LANSING – State Representative Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit) today called on fellow lawmakers to support her proposal that would amend Michigan's Driver Responsibility Law by requiring fees to be assessed for just one year instead of two. Jackson testified in support of her plan this morning at a special meeting of the House Judiciary Committee at the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"The Driver Responsibility Act was created to promote safe driving and deter potentially dangerous behavior," Jackson said. "Instead, it has become a burden on our poorest citizens, especially on our residents here in Detroit. While the law is still necessary to keep drivers safe, there are steps we can take to help our neighbors who are stuck in a circle of unaffordable fees and suspended licenses."
Michigan's Driver Responsibility Law was established in 2003 in an effort to promote driver safety on Michigan roads. Under the law, drivers may face separate fees after they are convicted or found responsible of certain traffic offenses, in addition to any court-imposed fines or penalties. In 2008, it was estimated that the state collected just under $400 million in driver responsibility fees since the start of the program.
Jackson's plan targets category two offenses, which are imposed for specific traffic offenses as defined by the law. Drivers found responsible or guilty of such offenses must pay a driver responsibility fee of up to $1,000 for two consecutive years, depending on the severity of the offense. Under Jackson's plan, drivers would be required to pay the fee for just one year.
"While it's important to help our residents in need by reducing these fees, we do have to preserve some of dollars that they generate," Jackson said. "Those funds go to pay for things like police and fire protection, health care for underserved patients and other important community programs. By only assessing fees for just one year, we can help make sure more of our residents are able to make their payments, keep our roads safe and help preserve these programs that are so vital to Detroit residents."