Michigan’s Driver Responsibility Fees and Your Debt
This morning on my radio show I spoke about a piece of legislation that Governor Snyder signed last week that will end a ridiculous law passed in 2003 and signed by former Governor Granholm that will end the drivers responsibility scam.
Have you ever heard of this money grab in Michigan by our former Governor Granholm and the Michigan politicians who voted for it, probably not unless you received a ticket.
What are drivers responsibility fees?
They are fees that are charged on top of the tickets issued to Michigan drivers for everything from multiple speeding tickets to drunken driving, the cost of those fees ranged from $100 to $2,000. In fact two listeners called into my show and said they were both charged $2000 for first time offenses. Your money the state politicians scammed from Michigan drivers was anywhere between $99 million and $115 million a year according to an article in the Detroit Free Press.
When Governor Snyder signed the legislation to end the Michigan year grab he effectively wiped out $637 million in debt owed by over 300,000 drivers.
Sorry to those of you who actually paid those fees, you will not be receiving and money back.
Those of you who were unable to pay those fees or on a payment the following is what you need to know:
• No new driver responsibility fees will be issued and the outstanding debt will be wiped out beginning Oct. 1, 2018.
• Drivers who have entered into an installment payment plan with the Department of Treasury to pay off their driver responsibility fees and have continued to make those payments can have their remaining debt wiped out immediately and apply to have their licenses reinstated.
• Drivers who aren't on payment plans can get their licenses reinstated after Oct. 1 and will have the $125 reinstatement fee waived if they apply before Dec. 31, 2018.
• The state will develop an education outreach program to help people who still owe the fines.
• People who are enrolled in Workforce Development programs can have the fees waived and their licenses reinstated upon completion of the program.
• The Secretary of State has set up a help line — 888-767-6424 — and will provide information on the state's website — www.michigan.gov/sos — to help drivers figure out how to get their drivers' licenses reinstated.
• The Treasury Department has a help line — 517-636-5240 — and a website to help drivers learn about the driver responsibility fees - http://www.michigan.gov/driverresponsibility.
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