April 26, 2017, Introduced by Reps. VanderWall, Lucido, Lower, Elder, Marino, Allor, Hoitenga and Rendon and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 255 (MCL 257.255), as amended by 2003 PA 9.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 255. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a
person shall not operate, nor shall an owner knowingly permit to be
operated, upon any highway, a vehicle required to be registered
under
this act unless, there no later than 30 days after the
vehicle is registered or the vehicle's registration is renewed, a
valid registration plate issued for the vehicle by the department
for the current registration year is attached to and displayed on
the
vehicle , as
required by this chapter. , a valid registration
plate
issued for the vehicle by the department for the current
registration
year. A registration plate shall
is not be required
upon any wrecked or disabled vehicle, or vehicle destined for
repair or junking, which is being transported or drawn upon a
highway by a wrecker or a registered motor vehicle.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who
violates subsection (1) is responsible for a civil infraction.
However, if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle which is required
to be registered according to the schedule of elected gross vehicle
weights under section 801(1)(k), the person is guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or
a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
(3) A person who operates a vehicle licensed under the
international registration plan and does not have a valid
registration due to nonpayment of the apportioned fee is guilty of
a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90
days, or by a fine of not more than $100.00, or both. In addition,
a police officer may impound the vehicle until a valid registration
is obtained. If the vehicle is impounded, the towing and storage
costs of the vehicle, and the care or preservation of the load in
the
vehicle shall be are the owner's responsibility. Vehicles
impounded
shall be are subject to a lien in the amount of the
apportioned fee and any fine and costs incurred under this
subsection, subject to a valid lien of prior record. If the
apportioned fee, fine, and costs are not paid within 90 days after
impoundment, then following a hearing before the judge or
magistrate who imposed the fine and costs, the judge or magistrate
shall certify the unpaid judgment to the prosecuting attorney of
the county in which the violation occurred. The prosecuting
attorney shall enforce the lien by foreclosure sale in accordance
with the procedure authorized by law for chattel mortgage
foreclosures.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.