and adding a civil infraction penalty would impact
costs to local county jails, revenue deposited into the state’s Justice System Fund, and
revenue used to support public and county law libraries. Costs to local county jails would
be reduced as misdemeanor convictions would be replaced with civil infraction penalties.
Costs of incarceration in local county jails varies by jurisdiction, so the savings to local
units cannot be determined. Revenue collected from the payment of civil infraction
penalties is used to support public and county law libraries. Any increase in the amount of
fine revenue received would benefit the libraries. Under section 907(13) of the Michigan
Vehicle Code, for any civil fines ordered to be paid, the judge or district court magistrate
is required to order the defendant to pay a justice system assessment of $40 for each civil
infraction determination, except for parking violations. Revenue deposited into the state’s
Justice System Fund supports various justice-related endeavors in the judicial branch, the
Departments of State Police, Corrections, Health and Human Services, and Treasury, and
the Legislative Retirement System. Because there is no practical way to determine the
number of violations that will occur under provisions of the bill, an estimate of the amount
of additional revenue the state would collect cannot be made.
House Bill 4146 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the state and on local units
of government. The bill would reduce the penalties for a number of offenses from the
current misdemeanor charges to civil infractions. Changing penalties from misdemeanors
to civil infractions would impact costs to local county jails, revenue deposited into the
state’s Justice System Fund, and revenue used to support public and county law libraries.
Costs to local county jails would be reduced as misdemeanor convictions would be
replaced with civil infraction penalties. Costs of incarceration in local county jails varies
by jurisdiction, so the savings to local units cannot be determined. Revenue collected from
the payment of civil infraction penalties is used to support public and county law libraries.
Any increase in the amount of fine revenue received would benefit the libraries. Under
section 907(13) of the Michigan Vehicle Code, for any civil fines ordered to be paid, the
judge or district court magistrate is required to order the defendant to pay a justice system
assessment of $40 for each civil infraction determination, except for parking violations.
Revenue deposited into the state’s Justice System Fund supports various justice-related
endeavors in the judicial branch, the Departments of State Police, Corrections, Health and
Human Services, and Treasury, and the Legislative Retirement System. Because there is
no practical way to determine the number of violations that will occur under provisions of
House Fiscal Agency HBs 4143, 4145, 4146, and 4147 as introduced Page 3 of 4
 the bill, an estimate of the amount of additional revenue the state would collect cannot be
made.
House Bill 4147 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the state and on local units
of government. The bill would add civil infraction penalties. Revenue collected from the
payment of civil fines is used to support public and county law libraries. Also, under section
907(13) of the Michigan Vehicle Code, for any civil fines ordered to be paid, the judge or
district court magistrate is required to order the defendant to pay a justice system
assessment of $40 for each civil infraction determination, except for parking violations.
Revenue deposited into the state’s Justice System Fund supports various justice-related
endeavors in the judicial branch, the Departments of State Police, Corrections, Health and
Human Services, and Treasury, and the Legislative Retirement System. Because there is
no practical way to determine the number of violations that will occur under provisions of
the bill, an estimate of the amount of additional revenue that libraries or the state would
collect cannot be made.
Legislative Analyst: Emily S. Smith
Fiscal Analyst: Robin Risko
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency HBs 4143, 4145, 4146, and 4147 as introduced Page 4 of 4


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 257.306, 257.907