Public Act 165 of 2003

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• Introduced by Sen. Jud Gilbert (R) on May 21, 2003, to assess an annual $100 driver responsibility fee (or "bad driver fee") on individuals who accumulate seven or more points on their driving record within a two-year period. For each additional point above this amount an additional fee of $50 would be assessed. Higher fees would be assessed for certain very serious driving infractions, such as manslaughter, drunk driving, or fleeing police. In addition, a motorist who fails to produce his or her proof of insurance form when requested by a police officer would be assessed $300. The proposed fees would go to the state general fund, and are expected to generate approximately $70 million a year.
  • Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on May 21, 2003.
    • Reported in the Senate on May 27, 2003.
    • Amendment offered in the Senate on May 28, 2003, to incorporate technical wording changes which clarify but do not affect the substance of the bill as previously described. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on May 28, 2003.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Burton Leland (D) on June 3, 2003, to allow a person who has four or more points on their driving record, and who gets a ticket that would add three points and thereby trigger the new fines proposed by the bill, to agree to undergo a driver improvement course. Completion of the course would cause the points to be waived, and the proposed new fines avoided. An individual would be allowed to choose this option only one time. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on June 3, 2003.
• Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on June 3, 2003, to assess a number of very expensive "driver responsibility fees" on individuals who accumulate seven or more "points" within a two-year period, and for other specified infractions. In addition, a motorist who fails to produce his or her proof of insurance form when requested by a police officer would be assessed $300. This is one of many bills authorizing tax and fee increases proposed to close a gap between state spending and expected revenue. This is one of many bills authorizing tax and fee increases proposed to close a gap between state spending and expected revenue.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on June 3, 2003.
  • Referred to the House Appropriations Committee on June 3, 2003.
  • Reported in the House on June 10, 2003, recommended that the bill be referred to the Committee on Transportation.
  • Referred to the House Transportation Committee on June 10, 2003.
  • Reported in the House on June 26, 2003, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the House on July 2, 2003, to replace the previous version of the bill with one which would use $6.3 million of the new fees to pay local governments for fire protection services provided to state buildings. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on July 2, 2003.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Gene DeRossett (R) on July 2, 2003, to establish that the bill will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2003 if passed. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on July 2, 2003.
  • Substitute offered by Rep. Mike Nofs (R) on July 2, 2003, to replace the previous version of the bill with one which would use $3 million of the new fees to pay local governments for fire protection services provided to state buildings once $65 million total had been generated, and additional money for this purpose after $100 million in fees had been taken. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on July 2, 2003.
• Passed 64 to 45 in the House on July 2, 2003, to assess a number of very expensive "driver responsibility fees" on individuals who accumulate seven or more "points" within a two-year period, and for other specified infractions. In addition, a motorist who fails to produce his or her proof of insurance form when requested by a police officer would be assessed $300. This is one of many bills authorizing tax and fee increases proposed to close a gap between state spending and expected revenue.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on July 3, 2003.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Burton Leland (D) on July 15, 2003, to allow a person who has four or more points on their driving record, and who gets a ticket that would add three points and thereby trigger the new fines proposed by the bill, to agree to undergo a driver improvement course. Completion of the course would cause the points to be waived, and the proposed new fines avoided. An individual would be allowed to choose this option only one time. The amendment failed 14 to 21 in the Senate on July 15, 2003.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Jud Gilbert (R) on July 15, 2003, to add an assessment for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on July 15, 2003.
• Passed 32 to 4 in the Senate on July 15, 2003, to concur with the House version of the bill, which does not include the provision allowing a driver subject to the fees the option to choose to undergo a driver improvement course to avoid them. The House version also reserves some of the fee revenue from the fees to pay local governments for fire protection services provided to state buildings.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on July 15, 2003.
• Passed 67 to 40 in the House on July 16, 2003, to concur with an amended Senate-passed version of the bill, which adds an assessment for driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on August 13, 2003.