Act No. 126
Public Acts of 2015
Approved by the Governor
July 15, 2015
Filed with the Secretary of State
July 15, 2015
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 15, 2015
STATE OF MICHIGAN
98TH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2015
Introduced by Senators Schmidt, Casperson, Knezek, Proos, Zorn, Hansen and Warren
ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 165
AN ACT to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled “An act to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer, and regulation of certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the licensing of dealers; to provide for the examination, licensing, and control of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and operators of vehicles; to provide for the imposition, levy, and collection of specific taxes on vehicles, and the levy and collection of sales and use taxes, license fees, and permit fees; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways; to create certain funds; to provide penalties and sanctions for a violation of this act; to provide for civil liability of manufacturers, the manufacturers of automated technology, upfitters, owners, and operators of vehicles and service of process on residents and nonresidents; to regulate the introduction and use of certain evidence; to provide for the levy of certain assessments; to provide for the enforcement of this act; to provide for the creation of and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies; to impose liability upon the state or local agencies; to provide appropriations for certain purposes; to repeal all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with this act or contrary to this act; and to repeal certain parts of this act on a specific date,” by amending sections 624a, 657, 660, 662, 901, and 907 (MCL 257.624a, 257.657, 257.660, 257.662, 257.901, and 257.907), section 624a as amended by 2012 PA 306, sections 657 and 662 as amended by 2002 PA 494, section 660 as amended by 2006 PA 339, and section 907 as amended by 2014 PA 303, and by adding sections 518a and 625p.
The People of the State of Michigan enact:
Sec. 518a. The owner of a commercial quadricycle shall furnish bodily injury and property damage liability insurance with a minimum combined single limit of $2,000,000.00 for all persons injured or for property damage.
Sec. 624a. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (5), a person who is an operator or occupant shall not transport or possess alcoholic liquor in a container that is open or uncapped or upon which the seal is broken within the passenger area of a vehicle upon a highway, or within the passenger area of a moving vehicle in any place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles, including an area designated for the parking of vehicles, in this state.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), a person may transport or possess alcoholic liquor in a container that is open or uncapped or upon which the seal is broken within the passenger area of a vehicle upon a highway or other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles, including an area designated for the parking of vehicles in this state, if the vehicle does not have a trunk or compartment separate from the passenger area, and the container is in a locked glove compartment, behind the last upright seat, or in an area not normally occupied by the operator or a passenger.
(3) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. As part of the sentence, the person may be ordered to perform community service and undergo substance abuse screening and assessment at his or her own expense as described in section 703(1) of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1703. A court shall not accept a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for a violation of this section from a person charged solely with a violation of section 625(6).
(4) This section does not apply to a passenger in a chartered vehicle authorized to operate by the state transportation department.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, unless prohibited by local ordinance, subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a passenger in a commercial quadricycle. A passenger in a commercial quadricycle shall not transport or possess alcoholic liquor other than beer, wine, spirits, or a mixed spirits drink.
(6) As used in this section:
(a) “Glove compartment” means a recess with a hinged and locking door in the dashboard of a motor vehicle.
(b) “Passenger area” means the area designed to seat the operator and passengers of a motor vehicle while it is in operation and any area that is readily accessible to the operator or a passenger while in his or her seating position, including the glove compartment.
Sec. 625p. (1) A person, whether licensed or not, who has an alcohol content of greater than 0.00 grams per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine shall not operate a commercial quadricycle within this state.
(2) A person who is convicted of a violation of this section or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by 1 of the following:
(a) If the person has an alcohol content of at least 0.04 grams per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine, imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $300.00, or both, together with costs of the prosecution.
(b) If the person has an alcohol content of greater than 0.00 grams, but less than 0.04 grams, per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine, a fine of not more than $300.00, together with costs of the prosecution.
Sec. 657. Each person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, or moped or operating a low-speed vehicle or commercial quadricycle upon a roadway has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle under this chapter, except for special regulations in this article and except for the provisions of this chapter that by their nature do not apply.
Sec. 660. (1) A person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device, low-speed vehicle, or moped upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and shall exercise due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. A motorcycle is entitled to full use of a lane, and a motor vehicle shall not be driven in such a manner as to deprive a motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection does not apply to motorcycles operated 2 abreast in a single lane.
(2) A person riding an electric personal assistive mobility device, motorcycle, or moped upon a roadway shall not ride more than 2 abreast except on a path or part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of those vehicles.
(3) Where a usable and designated path for bicycles is provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path.
(4) A person operating a motorcycle, moped, low-speed vehicle, or electric personal assistive mobility device shall not pass between lines of traffic, but may pass on the left of traffic moving in his or her direction in the case of a 2-way street or on the left or right of traffic in the case of a 1-way street, in an unoccupied lane.
(5) A person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing the pedestrian.
(6) A moped, low-speed vehicle, or commercial quadricycle shall not be operated on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians.
(7) A low-speed vehicle or commercial quadricycle shall be operated at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour. A low-speed vehicle shall not be operated on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour except for the purpose of crossing that highway or street. A commercial quadricycle shall not be operated on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 45 miles per hour except for the purpose of crossing that highway or street. An individual shall not operate a commercial quadricycle that is equipped with a motor unless he or she has a valid operator’s license issued under this act. The state transportation department may prohibit the operation of a low-speed vehicle or commercial quadricycle on any highway or street under its jurisdiction if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of public safety.
(8) This section does not apply to a police officer in the performance of his or her official duties.
(9) An electric personal assistive mobility device shall be operated at a speed of not more than 15 miles per hour and shall not be operated on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour except to cross that highway or street.
(10) The governing body of a county, a city, a village, an entity created under the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512, or a township may, by ordinance, which is based on the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens, regulate the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices or commercial quadricycles on sidewalks, highways or streets, or crosswalks. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a governing body of a county, city, village, entity created under the urban cooperation act of 1967, 1967 (Ex Sess) PA 7, MCL 124.501 to 124.512, or township may prohibit the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices or commercial quadricycles in an area open to pedestrian traffic adjacent to a waterfront or on a trail under its jurisdiction or in a downtown or central business district. Signs indicating the regulation shall be conspicuously posted in the area where the use of an electric personal assistive mobility device or commercial quadricycle is regulated.
(11) Operation of an electric personal assistive mobility device is prohibited in a special charter city and a state park under the jurisdiction of the Mackinac Island State Park commission.
(12) Operation of an electric personal assistive mobility device may be prohibited in a historic district.
(13) The department of natural resources may by order regulate the use of electric personal assistive mobility devices on all lands under its control.
Sec. 662. (1) A bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, or commercial quadricycle being operated on a roadway between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear that shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
(2) A bicycle shall be equipped with a brake that enables the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(3) An electric personal assistive mobility device or commercial quadricycle shall enable the operator to bring it to a controlled stop.
(4) A person shall not sell, offer for sale, or deliver for sale in this state a bicycle or a pedal for use on a bicycle, either of which was manufactured after January 1, 1976, unless it is equipped with a type of reflex reflector located on the front and rear surfaces of the pedal. The reflector elements may be either integral with the construction of the pedal or mechanically attached, but shall be sufficiently recessed from the edge of the pedal, or of the reflector housing, to prevent contact of the reflector element with a flat surface placed in contact with the edge of the pedal. The pedal reflectors shall be visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during the nighttime from a distance of 200 feet when directly exposed to the lower beam head lamps of a motor vehicle.
(5) A person shall not sell, offer for sale, or deliver for sale in this state a bicycle manufactured after January 1, 1976 or an electric personal assistive mobility device unless it is equipped with either tires that have reflective sidewalls or with wide-angle prismatic spoke reflectors. If the bicycle or the electric personal assistive mobility device is manufactured with reflective sidewalls, the reflective portion of the sidewall shall form a continuous circle on the sidewall, and may not be removed from the tire without removal of tire material. If the bicycle is equipped with wide-angle prismatic spoke reflectors, the reflectors of the front wheel shall be essentially colorless or amber, and the reflectors on the rear wheel shall be essentially colorless or red. Reflective sidewalls or spoke reflectors shall cause the bicycle to be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet when viewed under lawful low beam motor vehicle head lamps under normal atmospheric conditions.
(6) A person who violates subsection (1) or (2) is responsible for a civil infraction.
Sec. 901. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), it is a misdemeanor for a person to violate this act, unless that violation is by this act or other law of this state declared to be a felony or a civil infraction.
(2) Unless another penalty is provided in this act or by the laws of this state, a person convicted of a misdemeanor for the violation of this act shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100.00, or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this act, a violation of this act by the owner of a commercial quadricycle arising out of the ownership or operation of the commercial quadricycle is a civil infraction.
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 under 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, 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 676c, the person shall be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of $1,000.00. 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, subject to subsection (12). 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 first violation of section 319f(1), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not less than $2,500.00 or more than $2,750.00; for a second or subsequent violation, the civil fine shall be not less than $5,000.00 or more than $5,500.00. 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)(g), the civil fine ordered under this section shall be not less than $2,750.00 or more than $25,000.00. 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.
(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 (13), 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 (13), 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 under this section within the time prescribed by the court, the driver’s license of that person shall be suspended under 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 may 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) 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.
(14) 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.
(15) If a person has received a citation for a violation of section 328(1) for failing to produce a certificate of insurance under 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.
(16) 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 and the civil infraction arises out of the ownership or operation of a commercial quadricycle, he or she shall be ordered to pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and a civil fine of not more than $500.00.
(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.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect unless Senate Bill No. 166 of the 98th Legislature is enacted into law.
This act is ordered to take immediate effect.
Secretary of the Senate
Clerk of the House of Representatives
Approved
Governor