E-PROOF OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION                                                     H.B. 4013 (H-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4013 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Peter J. Lucido

House Committee:  Insurance

Senate Committee:  Insurance

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow for an electronic copy or a digital photograph of a vehicle registration certificate to satisfy the requirement that a registration certificate be carried in a vehicle or carried by the person driving a vehicle.

Section 223 of the Code states that a registration certificate must at all times be carried in the vehicle to which it refers or must be carried by the person driving or in control of the vehicle, who must display the registration certificate upon demand of a police officer.

Under the bill, a registration certificate would have to be carried by or electronically accessible to the person driving or in control of the vehicle, who would have to display a paper or electronic copy of the registration certificate upon demand of a police officer.

If a person displayed an electronic copy of his or her registration certificate using an electronic device, the police officer would be allowed only to view the electronic copy of the registration certificate and would not be allowed to manipulate the electronic device to view any other information on it. A person who displayed an electronic copy of his or her registration certificate using an electronic device would not be presumed to have consented to a search of the device.

The State, a law enforcement agency, or an employee of the State or a law enforcement agency would not be liable for damage to or loss of an electronic device that occurred as a result of a police officer's viewing an electronic copy of a registration certificate.

A digital photograph of a valid registration certificate would satisfy the requirements that a registration certificate be carried in the vehicle (or be electronically accessible, under the bill) and be displayed upon the request of a police officer.

MCL 257.223                                                          Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government, except to the extent that fewer individuals were in violation of Section 223 of the Code.

Date Completed:  6-8-17                                                      Fiscal Analyst:  Bruce Baker

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.