FAILURE TO STOP AT WEIGH STATION                                                            H.B. 5090:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5090 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Scott VanSingel

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to make it a civil infraction, instead of a misdemeanor, for a driver or owner of a truck or truck tractor, a truck or truck tractor with other vehicles in combination, or any special mobile equipment to fail to stop at or bypass any scales or weighing station. The bill also would remove a reference to a driver or owner of a commercial vehicle with other vehicles or trailers in combination.

Currently, a driver or owner of a commercial vehicle with other vehicles or trailers in combination, a truck or truck tractor, a truck or truck tractor with other vehicles in combination, or any special mobile equipment, who fails to stop at or bypasses any scales or weighing station is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The bill would change the violation to a civil infraction, and would delete a reference to a commercial vehicle with other vehicles or trailers in combination.

MCL 257.724                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State, and could have a positive fiscal impact on local government. Fewer misdemeanor arrests and convictions could reduce resource demands on law enforcement, court systems, community supervision, and jails. If the fine revenue from civil infractions were less than the amount generated from the specific misdemeanor, any associated decrease in fine revenue would decrease funding to public libraries. The reverse also would occur, if the civil fine were greater.

Date Completed:  9-11-18                                                   Fiscal Analyst:  Abbey Frazier

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.