pulling over for cops? think again.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 113
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pulling over for cops? think again.
>
> >
> > http://www.motorists.com/pressreleas...iganfines.html
> >
> > New Fees Target Michigan Drivers
> >
> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2003
> >
> > New Fees Target Michigan Drivers
> >
> > On October 1, new fees, fines and surcharges aimed at generating more
> revenue, at the expense of Michigan motorists, goes into effect. Most
> drivers don't realize the full extent of the penalties coming their way.
> >
> > Public Act 165 has instituted new "Driver Responsibility Fees" which
> amounts to raised fines and surcharges on traffic tickets. If you have
> seven
> points on your drivers license, you will be paying $100 each year for two
> years. And, you will be paying an additional $50 per point for every point
> above seven. If you're stopped and you can't present proof of insurance,
> you
> must pay a $300 fine, even if you later prove you do have insurance.
> >
> > If you receive an Operating Under the Influence of Liquor (OUIL), not
> only
> do you have to pay your fine, a new $40 surtax, and license reinstatement
> fee, but you will also be getting a $1,000 bill each year for the next two
> years (courtesy of Governor Granholm and Senator Gilbert).
> >
> > This additional money will go to local governments and police, county
> sheriffs, the State Police, the state General Fund and local fire
> departments. This sets a dangerous precedent, as the agencies that issue
> tickets will directly profit from them.
> >
> > "Guaranteeing police a share of motorist fines will lead to further fine
> increases down the road," says Eric Skrum of the National Motorists
> Association. "It creates a vested interest effect: more police revenue
> equals more patrols, which equals more tickets, which equals more revenue.
>
> The state legislature and city governments are sure to put pressure on
> police agencies to issue more tickets."
> >
> > There will be serious unintended consequences. More tickets will make
> more
> motorists subject to the points tax. As more drivers face annual fees of
> several hundred dollars to keep their licenses, the poorest will respond
> by
> not paying the fees. "The legislature rammed this through without
> investigating the impacts," says Skrum. The points tax was borrowed from
> New
> Jersey, but NMA reports that "In New Jersey, they call this program
> 'Debtor's Prison.' Poor drivers try driving without a license, incur an
> even
> larger surcharge when they get caught, and go so far in debt to the state
> they can never get a driver's license again. This prevents them from
> holding
> a job, and effectively takes them out of the economy." An increase in
> unlicensed, unregistered, and uninsured drivers is the probable outcome.
> The
> state cynically estimates that only a little over half of the points taxes
> will ever be paid; the rest will be owed by persons unable to pay and who
> will never be able to renew their licenses.
> >
> > See below for a list of the fee increases and how much money will be
> extracted from motorists for state purposes.
> >
> > Michigan Motorist Tax, Fine, and Fee Increases, 2003
> >
> > Vehicle Fee Increases - Senate Bill 554, Public Act 152 of 2003
> >
> > Make trailer plates permanent at roughly the former price of 5 to 7
> years'
> registration Increase all vehicle registrations by $3, unconstitutionally
> award $2.25 to State Police. Add late registration-renewal fee of $10.
> Raise
> vehicle title fees by $3. Raise auto dealer-license fees from $10 to $75.
> Raise used-parts dealer-license fees from $100 to $160. Raise CDL fee from
> $20 to $25. Raise CDL correction fee from $6 to $18. Raise original
> chauffeur's license from $20 to $35. Raise original driver's license from
> $12 to $25. Raise license renewal fee from $12 to $18. Add license-renewal
> late fee of $7. Raise minor's restricted license from $5 to $25. Raise
> fees
> for duplicate licenses by $6.
> >
> > Total revenue increase: $70.1 million/year.
> > Dispositions:
> > Michigan State Police $21.8 million/year
> > Secretary of State $18 million/year
> > Roads and transit $5.3 million/year
> > General Fund $25 million/year
> >
> > After shifts of funds between the Secretary of State and the Michigan
> Transportation Fund under SB 539, road and transit funds are increased by
> approximately $24.9 million/year.
> >
> > One-time advance from trailer registration fees (conversion to permanent
> registrations).
> > Revenue: $108 million in 2004.
> > Disposition: Roads and transit
> >
> >
> > Points Tax - Senate Bill 509, Public Act 165 of 2003
> >
> > Attach tax to driver-license points, $100 for the seventh point and $50
> each for additional points. Notes: points remain on license for two years.
> Points existing on Sept. 30, 2003 are not taxable.
> >
> > Attach mandatory fines of $150 to $1,000 for certain traffic violations
> (not subject to points tax), payable as surtaxes on driver's-license fees
> in
> EACH of TWO years following conviction.
> >
> > Official revenue estimate: Approx. $65 to 75 million/year realized on
> billings of $124.7 million (shrinkage is due to drivers refusing to pay
> and
> continuing to drive with suspended licenses, based on rates from New
> Jersey). Note: House Fiscal Agency estimates and all published media
> reports
> on P.A. 165 contain the same error: the mandatory fines are described as
> being imposed once only, and not in each of TWO years, so these revenue
> estimates are low.
> >
> > Disposition: First $65 million/year to the General Fund, additional
> amounts for local fire departments in cities having state-owned buildings.
> >
> > SB 436 & 439, HB 4736 P.A's. 73 & 97 of 2003 - Court-finance Package
> >
> > Increase conviction surtax from $25 to $40 on approximately 500,000
> citations/year. Revenue increase: $7.5 million/year
> > Disposition: Court operations.
> >
> >
> > HB 4333, P.A. 34 of 2003 - Handicapped Parking Spaces
> >
> > Raise fine for violation of handicapped parking spaces from $50 to $150.
> >
> > TOTAL MOTORIST TAX INCREASE: $147.6 million/year
> > AMOUNTS FOR ROADS AND TRANSIT:
> > $132.9 million in Fiscal 2004
> > Approximately $24.9 million/year after 2004
> >
> >
> >
> > http://www.motorists.com/pressreleas...iganfines.html
> >
> > New Fees Target Michigan Drivers
> >
> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2003
> >
> > New Fees Target Michigan Drivers
> >
> > On October 1, new fees, fines and surcharges aimed at generating more
> revenue, at the expense of Michigan motorists, goes into effect. Most
> drivers don't realize the full extent of the penalties coming their way.
> >
> > Public Act 165 has instituted new "Driver Responsibility Fees" which
> amounts to raised fines and surcharges on traffic tickets. If you have
> seven
> points on your drivers license, you will be paying $100 each year for two
> years. And, you will be paying an additional $50 per point for every point
> above seven. If you're stopped and you can't present proof of insurance,
> you
> must pay a $300 fine, even if you later prove you do have insurance.
> >
> > If you receive an Operating Under the Influence of Liquor (OUIL), not
> only
> do you have to pay your fine, a new $40 surtax, and license reinstatement
> fee, but you will also be getting a $1,000 bill each year for the next two
> years (courtesy of Governor Granholm and Senator Gilbert).
> >
> > This additional money will go to local governments and police, county
> sheriffs, the State Police, the state General Fund and local fire
> departments. This sets a dangerous precedent, as the agencies that issue
> tickets will directly profit from them.
> >
> > "Guaranteeing police a share of motorist fines will lead to further fine
> increases down the road," says Eric Skrum of the National Motorists
> Association. "It creates a vested interest effect: more police revenue
> equals more patrols, which equals more tickets, which equals more revenue.
>
> The state legislature and city governments are sure to put pressure on
> police agencies to issue more tickets."
> >
> > There will be serious unintended consequences. More tickets will make
> more
> motorists subject to the points tax. As more drivers face annual fees of
> several hundred dollars to keep their licenses, the poorest will respond
> by
> not paying the fees. "The legislature rammed this through without
> investigating the impacts," says Skrum. The points tax was borrowed from
> New
> Jersey, but NMA reports that "In New Jersey, they call this program
> 'Debtor's Prison.' Poor drivers try driving without a license, incur an
> even
> larger surcharge when they get caught, and go so far in debt to the state
> they can never get a driver's license again. This prevents them from
> holding
> a job, and effectively takes them out of the economy." An increase in
> unlicensed, unregistered, and uninsured drivers is the probable outcome.
> The
> state cynically estimates that only a little over half of the points taxes
> will ever be paid; the rest will be owed by persons unable to pay and who
> will never be able to renew their licenses.
> >
> > See below for a list of the fee increases and how much money will be
> extracted from motorists for state purposes.
> >
> > Michigan Motorist Tax, Fine, and Fee Increases, 2003
> >
> > Vehicle Fee Increases - Senate Bill 554, Public Act 152 of 2003
> >
> > Make trailer plates permanent at roughly the former price of 5 to 7
> years'
> registration Increase all vehicle registrations by $3, unconstitutionally
> award $2.25 to State Police. Add late registration-renewal fee of $10.
> Raise
> vehicle title fees by $3. Raise auto dealer-license fees from $10 to $75.
> Raise used-parts dealer-license fees from $100 to $160. Raise CDL fee from
> $20 to $25. Raise CDL correction fee from $6 to $18. Raise original
> chauffeur's license from $20 to $35. Raise original driver's license from
> $12 to $25. Raise license renewal fee from $12 to $18. Add license-renewal
> late fee of $7. Raise minor's restricted license from $5 to $25. Raise
> fees
> for duplicate licenses by $6.
> >
> > Total revenue increase: $70.1 million/year.
> > Dispositions:
> > Michigan State Police $21.8 million/year
> > Secretary of State $18 million/year
> > Roads and transit $5.3 million/year
> > General Fund $25 million/year
> >
> > After shifts of funds between the Secretary of State and the Michigan
> Transportation Fund under SB 539, road and transit funds are increased by
> approximately $24.9 million/year.
> >
> > One-time advance from trailer registration fees (conversion to permanent
> registrations).
> > Revenue: $108 million in 2004.
> > Disposition: Roads and transit
> >
> >
> > Points Tax - Senate Bill 509, Public Act 165 of 2003
> >
> > Attach tax to driver-license points, $100 for the seventh point and $50
> each for additional points. Notes: points remain on license for two years.
> Points existing on Sept. 30, 2003 are not taxable.
> >
> > Attach mandatory fines of $150 to $1,000 for certain traffic violations
> (not subject to points tax), payable as surtaxes on driver's-license fees
> in
> EACH of TWO years following conviction.
> >
> > Official revenue estimate: Approx. $65 to 75 million/year realized on
> billings of $124.7 million (shrinkage is due to drivers refusing to pay
> and
> continuing to drive with suspended licenses, based on rates from New
> Jersey). Note: House Fiscal Agency estimates and all published media
> reports
> on P.A. 165 contain the same error: the mandatory fines are described as
> being imposed once only, and not in each of TWO years, so these revenue
> estimates are low.
> >
> > Disposition: First $65 million/year to the General Fund, additional
> amounts for local fire departments in cities having state-owned buildings.
> >
> > SB 436 & 439, HB 4736 P.A's. 73 & 97 of 2003 - Court-finance Package
> >
> > Increase conviction surtax from $25 to $40 on approximately 500,000
> citations/year. Revenue increase: $7.5 million/year
> > Disposition: Court operations.
> >
> >
> > HB 4333, P.A. 34 of 2003 - Handicapped Parking Spaces
> >
> > Raise fine for violation of handicapped parking spaces from $50 to $150.
> >
> > TOTAL MOTORIST TAX INCREASE: $147.6 million/year
> > AMOUNTS FOR ROADS AND TRANSIT:
> > $132.9 million in Fiscal 2004
> > Approximately $24.9 million/year after 2004
> >
> >
