Michigan Residents Can Now Show an Electronic Version of Their Car Registration and Warm up Their Vehicles Unattended

Wed, 7/18/2018 - 7:07 pm by Kirsten Rincon

Michigan motorists are now allowed to provide proof of their car registration electronically when stopped by a law enforcement official.

The new rule comes under a legislation signed by Governor Rick Snyder on June 28, 2017.

“As technology continues to rapidly evolve, it’s important that our state’s laws adapt to these changes,” Snyder said. “Allowing motorists to present vehicle registration to a law enforcement officer electronically is a common sense move that makes life easier for Michiganders.” 

House Bill 4013, which is sponsored by Michigan state Representative Peter Lucido, allows drivers to show their proof of car registration through an electronic device, such as a smartphone or a tablet.

Furthermore, this bill specifically prohibits law enforcement officials from accessing any additional information while in physical possession of the smartphone or tablet.

After being passed, the bill is now referred to as Public Act 59 of 2017.

Gov. Snyder also signed another bill that changes state law to allow drivers to “warm up” their vehicles in the driveway unattended.

The bill, officially named House Bill 4215, was sponsored by state Representative Holly Hughes.

Prior to the new legislation, the Michigan vehicle code prohibited drivers from leaving their vehicle unattended without stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the ignition key – whether the vehicle was on a highway or private property.

Vehicles in Michigan that were caught running unattended on private property were subject to ticketing under previous state legislation.

In order for an unattended idle vehicle not to be cited, the vehicle must have been locked and equipped with a remote starting mechanism. The old rule specified that “a person who has control or charge of a motor vehicle shall not allow the vehicle to stand unattended on any street or any other place without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, and removing and taking possession of the key,” based on information from the House and Senate agencies.

Supporters of the new legislation argued that being able to leave a running car unattended was helpful, especially during Michigan winter months when cars need extra time to warm up.

People who opposed the recently passed bill pointed out the increased risk of theft that could come with leaving a vehicle on and unattended in a driveway.

The Michigan law that prohibited vehicles from “warming up” on private property made local news headlines when a man in Roseville received a ticket for having his vehicle running unattended in his driveway last January.

The incident then led the Muskegon police chief to announce that his department would be on the lookout for unattended idle vehicles to help stop cars from being robbed.

The bill was passed in the House with a 77-30 vote on May 2, and it was passed in the Senate with a 30-6 vote on June 13.