VEHICLE REGISTRATION PLATE; 30 DAYS                                                H.B. 4535 (H-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4535 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Curt VanderWall

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require a person to attach a valid registration plate to his or her vehicle not later than 30 days after the vehicle was registered or the vehicle's registration was renewed.

The Code states that, except as otherwise provided, a person may not operate, and an owner may not knowingly permit to be operated, upon any highway, a vehicle required to be registered under the Code unless there is attached to and displayed on the vehicle a valid registration plate issued for the vehicle by the Department of State for the current registration year. A person who violates this provision is responsible for a civil infraction, and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of up to $100. Misdemeanor penalties apply if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

Under the bill, except as otherwise provided, a person could not operate, and an owner could not knowingly permit to be operated, upon any highway, a vehicle required to be registered under the Code unless a valid registration plate issued for the vehicle by the Department for the current registration year was attached to and displayed on the vehicle not later than 30 days after the vehicle was registered or the vehicle's registration was renewed.

The 30-day period would not apply to the first registration of a vehicle after a transfer of ownership or to a transfer of registration.

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) would be proof that the vehicle was registered or that its registration had been renewed.

MCL 257.255                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State and an indeterminate fiscal impact on local government. A decrease in misdemeanor arrests and convictions could reduce resource demands on law enforcement, court systems, and community supervision. Any reduction in civil infraction and penal fine revenue would reduce funding for public libraries.

Date Completed:  2-16-18                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Ryan Bergan

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.