In Michigan, since October 2003, there’s been a diabolical little law in place called the, Michigan Driver’s Responsibility Law. This devious program was put into effect to supposedly tax unsafe drivers for negligent or dangerous driving conduct. Sounds like a good idea in theory, but I’m seeing it more as a grab for cash in a state that really can’t afford it. I’m currently struggling through bureaucracy and red tape to get my license reinstated due to this, “what I consider”, unfair law.

My Story

In early 2006 I was stopped for running a red light. I would like to argue, but my bad and I took the ticket. This was a problem for someone like me at the time. I was barely making enough money to exist. I had been laid off from my job as a web designer and had been on unemployment for the better part of 4 months when this happened.

As luck would have it my insurance lapsed by 1 sorry week when I was popped. Luckily about a month later I landed a new job and was able to catch up on bills. Well since my insurance lapsed I was hit with the Driver’s Responsibility Law. I was charged $200 which I paid and figured I had made up for my negligence.

I should have read the fine print. The act states that the offender will be charged $200 for 2 years = $400 owed. I’ve since moved about 4 blocks from where I used to live when I was ticketed. I put in a change of address form and had no problems getting bills from my insurance company, for my car payment, for utilities and income tax documents, yet I never once received a letter from the Department of Treasury or Secretary of State stating I owed any more money or that my license was even suspended. By the way I didn’t even know who I owed this money to until I went into the Secretary of State.

The Secretary Of State Doesn’t Have to Tell You When Your License is Suspended

My license was suspended for the better part of 2007. I had no idea and wasn’t contacted by anyone, including the Secretary of State saying my license was suspended. To my knowledge, and I’ve looked, there’s no place online to find this out and no one but the cops will tell you when, and if you are in violation.

I Was Supposed to Be Arrested

On February 21, 2008 I was pulled over again for running a red light. I know I’m a dumb ass. I was lost and not paying enough attention to the traffic lights. Again my bad, but imagine my surprise when the officer came up to my car window and told me my license was suspended and that they should by all rights take me into jail. I asked why and how long it was suspended and they didn’t have any info to provide me.

I’m Not the Only One Effected by This

When I went to court there were at least 8 other people that were there for a pre-trial for the same offense as me. We were all processed and given arraignment dates. When I went to the lobby I asked the clerk if there was any temporary license I could get as I have to drive to work everyday. She told me I had to be tried before anything like that would be issued.

When I came back a month later I was the last person called up as I didn’t have an attorney. All they wanted was my money so I figured why spend more. In retrospect I wish I would have at least gotten a phone consultation as an attorney would have told me I could pay my fine at any time. Imagine my frustration when i found this out. Grrrr.

About the Last Trip I Took to the Secretary Of State

I went in last week to pay to have my license reinstated. The Ogor behind the counter told me I couldn’t pay the reinstatement fee until I paid the Department of Treasury. She gave me a sheet of paper that had 3 offices I could visit to pay for Michigan Driver’s Responsibility farce. The closest one being in Detroit. Mind you I am now 2 days in the hole at work for fixing this ticket. That’s 2 days of vacation time I had to take off in order to get right with the state. She also told me it would take up to 5 weeks if I paid by phone not to come back until June 2 as the funds would not be cleared until then.

Name Me One Other Business That Works This Way

So I called the Treasury Department and paid by phone and was told that the funds would be cleared by the following Wedensday. Again I don’t know why all this takes so long to clear. I can pay any other bill by credit card and have it clear immediately, but for some reason I couldn’t pay the bill to have my license reinstated.

This stretches out the amount of time I need to drive with a suspended license. A license I didn’t know was suspended. A suspension that would get me arrested if I was pulled over. A fee I could have taken care of at any possible time over the past year had I’d known it were even on my record!

I have a job… I have the means..??

So Riddle Me This

These questions appear in no specific order, but are something to think about given our current state of affairs.

• Why would Michigan keep a law in place like this when our unemployment rate is 7.1% while the national average is around 5.2%?
• Why in a state where we’re contemplating extending the unemployment benefits by 6 weeks would anyone think this is a good idea to keep this on the books?
• In 2006 there were 750 homes that were foreclosed on in Michigan. This year alone the number has sky rocketed to over a staggering 7500 foreclosures. How many of these people could afford another hit to the wallet?

Why is our government trying to hit us when we’re down? WE’RE IN A RECESSION! People are lucky to be working. Why do I have to feel like a criminal when I get in my car to go by milk? I work…I pay taxes..I contribute to society.

Our founding forefathers are banging and clawing at the lining of their coffins as I type this.

Michigan Politician Responsibility Law

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