Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on January 25, 2007, to establish that various maritime and watercraft law violations will be a civil violation subject to a $500 fine, rather than a criminal misdemeanor. Also, the bill would increase from $100 to $500 the fine if a person refuses to submit to a preliminary chemical breath analysis upon a peace officer's lawful request

The vote was 103 in favor, 0 opposed and 7 not voting

(House Roll Call 21 at House Journal 22)

Click here to view bill details.

how jennie believes that taking money from people will cure the ills of michigan. now people in watercraft will be harassed just as much as people in cars. and operating a watercraft will now be a CIVIL matter, where the only standard is PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE,not BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. but she has no concern for our liberties, why should she? she's the GOVERNOR.

but EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS OF BOTH PARTIES VOTED FOR IT. not one of them has a problem with taking our money and our rights. if driving while intoxicated is a criminal infraction, why is it being treated as a CIVIL matter? because in civil court, rights can be trampled on with far more ease. fines and fees can be imposed with impunity, and with capricious ease. this bill can lead to NO GOOD.

Regarding above 2 comments: HB 4143 makes only a few of the marine laws civil infractions (i.e. - expired registrations, unregistered vessels, not wearing a PFD on a PWC, excess speed, tow skier after hours, etc.). Most of the laws, including "driving while intoxicated", failing to stop at an accident, reckless operation, etc. will remain misdemeanors. Remember, misdemeanors go on your criminal record, civil infractions do not. These revisions should reduce court load burden and help keep people's records "clean".

is jack up penalties and fines. The state has become an insatiable money sucking machine. Watch this kind of stuff kill what's left of the boating industry. The canadians did this sort of thing and marinas are dying all over. Add the high cost of fuel and this will be another part of the michganistan economy that has slipped down the old crapper.

make certain infractions civil, other than to lower the standards for evidence, increase the fines that can be collected, and make judgements from the bench based on 'the proponderance of the evidence' as opposed to 'guilt beyond a reasonable doubt'.

if not having a boating safety certificate is still a misdemeanor under this law? If it is, what are my chances of having this ticket reduced to a civil infraction? The very first time I rode a jet ski I got a ticket for not having the boating safety certificate. The jet ski wasn’t even mine. I’ll give them the money, I just don’t want to have a misdemeanor in my record. Does anybody else think that a misdemeanor is too harsh of a punishment for the first time?