Attorney Scott Weinberg On Responsibility Fee Changes:
There has been a tax or “penalty” on Michigan Drivers that very few people talk about. It is not on the wealthy 2%. It is not a sin tax…well sort of. We are not talking about a tax on your gas, food or beer. No, we are talking about a tax on your lack of having a drivers license!! That’s right…a fee tacked onto to your ability to drive if you have had a Driving on a Suspended License in Michigan. It acted like a tax on your driving to work, school or anywhere else in this great state of ours because you drove while suspended. Some people lost their license because they received a DUI. Others, because they got too many points on their record. More people lost their license because they did not pay their tickets than anything else. However, for whatever the reason for their suspension, our legislature was raking in millions and millions of dollars for what I say was a tax on the people of the State of Michigan. Now, the legislature has done the right thing and changed the law over the next 3 years. The Drivers Responsibility Fee Law is changing as of January 2015. Here is an Outline:
Outline of the new laws going into affect over the next 3 years:
Driver Responsibility Fee Changes from Public Law 250 of 2014
Category 1 fee (Points)
A driver responsibility fee shall be assessed for an individual who accumulates seven or more points on his or her driving record.
Beginning on the following dates new Category 1 assessments shall be reduced as follows:
October 1, 2015 Assessments shall be reduced to 75% of the original amount. (e.g. A fee previously assessed at $100 would now be $75)
October 1, 2016 Assessments shall be reduced to 50% of the original amount prior to October 1, 2015. (e.g. A fee previously assessed at $100 would now be $50)
October 1, 2018 Assessments shall be reduced to 25% of the original amount prior to October 1, 2015. (e.g. A fee previously assessed at $100 would now be $25)
October 1, 2019 There will no longer be a Category 1 driver responsibility fee assessed to individual who accumulates seven or more points.
Category 2 fees (Qualifying Offenses – $500 – $1000 for 2 years)
A driver responsibility fee shall be assessed for two consecutive years for any individual who receives a ticket for qualifying offenses.
Beginning on the following dates Category 2 assessments with new incident dates shall be reduced as follows:
October 1, 2015
100% of the fee shall be assessed for the first year and 50% of the fee shall be assessed for the second year. (e.g. An assessment that is $500 for the first year would be $250 for the second year)
October 1, 2016
100% of the fee prior to October 1, 2015 shall be assessed for the first year and no fee shall be assessed for the second year. (e.g. An assessment that is $500 for the first year would be $0 for the second year)
October 1, 2018
50% of the fee prior to October 1, 2015 shall be assessed for the first year and no fee shall be assessed for the second year. (e.g. An assessment that was initially $500 would be $250 for the first and $0 for the second year)
October 1, 2019 There will no longer be a Category 2 driver responsibility fee assessed to individuals for qualifying offenses.
The bottom line is that this “tax” on our ability to drive is going away…eventually! If you or a loved one is dealing with a driving issue or arrested on a Driving While License Suspended charge, DO NOT PLEAD GUILTY! There are many implications still waiting to effect your license. Call an attorney BEFORE you go to Court and get some good advice.
If you have questions please contact Attorney Scott Weinberg
