Michigan’s
habitually bad drivers could pay up to $1,000 a year to keep their
driving privileges under a bill signed into law Aug. 12.
The
new law is intended to crack down on repeat driving offenders and
increase revenue for the state, The Detroit News reported.
“Drunk
driving, reckless driving and road rage-related incidents have made
Michigan’s roads and highways more dangerous than ever,” the bill’s
sponsor, Sen. Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac, said in a recent statement.
“The time has come for us to send a serious message to those drivers
who threaten the greater public’s safety with their reckless behavior
behind the wheel.”
SB509
puts a $100 yearly fee on people who rack up seven or more points
on their driver’s license within two years. Drivers with more points
will be charged $50 per point. Those convicted of more serious crimes,
such as reckless driving or drunken driving, could face fees between
$500 and $1,000.
The
fees are expected to generate as much as $75 million a year for
the state, the newspaper reported. Only points accumulated after
the law takes effect Oct. 1 would be subject to the fees.
