PHOTO. TRAFFIC SIGNAL ENF.; PROHIBIT S.B. 875:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 875 (as introduced 2-15-22) (Senate-passed version)
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to prohibit a photographic traffic signal enforcement system from enforcing compliance with the Code's prescribed use of a traffic control signal or any local ordinance substantially corresponding to the prescribed use of a traffic control signal.
Section 612 of the Code prescribes the meaning of a traffic control signal's red, yellow, and green lights and other signals, and the actions that vehicular traffic may or must undertake when a signal exhibits a given indication. The Code specifies that a person who violates the prescribed use of a traffic control signal is responsible for a civil infraction.
Under the bill, a photographic traffic signal enforcement system could not be used to enforce a violation of Section 612 or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to Section 612. The bill also specifies that any citation issued based on a recorded image produced by a photographic traffic signal enforcement system would be in violation of the bill and would be void. "Photographic traffic signal enforcement system" would mean a system that consists of a camera system and vehicle sensor installed to exclusively work in conjunction with a traffic control signal and is capable of producing at least two recorded images that depict the registration plate attached to the front or the rear of a motor vehicle that is not operated in compliance with the instructions of the traffic control signal. "Recorded image" would mean a photographic or digital image that depicts the front or the rear of a motor vehicle.
Proposed MCL 257.612a Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State but could have a negative fiscal impact on any local government that currently uses a photographic traffic signal enforcement system to issue citations for violating its local ordinances for traffic signals. The amount of revenue loss to local libraries is indeterminate and would depend on the actual number of local units that currently use a photographic traffic signal enforcement system to enforce violations.
Currently, revenue collected from civil fines is used to support local libraries. Additionally, $10 of the civil fine is deposited into the State Justice System Fund. The Fund supports justice-related activities across State government in the Departments of Corrections, Health and Human Services, State Police, and Treasury. The Fund also supports justice-related issues in the Legislative Retirement System and the Judiciary.
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.