2003 Senate Bill 430

Introduced in the Senate

May 1, 2003

Introduced by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R-24)

To authorize the Detroit municipal civil infractions bureau to adjudicate municipal civil infractions. Under current law, a municipal ordinance violations bureau can only accept admissions of responsibility and the payment of fines for violations. Municipal civil infraction violations are currently misdemeanor actions, and if disputed must be heard in district court. The 36th district court which serves Detroit is the state’s busiest. The legislative package, which is comprised of this bill and House Bills 4589-4591, would have the effect of decriminalizing certain municipal civil infractions so that their adjudication could take place before a civil bureau rather than before the judiciary. The bureau could not impose jail sentences, but could impose fines of up to $50,000.

Referred to the Committee on Judiciary