SIGNATURE ON VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Senate Bill 79

Sponsor:  Sen. Ron Jelinek

House Committee:  Transportation

Senate Committee:  Transportation

Complete to 10-10-07

A SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 79 AS PASSED BY THE SENATE 4-17-07

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.223) to delete a requirement that a vehicle owner, upon receiving a registration certificate, sign the certificate with pen and ink in the space provided. A violation of this requirement is a civil infraction.

(A person found responsible for a civil infraction under the Vehicle Code may be ordered to pay a civil fine, which generally may not exceed $100, as well as a justice system assessment of $40. The person also may be taxed up to $100 for costs of the action.  See Fiscal Impact for additional information.)

FISCAL IMPACT:  

Under the bill, the amount of revenue generated for local libraries, local court funding units and the Justice System Fund (JSF) would see a slight decrease depending upon the reduction in civil infraction violations under the bill's provisions.  Currently, the recommended fine for a vehicle owner not having a valid signed registration is $18, court costs are recommended to be $35 - $53, and a justice system assessment of $40 is required. 

Because the $18 in fine revenue for this civil infraction traffic violation would go to county treasurers for local libraries, there would be an indeterminate amount of funding reduction to those libraries depending upon the reduction in the number of civil infractions.  Similarly, the governmental unit that funds the local court would see a reduction in revenue in lieu of not receiving the recommended $35 – 53 in court costs.   Since under current law, the JSF would receive a $40 assessment for each civil infraction, under the bill, the JSF would see a slight decrease in revenue as well.  The JSF supports various justice-related endeavors in the judicial branch, the Department of State Police, and the Department of Corrections.

Data is not available concerning the number of civil infractions that are issued for failure to sign a vehicle registration.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                   Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Bay Wild

■ 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.