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Michigan Traffic Tickets Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Is lawful for an unmarked police car to initiate a traffic stop?

I've read that in Michigan it is required that police vehicles have identifying markings in order to do routine traffic stops and that it is unlawful for an unmarked police vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. Is there any written law to indicate this? Must they call in a marked unit to... Read more »

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on May 16, 2022

What do you mean by "marked" cars? Some police agencies conduct traffic enforcement with cars equipped with lights / sirens, but no other markings. Those are not "unmarked" cars.

You have a potential defense to a fleeing and eluding charge if the car was truly unmarked...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: In Michigan, if I'm pulled over driving someone else's vehicle that has expired tags- does the owner get the ticket?
Maurice Mandel II
Maurice Mandel II
answered on Jun 9, 2023

Possibly, but you were cited and need to appear in Court to explain that to the Judge. This arises in the area of traffic ticket law. You need to discuss with an attorney in your jurisdiction that specializes in this kind of law. Thank you for using Justia, Ask a Lawyer.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: can a traffic stop be conducted or started after I have exited my vehicle in front of my own home

I was stupidly drifting on my road and after I parked in front of my house and exited my vehicle and proceeded to walk to my door a police cruiser then came around the corner flashed his lights and stepped out of his vehicle to conduct a traffic stop can an officer conduct a traffic stop after I... Read more »

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 27, 2023

Very fact-dependent, but short answer is yes.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Police gave me a double parking ticket instead of over speeding after I told him I wasn’t over speeding.

Police car lights up approx 100 meters before me and followed me. Asked why he stopped me, didn’t answer & asked for drivers license. Told me after the reason I was over speeding. Told him I did not. He went back to his car & came back with a double parking ticket. He said when he saw... Read more »

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 7, 2022

What's the question? If you dispute the ticket, you can request a formal hearing and be heard. Arguing roadside with the police is of little value.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I live in Michigan. I just received a ticket for handi cap parking and I never committed this unlawful incident
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Nov 2, 2022

Was a vehicle registered in your name in a handicap spot? That could result in your being responsible even if you were not the driver.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Does the wrong license type affect anything with a ticket?

I recieved a citation failing to stop within an assured distance while driving a work truck resulting in a minor fender bender. I have a chauffeurs license, but on the citation it's listed as a CDL, which I do not have. Does that affect anything?

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jul 14, 2022

No. They can amend those tickets to correct errors like that.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Is it illegal to look at your phone while you are at a stop light in Michigan?

I think it's only illegal when you are moving, but I want to make sure I read the statute correctly.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not read, manually type, or send a text message on a wireless 2-way communication device that is located in the... Read more »

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on May 23, 2022

You are reading it correctly. Although I would suggest not to tempt a police officer. Getting into a legal dispute about whether you were "moving" is probably not a good use of your time or money to fight.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Officer gave me two tickets in the same day at the same time.

the officer pulled me over on the highway and gave me a ticket i paid it in full but then received a letter telling me it had not been paid yet. i assumed i had not paid the whole ticket so i paid the amount they were asking. then i received another letter from the court stating my driving record... Read more »

Randy Bryan Ligh
Randy Bryan Ligh
answered on Apr 29, 2022

Yes, you should certainly fight the 2 tickets alleging that it is for the same violation until the prosecution can show/prove that the tickets are for different violations.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Speeding ticket I received didn't state my speed & has errors describing vehicle color and make. Can ticket be dismissed

I received a ticket for speeding. The officer said that he would cut me a break for 5 over and 0 points. I noticed that my vehicle make was spelled incorrectly, it does not mention what model car, and color described was incorrect. The speed I was traveling was also not listed on the ticket, all it... Read more »

Michael Ferrin
Michael Ferrin
answered on Mar 13, 2022

You may want to the ticket. If the officer does not show up or cant remember what speed you were going the ticket could be dismissed. Even if the ticket cannot be dismissed, usually the ticket can be resolved at the hearing with a good attorney. I would recommend contacting an attorney in your... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: Can I fight an improper lane use ticket?

I was turning left onto a street that has a ramp on the right hand side that leads to a major highway. I was given a ticket for turning into the far right lane to go onto the ramp. I’m not denying that it’s a law to turn into the closest lane first and then get all the way over but I do feel... Read more »

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Mar 7, 2022

You can fight. Request a formal hearing. You won't win as a matter of law. Police have discretion; people do things in front of cops all the time - sometimes the cop just lets them slide, other times they just don't see it happen. It doesn't change the fact that in this instance, the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: What area of practice covers both drivers license restoration and gun record expungment (preventing / restricting employ
Dana B. Carron
Dana B. Carron
answered on Jan 30, 2022

My associate handles both of these areas. You can contact me for further information if you wish, or you could probably find someone else the easiest by searching for an attorney that runs a general practice.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: I stay in a nother state and have a ticket and reinstatement fee I can't afford how can I get help

I receive snap benefits and Medicaid .I'm on a low income and can't pay it is there anyway I can get it take care of because I'm trying to get back in to the work fell

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 26, 2022

You should contact the court to set up a payment plan.

1 Answer | Asked in Traffic Tickets for Michigan on
Q: A cop decided to give a passenger of a vehicle a ticket for “driving with license expired” when they werent even driving

I am the driver and I was driving just fine. The cop pulled out from a side street and was behind another car that was right behind me, got into the turning lane then quickly passed that car and then got directly behind me, following me down the road. Still doing nothing wrong… I then get pulled... Read more »

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on Jan 20, 2022

Your friend definitely has a cause to fight. I probably don't need to tell you that the police were looking for something (or someone).

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... Read more »

Frank B. Ford
PREMIUM
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,... Read 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... Read 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... Read 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... Read 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,... Read more »

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