Act No. 19

Public Acts of 2008

Approved by the Governor

March 6, 2008

Filed with the Secretary of State

March 7, 2008

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 7, 2008

STATE OF MICHIGAN

94TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2008

Introduced by Reps. Angerer, Sheltrown, Condino, Lahti, Sak, Vagnozzi, Robert Jones, Polidori, Hildenbrand, Meadows, Schuitmaker and Constan

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 5021

AN ACT to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled "An act to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer, and regulation of certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the licensing of dealers; to provide for the examination, licensing, and control of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and operators of vehicles; to provide for the imposition, levy, and collection of specific taxes on vehicles, and the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees, and permit fees; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways; to create certain funds; to provide penalties and sanctions for a violation of this act; to provide for civil liability of owners and operators of vehicles and service of process on residents and nonresidents; to provide for the levy of certain assessments; to provide for the enforcement of this act; to provide for the creation of and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies; to impose liability upon the state or local agencies; to provide appropriations for certain purposes; to repeal all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act or contrary to this act; and to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date," by amending section 708b (MCL 257.708b), as amended by 2004 PA 362.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 708b. (1) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle that is to be used upon the highways of this state with a television or other similar electronic device that displays a video image that can be viewed by the operator while the motor vehicle is in motion.

(2) This section does not apply to:

(a) An audio entertainment system, heating or air-conditioning controls, or other accessory controls in the motor vehicle.

(b) A vehicle information or navigation system for use in displaying only information pertaining to vehicle location, available routes and destinations, road layouts, weather conditions, traffic and road conditions, vehicle conditions, or traveler services.

(c) A research vehicle if the test plan for the vehicle has been approved by a process meeting federal guidelines established in 45 CFR part 46 for the protection of human beings and the vehicle has been issued a special registration permit by the secretary of state.

(d) A motor vehicle equipped with a video display to enhance or supplement the driver's view.

(e) A police vehicle, fire vehicle, or ambulance equipped with a monitor for use with a computer-aided dispatch system or emergency equipment controls.

(f) A police vehicle equipped with a monitor for use with recording equipment.

(g) A motor vehicle equipped with a video display to communicate vehicle, driver, or safety conditions.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a visual device permitted under subsection (2)(a) or (b) shall bebuilt into the dashboard, center console, instrument panel, rearview mirror, or other control area of the vehicle andshall meet all applicable federal motor vehicle dash safety standards. An aftermarket visual device described in subsection(2)(a) or (b) may be installed or mounted on the windshield or above the dashboard, but shall not be mounted within the deployment profile of the vehicle airbags or in a manner that interferes with the operator's view or control. This subsection does not apply to a research vehicle described in subsection (2)(c).

(4) Upon receipt of a completed application, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, and payment of a fee of $10.00, the secretary of state may issue a special permit authorizing a research vehicle to use the highways of this state. A copy of the authority received by the applicant under subsection (2)(c) shall be submitted as part of the application for the special permit. The special permit may be in a form as prescribed by, and shall be displayed on a research vehicle in a manner determined by, the secretary of state. The special permit shall expire upon completion of or expiration of the specific test plan approved under subsection (2)(c), whichever occurs first, and shall be immediately removed from the research vehicle and destroyed. A special permit shall not be transferred to another vehicle or person. The fee collected under this subsection shall be credited to the Michigan transportation fund and used to defray the expenses of the secretary of state in administering the special permit program. In addition to a special permit, the appropriate vehicle registration plate shall be displayed on a research vehicle to use a highway of this state.

(5) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved

Governor