Category: Driver Responsibility Fees

Michigan Driver Responsibility Fees - What are they, how much do you need to pay, and what happens when you don't pay them?

7/7/2017

Drivers with seven or more points on their driving record, or drivers convicted of certain driving offenses, must pay a “driver responsibility fee” of at least $100. MCL 257.732a. D

Driver responsibility fees will be completely phased out for violations that occur on or after October 1, 2019. Violations after October 1, 2015, result in reduced fees.

The fees assessed are as follows:

Seven or more points on the driving record within a 2-year period: $100, with an additional $50 assessed for each additional point.
Manslaughter, negligent homicide, felony resulting from the operation of a vehicle; OWI; OWI or visible impairment causing death or serious impairment; operating a CMV with an unlawful BAC; operating an off-road recreation vehicle while impaired; moving violation with criminal penalties in a construction zone causing injury or death to a construction worker; moving violation with criminal penalties causing injury or death to a person operating a husbandry implement on the highway; improperly passing a parked emergency vehicle causing injury or death to an emergency worker; failing to stop and disclose one’s identity at an accident scene where legally required to do so; fleeing or eluding an officer; or moving violation or reckless driving causing death or serious impairment: $1,000 each year for 2 consecutive years.
Driving while visibly impaired; driving with any bodily alcohol content when under 21 years old; drunk driving with a person under 16 years of age in the vehicle; driving with any amount of a controlled substance in one’s body; reckless driving; driving with a suspended or revoked license or registration; or driving without required insurance: $500 each year for 2 consecutive years.

What are Michigan Driver Responsibility Fees and how much are they going to cost me?

3/1/2016

The Michigan Vehicle Code mandates a driver responsibility fee payable to the Secretary of State, on notice of a conviction, for drivers convicted of certain offenses. This fee is in addition to any other penalties. The driver responsibility fee for drunk driving offenses are

$1,000 each year for two years after conviction for OWI, OWI causing serious injury, and OWI causing death (MCL 257.732a(2)(a)(iii)); and
$500 each year for two years after conviction for OWVI, zero tolerance, child endangerment, and OWPCS (MCL 257.732a(2)(b)(i)).

Note that 2014 PA 250 added MCL 257.732a(11) to reduce and phase out the fees starting October 1, 2015:

(b) A fee assessed under subsection (2)(a) or (b) shall be reduced as follows:
(i) For a violation that occurs on or after October 1, 2015, 100% of the fee shall be assessed for the first year and 50% for the second year.
(ii) For a violation that occurs on or after October 1, 2016, 100% of the fee shall be assessed for the first year and no fee shall be assessed for the second year.
(iii) For a violation that occurs on or after October 1, 2018, 50% of the fee shall be assessed for the first year and no fee shall be assessed for the second year.
(iv) For a violation that occurs on or after October 1, 2019, no fee shall be assessed under subsection (2)(a) or (b).

Failure to pay the fees will result in the suspension of the offender’s license. MCL 257.732a(5). A payment plan for fees above $500 is allowed under MCL 257.732a(4).
The Secretary of State may authorize payment by installment for a period not to exceed 24 months. MCL 257.732a(4). Alternatively, the driver may engage in community service. Id. If payment is not received or an installment plan is not established after the time limit (30 days) required by the Secretary’s second notice, the Secretary must suspend driving privileges until the assessment and any other fees prescribed under the Michigan Vehicle Code are paid.

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Michigan Driver Responsibility Fees - What are they, how much do you need to pay, and what happens when you don't pay them?

What are Michigan Driver Responsibility Fees and how much are they going to cost me?

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