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Michigan Traffic Tickets Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: pulled over for speeding, cop gave me parking ticket instead.

i got pulled over for speeding but the cop gave me a break and instead of a speeding ticket i was given a ticket for double parking in the comment section the cop wrote 47 in a 35. my question is can i fight the ticket as a parking ticket or is there a loop hole that allows cops to give tickets for... View More

Frank B. Ford
Frank B. Ford
answered on Jan 6, 2022

If you contest the double parking ticket, the officer can, and probably would, dismiss that ticket and write a new ticket for the full 47 in a 35. You say that the officer gave you a break, which apparently means you know you were speeding. Double parking doesn't go on your driving record,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: What exactly is a improper right turn?

I was turning right leaving a gas station parking lot onto a 5 lane hwy [2 lanes for each direction of traffic and one center lane] And I turned into the lane closest to the center since that's what most motorist do in Michigan I've observed. I was then pulled over and told this was a... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Dec 3, 2021

I believe a proper right turn requires a turn into the most immediate lane, so you would need to have turned into the right-most lane instead of the lane closest to center. I can appreciate what you are saying about seeing other motorists do this. Unfortunately for you, you happened to do this in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: So what happens at the actual court date.My old tickets are now void due to a new Michigan driving law

What are the judges option at this point

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 30, 2021

I think you may confuse the relief recently signed into law. The offenses do no go away; they just aren't used to keep a license suspended. You still have to deal with the citations themselves.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: What is a walk in bond
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 29, 2021

Sounds like local terminology, but I would take it to mean an appearance bond or personal recognizance bond - meaning you need to present yourself to the court at your earliest opportunity. I suggest calling the court for instruction.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I was pulled over while driving someone else's car (with permission) because his license was suspended.

But he has been incarcerated in prison in the state for almost a year, so there is no possible way he could have been driving. The cop also said he witnessed the driver to be a male, and he is personally familiar with the registered owner, so he would have known that that is not who was driving. He... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 18, 2021

Wow! You might have something there. Worth a shot.

2 Answers | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Can an officer pull me over in my own subdivision(private property) for speeding? Should I fight it?

He dropped it down to impeding traffic but the ticket cost is high. There are no speed limit signs posted on the side of the road I was driving, only on the opposite side in which I can’t see going the opposite direction. The speed limit is 15 mph and I was going 22 mph according to him.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Oct 27, 2021

Subdivisions are not private property; the roads of which are open to the public (generally).

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1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law and Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I appealed a decision made on behalf of secretary of state to suspend my license for an year and 6 pts on my record

It was due to traffic stop and an supposed to be chemical drug test refusal which I just didn't understand

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Oct 6, 2021

What is your question? It sounds like you got an implied consent violation. When the police suspect you of drunk driving, by virtue of you driving, you consent to a chemical test - which is usually a breath test administered at the jail or police station; not the one done on scene by the police,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Should I fight an impeding traffic citation if I didn't properly tell my side of the story to the citing officer?

I was making a right turn into the right lane of a divided highway, a car came out of the left lane and there was a collision. At the time, I was too shook up to properly tell my side of the story to the officer. He gave me a citation(reduced, no pts) and I was listed as at fault. Upon reflection,... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Oct 4, 2021

You can; although you're going to have to explain how your "reflection" is more true and accurate than what you initially told the officer.

You may want to take the no points and move on.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for Michigan on
Q: I was issued a citation on 9/28/21, the citation states that the incident happened 7/28/21. Can I get this dismissed?

I was struck by another car in an intersection while I had a green arrow. Im getting a failure to yield because of the cops evaluation, he believes I am at fault. I have witnesses that saw the other person run a red light, but I also don't want to take things to chance. Can I get this thrown... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Sep 29, 2021

No. Focus on the facts. See if there was a camera at the intersection. And if you were hurt contact a member of the Michigan Assn for Justice--they give free consults.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I received a ticket for speeding and 2 civil infractions. Cop dropped original ticket and court date issued new ticket

The problem is with the new ticket when he came to my house he said he’s dropping the speeding but not the suspended licenses or failure for registration. Mind you I took his advise got the registration and my license done same day online. They said I missed court but I have an email saying they... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 8, 2021

You should take it to court, and when you talk with a prosecutor, they'll probably straighten some of this out.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: what is the determining factor that classifies a "residential neighborhood"? How do I know what the speed limit is?
Michael Zamzow
Michael Zamzow
answered on Aug 6, 2021

It might depend on the Statute, county, and municipality.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: How close to a “no parking” sign can I park in the state of Michigan?

Got a parking ticket for prohibited parking, I was a good 50 feet from the nearest sign and there was a gap in the curb between my vehicle and said sign

Michael Zamzow
Michael Zamzow
answered on Aug 6, 2021

It will generally depend on the municipality.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: How do I determine if my subdivision is a "Residential Subdivision" with a speed limit of 25mph?
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Aug 5, 2021

Contact your city or township. It likely is 25 MPH, unless it's posted somewhere otherwise.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I got a DWLS in 2014, I never went to court for the ticket. Is there a statute of limitations for these offenses

I got a ticket, never went to court because I moved states. The ticket was for Driving While License was Suspended, is there a length of time before these tickets go away, or do they stay with me forever

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Aug 5, 2021

You should contact the court listed on the ticket. It's likely you have a bench warrant for failure to appear. It's possible you can rectify the situation virtually, or retain local counsel to help you. Once you've been charged with something, it doesn't just go away over time.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I got a ticket for not producing my insurance card and ID in under 10 minutes. Is that legal?

I was looking for my credentials in my bag but I guess I was taking to long. The officer said he would look it up by my tag. When he came back to the car I found my license and insurance card but he already wrote a ticket because I didn't find it within 10 minutes. I've never heard of... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jun 17, 2021

One way to find out: ask for a formal hearing, and a judge or magistrate may agree with you. You won't find a specific time limit in the law. The cop can't be expected to wait all day for you; but to expect you to virtually be driving with your license in hand may also be unreasonable.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Can a cop search your car without asking

Was asked to get out and sit on the front of a cruiser reason for being pulled over was no plate on vehicle

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jun 1, 2021

Your question asks if the police may search your car, but your explanation doesn't involve a search. Yes, the police may request you to exit the vehicle during a traffic stop. Does it always happen? No. But they certainly may demand that you do. Can they search your car is a different matter.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Legal Malpractice and Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Is it legal for a cop to follow me around after I recorded him, and write me up for a statute I didn't violate? help

I feel like my 1st amendment rights to freedom of press and speech are being attacked, I filed a complaint and the supervisor blew me off and said he won't argue the constitution with me, deal with the ticket in court. I don't feel I should be picked on by law enforcement when I am not... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on May 18, 2021

Without determining whether the police are right or wrong here, they are right about one practical aspect of the law: you won't win an argument about law or fact with the police on the streets; that is what courts are for.

Your first amendment right to watch the police while in public...
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1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law, Traffic Tickets and DUI / DWI for Michigan on
Q: If I ask for driving license hearing reconsideration, with new evidence, can I still appeal if they deny me again?

I’m in Michigan. I was previously granted my license then lost it to a technicality, had a breathalyzer in car and battery died which caused it to say I was tampering with it, I appealed that and won and was granted license back. Before my license paperwork came I drove stupidly for dr appt and... View More

Frank B. Ford
Frank B. Ford
answered on May 18, 2021

I doubt that they will allow you to have a reconsideration. But to answer your question, if they did give you a hearing for reconsideration and you again lost, you could still appeal to Circuit Court, if the situation falls within one of the limited circumstances in which an appeal to the court is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: we asked our neighbor hood if we could a off road go kart on the road and they said yes is that ok?

Ok so is it okay for a 13 year old to drive a off road type go kart on the neighborhood road. We asked the neighborhood facebook page and they said its ok as long as we are driving respectfully. Is it illegal? We have seen other kids with dirt bikes, go karts, etc and no problems.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on May 10, 2021

What your neighbors are agreeing to is not what the law allows. You must have a street legal vehicle to drive on public roads. But if your neighbors are saying it's okay, then I imagine no one will call the police, so this all might be "a tree falling in the woods with no one to hear... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Found guilty of speeding in Indiana court in 2006. They never sent me a bill for it. Is it expired? Can they collect?

Do they have a certain amount of time to send a bill for a ticket? They never sent me anything. Shouldn't I have a right to expect them to send me a bill within a reasonable amount of time or forfeit the fine due to a statute of limitations?

Michael Zamzow
Michael Zamzow
answered on May 3, 2021

This question might be better asked of an Indiana attorney, you might have received all the necessary information at the time of judgment and it's possible Indiana will never send you a bill. Rather, they might just be waiting to notice you entering the state.

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