Section 257.907 - Civil infraction not crime; payment of civil fine and costs; program of treatment, education, or rehabilitation; sanctions; schedule of civil fines, costs, and assessments; recommend
MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 300 of 1949
257.907 Civil infraction not crime; payment of civil fine and costs; program of treatment, education, or rehabilitation; sanctions; schedule of civil fines, costs, and assessments; recommended range of civil fines and costs; certification of repair of defective equipment; collection of civil fines or costs; noncompliance with order or judgment; additional assessment; waiver of fines, costs, and assessments.
Sec. 907.
(1) A violation of this act, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of this act, that is designated a civil infraction shall not be considered a lesser included offense of a criminal offense.
(2) If a person is determined pursuant to sections 741 to 750 to be responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of this act, the judge or district court magistrate may order the person to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00 and costs as provided in subsection (4). However, beginning October 31, 2010, if the civil infraction was a moving violation that resulted in an at-fault collision with another vehicle, a person, or any other object, the civil fine ordered under this section shall be increased by $25.00 but the total civil fine shall not exceed $100.00. However, for a violation of section 602b, the person shall be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of $100.00 for a first offense and $200.00 for a second or subsequent offense. For a violation of section 674(1)(s) or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 674(1)(s), the person shall be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $250.00. For a violation of section 328, the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall be not more than $50.00. For a violation of section 710d, the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall not exceed $10.00. For a violation of section 710e, the civil fine and court costs ordered under this subsection shall be $25.00. For a violation of section 682 or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 682, the person shall be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $500.00. For a violation of section 240, the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall be $15.00. For a violation of section 252a(1), the civil fine ordered under this subsection shall be $50.00. For a violation of section 676a(3), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not more than $10.00. For a violation of section 319f(1), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not less than $1,100.00 or more than $2,750.00. For a violation of section 319g(1)(a), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not more than $10,000.00. For a violation of section 319g(1)(b), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not less than $2,750.00 or more than $11,000.00. Permission may be granted for payment of a civil fine and costs to be made within a specified period of time or in specified installments, but unless permission is included in the order or judgment, the civil fine and costs shall be payable immediately.
(3) Except as provided in this subsection, if a person is determined to be responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of this act while driving a commercial motor vehicle, he or she shall be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not more than $250.00. If a person is determined to be responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction under section 319g or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 319g, that person shall be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not more than $10,000.00.
(4) If a civil fine is ordered under subsection (2) or (3), the judge or district court magistrate shall summarily tax and determine the costs of the action, which are not limited to the costs taxable in ordinary civil actions, and may include all expenses, direct and indirect, to which the plaintiff has been put in connection with the civil infraction, up to the entry of judgment. Costs shall not be ordered in excess of $100.00. A civil fine ordered under subsection (2) or (3) shall not be waived unless costs ordered under this subsection are waived. Except as otherwise provided by law, costs are payable to the general fund of the plaintiff.
(5) In addition to a civil fine and costs ordered under subsection (2) or (3) and subsection (4) and the justice system assessment ordered under subsection (14), the judge or district court magistrate may order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment, education, or rehabilitation.
(6) A district court magistrate shall impose the sanctions permitted under subsections (2), (3), and (5) only to the extent expressly authorized by the chief judge or only judge of the district court district.
(7) Each district of the district court and each municipal court may establish a schedule of civil fines, costs, and assessments to be imposed for civil infractions that occur within the respective district or city. If a schedule is established, it shall be prominently posted and readily available for public inspection. A schedule need not include all violations that are designated by law or ordinance as civil infractions. A schedule may exclude cases on the basis of a defendant's prior record of civil infractions or traffic offenses, or a combination of civil infractions and traffic offenses.
(8) The state court administrator shall annually publish and distribute to each district and court a recommended range of civil fines and costs for first-time civil infractions. This recommendation is not binding upon the courts having jurisdiction over civil infractions but is intended to act as a normative guide for judges and district court magistrates and a basis for public evaluation of disparities in the imposition of civil fines and costs throughout the state.
(9) If a person has received a civil infraction citation for defective safety equipment on a vehicle under section 683, the court shall waive a civil fine, costs, and assessments upon receipt of certification by a law enforcement agency that repair of the defective equipment was made before the appearance date on the citation.
(10) A default in the payment of a civil fine or costs ordered under subsection (2), (3), or (4) or a justice system assessment ordered under subsection (14), or an installment of the fine, costs, or assessment, may be collected by a means authorized for the enforcement of a judgment under chapter 40 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.4001 to 600.4065, or under chapter 60 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.6001 to 600.6098.
(11) If a person fails to comply with an order or judgment issued pursuant to this section within the time prescribed by the court, the driver's license of that person shall be suspended pursuant to section 321a until full compliance with that order or judgment occurs. In addition to this suspension, the court may also proceed under section 908.
(12) The court shall waive any civil fine, cost, or assessment against a person who received a civil infraction citation for a violation of section 710d if the person, before the appearance date on the citation, supplies the court with evidence of acquisition, purchase, or rental of a child seating system meeting the requirements of section 710d.
(13) Until October 1, 2003, in addition to any civil fines and costs ordered to be paid under this section, the judge or district court magistrate shall levy an assessment of $5.00 for each civil infraction determination, except for a parking violation or a violation for which the total fine and costs imposed are $10.00 or less. An assessment paid before October 1, 2003 shall be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the state treasurer to be deposited into the Michigan justice training fund. An assessment ordered before October 1, 2003 but collected on or after October 1, 2003 shall be transmitted by the clerk of the court to the state treasurer for deposit in the justice system fund created in section 181 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.181. An assessment levied under this subsection is not a civil fine for purposes of section 909.
(14) Effective October 1, 2003, in addition to any civil fines or costs ordered to be paid under this section, the judge or district court magistrate shall order the defendant to pay a justice system assessment of $40.00 for each civil infraction determination, except for a parking violation or a violation for which the total fine and costs imposed are $10.00 or less. Upon payment of the assessment, the clerk of the court shall transmit the assessment collected to the state treasury to be deposited into the justice system fund created in section 181 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.181. An assessment levied under this subsection is not a civil fine for purposes of section 909.
(15) If a person has received a citation for a violation of section 223, the court shall waive any civil fine, costs, and assessment, upon receipt of certification by a law enforcement agency that the person, before the appearance date on the citation, produced a valid registration certificate that was valid on the date the violation of section 223 occurred.
(16) If a person has received a citation for a violation of section 328(1) for failing to produce a certificate of insurance pursuant to section 328(2), the court may waive the fee described in section 328(3)(c) and shall waive any fine, costs, and any other fee or assessment otherwise authorized under this act upon receipt of verification by the court that the person, before the appearance date on the citation, produced valid proof of insurance that was in effect at the time the violation of section 328(1) occurred. Insurance obtained subsequent to the time of the violation does not make the person eligible for a waiver under this subsection.
(17) As used in this section, "moving violation" means an act or omission prohibited under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this act that involves the operation of a motor vehicle and for which a fine may be assessed.
History: Add. 1978, Act 510, Eff. Aug. 1, 1979 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 459, Imd. Eff. Jan. 15, 1981 ;-- Am. 1981, Act 117, Eff. Mar. 31, 1982 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 51, Eff. Mar. 30, 1983 ;-- Am. 1982, Act 301, Imd. Eff. Oct. 12, 1982 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 30, Eff. Apr. 28, 1984 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 364, Eff. Mar. 29, 1985 ;-- Am. 1985, Act 1, Eff. July 1, 1985 ;-- Am. 1988, Act 346, Eff. Jan. 1, 1989 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 89, Eff. Sept. 19, 1989 ;-- Am. 1995, Act 287, Imd. Eff. Jan. 9, 1996 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 103, Eff. Aug. 15, 1998 ;-- Am. 2001, Act 214, Imd. Eff. Dec. 27, 2001 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 534, Eff. Oct. 1, 2002 ;-- Am. 2003, Act 34, Eff. Oct. 1, 2003 ;-- Am. 2003, Act 73, Eff. Oct. 1, 2003 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 52, Eff. May 1, 2004 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 62, Eff. May 3, 2004 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 493, Eff. Oct. 1, 2005 ;-- Am. 2005, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Mar. 24, 2005 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 298, Imd. Eff. July 20, 2006 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 463, Eff. Oct. 31, 2010 ;-- Am. 2010, Act 59, Eff. July 1, 2010