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Michigan Traffic Tickets Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Civil Rights for Michigan on
Q: Why is there a hold on my car at the impound lot, i got pulled over on the 9th sept 2020. No insurance.. So they towed

It, now as of this day sept 24th 2020 i found this out, now they are telling me call tomorrow business hours, public safety dept told me they will get the officers that pulled me over to call me, keep my phone close.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 25, 2020

At this point, the only ones who can tell you why there might be a hold is the police department because they are the ones who would have put the hold on. Call or wait for them to call you.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: What should I do? Should I appeal or should I just pay the dumb ticket?

I got caught speeding. I was going 83 in a 45. He only charged me 70 in a 45 I believe. I am new to the area. I moved he last month to go to college at gvsu and I just didn't know how fast roads are. I came from Texas that is a state that drives really fast so I'm used to going 80 on back... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 24, 2020

How much time and money do you want to spend to find out how much you still owe and how many points will be added to your license? Your explanation is not a legal defense. As you are in college, you probably have better things to do with your time than fight this.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Do I get points for a ticket marked as a civil infraction and a warning?

I got a ticket for failure to stop within assured clear distance which normally carries $125 fine and 2 points. The officer marked it as civil infraction and warning. Will I have to pay fine and get points still, or only pay the fine with no points, or neither??

Frank B. Ford
Frank B. Ford
answered on Sep 14, 2020

Since the ticket is marked as both a Civil Infraction and a Warning, you should assume it is a violation, and not just a Warning. It is rather confusing when an officer marks both boxes on a ticket. You can call the court to see if they have received the ticket, and if so, ask for a Hearing. If... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Can a cop pull you over after following you into another city, then turn their lights on to pull you over?

A 2 Detroit cops followed me for 3 miles. 1 1/2 of those were in Detroit, the last 1 1/2 were in Redford. Where they then got out of the lane from behind my car, only to jerk their car back into the lane behind me again then turned their lights on and pulled me over in Redford.

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Sep 11, 2020

This is situational dependent, but yes, police who witness a crime in one jurisdiction can follow and arrest you in an adjacent one. Commonly, police agencies will cooperate with each other to effectuate an arrest for instance in a car chase; once the fleeing car enters the next jurisdiction, that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Why was I tried for a speeding ticket without the issuing officer present?

I've been told that judges dismiss traffic tickets without the issuing officer present and I didn't see him in site im from Michigan and i got this ticket in ohio this was my first ticket and it was for speeding

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Aug 12, 2020

I'm confused. Did you request a formal hearing, and the officer wasn't present? Unless you request a hearing, a ticket is presumed valid and owed after the time for you to request a hearing.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: 3 months ago I was pulled over In Oklahoma for speeding 100 in a 75. It was my first offense.

I didn't realize I was going so fast, I was following the flow of the traffic on the turnpike. I was issued 800 dollars in tickets, 1 for reckless driving for doing 20+ and the other for not having my insurance printed out (It was on my phone). I live in Michigan and could not fight the... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jun 29, 2020

Short answer is yes, they probably do through what's called reciprocity. In a nutshell, many states cooperate with each other to enforce licensing restrictions. This prevents people from going between states to avoid penalties.

As to why your license is suspended: it's likely a...
View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Insurance Defense for Michigan on
Q: I lost my insurance 2 years ago and had an accident. Their insurance is trying to get me to pay $6000 for her repair.

I was given a ticket for impeding traffic. I did hit the back left side panel of her car.

Mark Bredow
Mark Bredow
answered on Jun 23, 2020

Michigan is a No-Fault state. This means that all drivers are required to purchase insurance on their vehicles and that if there is an accident, regardless of who is at fault, each driver's insurance pays to cover their own medical bills, lost wages and damage to their own vehicle. The... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I got a ticket for crossing an electronic railroad signal.

I got a ticket for crossing an electronic railroad signal. When I look up MCL 257.667 it says that when the signal is flashing you must come to a complete stop and only proceed when it is safe to do so. There was no crossing gate, barrier, or cop directing traffic. I did come to a complete stop,... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jun 22, 2020

You have as good a case as any.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: speeding ticket for 100 mph in a 70 mph with wrong vehicle year and wrong Vin number

comments “left lane.”

Ticket was issued during rush hour it’s not physically possible to do 100 mph during rush hour

I watched the police officer look at my Vin number when I told him this is a new vehicle so he clearly knew that the Vin numbers did not match with what he put... View More

Frank B. Ford
Frank B. Ford
answered on Jun 15, 2020

In general, errors of the type this officer made will not be enough to get a ticket dismissed, but if there are enough errors, and they are relevant enough, it does throw the officer's observations into doubt. I suggest you retain an attorney who handles a lot of traffic ticket cases in you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Is an "unsafe start" traffic violation solely up a Police Officer's discretion? Is this ticket worth fighting>?

I really feel like my CI was issued solely because i was on Woodward ave. with a muscle car. I took off from a stop light but didn't accelerate quickly until I was well past the light. I keep it under the speed limit and didn't spin my tires. My car is louder than a newer car which could... View More

Mark Bredow
Mark Bredow
answered on May 30, 2020

Sure. Particularly if you have a witness. It all depends on the facts of the case. Unsafe doesn't require speeding or spinning tires and can include "jackrabbit" starts and rapid acceleration from a rolling start. You could win. You've got nothing to lose.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Can I get a ticket since all the secretary of state offices are closed?

I just purchased a motorcycle as a daily driver as it was the only thing I could find that I could afford. I filled out the title and got insurance on it, but I can't get title transferred, get it registered, get it plated, or get my motorcycle endorsement due to everything being closed. I... View More

Mark Bredow
Mark Bredow
answered on May 14, 2020

Under Governor Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-78, law enforcement officials are not

permitted to arrest any person or impound any vehicles as a result of vehicle registration,

driver’s license, or chauffeur’s license that expired between February 1, and June 30, 2020....
View More

2 Answers | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Can you get arrested for a bench warrant? If you go to pay a long over due fine (5+ years), will they arrest you?

The fine/ticket was for a cracked windshield and something to due with his car but he did not have money to pay in at the time so he did not pay the ticket. It has been over 5 years since he had a car now and he recently found out he had a bench warrant. He want to pay the money but wasn't... View More

Frank B. Ford
Frank B. Ford
answered on May 12, 2020

He may be taken into custody, probably briefly, to book him on the warrant, which will then clear the warrant and he can pay the fines. He needs to be sure he has enough money with him to pay the fine, the late fees, the reinstatement fee for his driver's license which is probably also going... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: If I paid for my speeding ticket online, do I need to sign the one they gave me and send it in still
Mark Bredow
Mark Bredow
answered on May 14, 2020

No. But you should contact the court and confirm that they received the payment and that they have updated their records to show that the ticket is paid. If they have not, do not miss any court appearances. Go, and provide proof.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for Michigan on
Q: Can I operate a motorized bycicle under 50cc in Michigan on public roads without a moped or driver's license?

Motor has a top speed of 28mph and produces 1.9hp. The displacement is 48cc and it has a muffler. The pedals would still be operable as normal and don't get removed in the process of installing the engine.

Mark Bredow
Mark Bredow
answered on May 5, 2020

Put simply, no. Mopeds must be registered at a Secretary of State office unless operated solely on private property. A three-year registration decal costs about $15.00. If you do not have a valid operator or chauffeur license and are at least age 15, you may apply for a moped license. You must... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: If I just got a ticket in Detroit , 36th district, when will my court date be, the officer told me to show up in court

He told he would reduce my ticket for disregard a red light to impeding traffic, so no points

Frank B. Ford
Frank B. Ford
answered on Mar 17, 2020

The ticket has a date, or a certain number of days, in which to respond. It is inserted about three quarters of the way down the main part of the ticket. It is on a line that starts "Appearance date on or before _______" There should be a set of instructions that are titled "Civil... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Will the judge dismiss or lower my moms ticket?

My mom was in her middle lane to turn left and there was another person across the road also in their middle lane to turn left. When traffic was clear, she went ahead to turn left but the guy turned out of his lane and went onto the main road and hit her. She got a ticket for failing to yield right... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Mar 11, 2020

Possibly. Going to court and explaining herself will be the only way for that to happen.

1 Answer | Asked in Federal Crimes and Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: My son got pulled over and ticketed for no insurance. Is he going to get jail time ?

My son bought a truck in Wisconsin. He was under the impression from the man that it'd b fine 2 drive the truck home 2 Michigan from Wisconsin.& then insure & register it. Well he got pulled over on the way home. He got a ticket 4 no registrarion & no insurance. They marked the... View More

Frank B. Ford
Frank B. Ford
answered on Mar 10, 2020

I doubt that he is going to get jail time. He needs to fully explain the circumstances of the incident when he sees the prosecutor and the judge. He should have a dated receipt for buying the truck, to show he had just bought the vehicle. He should have photos of it in its disassembled... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Can I contest this ticket for failure to stop within assures clear distance?

I received a ticket for failure to stop with assured clear distance because I rear-ended a car as we both prepared to stop for a stop sign while both slowly exiting a parking lot to a local road. This resulted in a very small dent in the other car (<1 in wide), but the other driver insisted on... View More

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Feb 27, 2020

You can contest it through either an informal or formal hearing. What would be the basis for your challenge?

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets and Car Accidents for Michigan on
Q: I have got a ticket for failed to stop within a clear distance

I have got a ticket for failed to stop within a clear distance and have no proof of insurance as well. I was driving my friends car and his car does not have insurance. What's my best option how fine, points will I get?? It was very minor accident like just small dent on the car which I... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 22, 2020

It snows in Michigan and you are supposed to be going slowly enough that you can stop without hitting anyone--which is why you got the ticket.As to the no proof of insurance, as it's not your car how could you have proof of insurance? If you have insurance on your own car presumably you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: If I get pulled over for speeding. (School zone after school hrs) wasn't given a tic for that but was taken to jail ,

For dwls. And no proof of insurance which I had But wasn't active. Just proof. Can I fight any of these?

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 31, 2020

Was your driver license valid? If not, than I don't know what your defense might be to that charge. There are a few that apply in very limited circumstances. And if your insurance wasn't "active", then the "proof" is invalid to the claim that you were driving without... View More

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