Driver Responsibility Fee

Attorney Matt Catchick explains the Michigan driver license responsibility fee — what it is, where it came from, and what, if anything, you can do to make it hurt a little less.

Male Speaker 1: We’ve got Hank calling on the line right now from Redford. Hank, what can we do for you?

Male Speaker 2: I understand that if you receive a traffic fine in a local district court that there is additional bill that comes from [inaudible] further down the line, is that correct?

Male Speaker 1: Yeah what you’re talking about is the driver responsibility fee and what happened several years ago is in an effort to try and help balance out the state budget, they passed a law that says in addition to the fees that you have to pay the court there are also fees you have to pay to the department of treasury the State of Michigan. And this includes whether or not you have too many points in your license if for example you get a drunk driving and operating law intoxicated you have to pay $1000 now to the State of Michigan and $1000 a year from now and that’s $2000 and that’s over and beyond all of the money you have to spend on your lawyer as well as the court fees and things like that. So pay very particular attention to that because if you don’t pay your driver responsibility fee they will suspend your license. Now in some circumstances you can work out a payment plan if you don’t have enough money but they are allowed to that and there are various categories of offences under the motor vehicle code where in addition to the fines and costs you’ve got to pay to the court, you have to pay additional money to the State of Michigan so pay very close attention because what they’ll do is the State of Michigan will actually send you a letter in the mail saying according to our records you accumulated this many points 12 points within 2 years or whatever and so we’re going to start fining you. And if you ever have a question about that letter please feel free to call me at the office at 1866-66 lawyer. I’ve been handling traffic cases for over 13 years and I’ll be more than happy to assist you.

Male Speaker 2: Thank you so much. Does this apply to every type of offence or just certain categories?

Male Speaker 1: It only applies to certain categories of offences. So like for example in your situation I mean did you get a bunch of points or something like that?

Male Speaker 2: Personally I did not but some in my family did.

Male Speaker 1: Okay because that’s what’s going to happen because for example right now I’m looking at the statute. If you accumulate 7 points within 2 years they are going to hit you for $100. If you accumulate 8 points its $150 and then it goes on. If you’re arrested for a person under 21 with a blood alcohol content you have to pay $500 a year for 2 years a 1000 bucks and that also applies to driving the license suspended. So pay attention to it and make sure that person pays the money because if they don’t they’re going to get suspended and they are really going to get behind the [Indiscernible] [00:02:19], okay, Hank.

Male Speaker 2: Thank you for your information.

For Legal Advice contact: The Dailey Law Firm, P.C.