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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... View 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...
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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... View 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... View 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... View 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... View 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... View 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... View 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... 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.

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