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

Sign the Petition to Have The Michigan Drivers Responsibility Law Repealed

Sign up here. This law is unjust and unfair. Speak your voice! Make a difference!

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Hello again fellow single trackers. We had a great ride last night out at Stoney Creek and being the geek I am I have some digital content to share. I’m thinking this might end up being one of our home trail systems. The terrain out here can be a little challenging. There is a fair amount of up hill, but the pay offs are great. Lots of great down hill runs inlcuding jumps, log pyramids and some sweet carved trails. A definite, “must visit”, in my book.

The place is huge so don’t forget to load up the camelback with water and set a waypoint before you head out. With 4,461 acres of prime recreational lands, this top-rated park’s scenic, hilly terrain surrounds beautiful 500-acre Stony Creek Lake. Park features include a nature center, a hike-bike trail, beaches, boat launch facilities, a disc golf course and an 18-hole regulation golf course.

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Some multi-media goodness from Yesterday’s ride out at Bloomer Park. Thanks Map My Ride, YouTube and Flickr.

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There’s a stretch of trail I frequent that resides in and outside of Bloomer Park. It runs down both sides of the Clinton river in Rochester and ends up by Yates Cider Mill. Some great little technical trails blazed by salmon fisherman of all people.

There’s a lot of quick runs, log pyramids and down right awesome scenery out here. However, if you do any riding out this way watch yourself. There are a lot of trees down due to incliment winter weather, but mostly there’s a ton of beaver-downed trees. See pics below.

This is just one corner close to the damn near Dequindre. Keep your eyes on the trail. This one snuck up on us pretty quick. I’m not sure why they peel the bark off these trees.

I need some leg armor. Not that this has anything to do with trail conditions. I just seem to have a knack for grinding my shins up good. This was taken the same day.

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This is when I started my ride home tonight. Roughly 10 miles from where I live. Notice it’s light out here.

And a little later a little darker a little snowier..

After being stuck and pushed out of 2 snow banks after a 2 1/2 hour trip that usually takes less than 14 minutes. Notice it’s a lot darker.

Trip time 2 hours 45 minutes, Distance 10 miles

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And last night. From Basement Flood Feb 11-08

And this morning..After the water was pumped out.

Stuck Again Feb. 7-08. From More Snowy Winter Pictures From Michigan

New Years Day. From If You Don’t Like The Weather, Just Wait

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I wish I would have taken a picture yesterday as it was foggy and wet. I just walked out my back door only to get my car stuck in about 7 inches of snow…And It’s still coming.

And a couple crummy plow truck shots from my razr.

If You liked those try these

If You Don’t Like The Weather, Just Wait
Winter Driving Pictures From Michigan
Michigan Winter Roadtrip Pictures

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I got a lot of response from my last post so I decided to post a few more pictures of Michigan in the winter time. This has been a particularly snowy year for us here. We got over 14 inches on new years and it doesn’t seem to be letting up.

These shots are from my ride home yesterday. This is why people from the midwest drive big trucks. I have no idea what’s wrong with me.

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Just a few shots from a road trip I took this weekend. I traveled from Auburn Hills to Grand Rapids on Friday. Got stuck over-night in GR due to a snow storm. Then drove another 2 1/2 hours North to Traverse City through another snow storm to hang out in -8° windy winter weather. It was actually a lot more fun than it sounds. Here’s a few pics from the road.

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They say if you don’t like the weather just wait. Here’s picture proof of just that.

This is my car on January 1st , New Years Day. We had a snow storm the night before and had 12 inches of the white stuff dumped on us.

And then it got rainy and foggy for a few days.

And this is the same car 11 days later.

Just after the storm I had to bring my car in for general maintenance. They rented me an F150 fire engine red monster truck. The thing sucked gas like no other. Would have been nice to have 2 weeks ago when i was busy digging my car out of the snow.

Well the forecast looks like snow again in the very near future and I once again am reunited with my winter death trap.

sigh…

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