Michigan Traffic Laws Commonly Involved in These Cases

Michigan traffic cases may involve civil infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies depending on the charge and facts.

Common Michigan authorities include:

• MCL 257.320a — Michigan driver’s license points
• MCL 257.626b — careless driving as a civil infraction
• MCL 257.626 — reckless driving as a misdemeanor, with enhanced consequences in more serious cases
• MCL 257.904 — operating while license suspended, revoked, or denied
• MCL 257.602b — holding or using a mobile electronic device while driving
• MCL 257.907 — civil fines and costs for many traffic civil infractions
• Michigan Judicial Institute Traffic Benchbook — judicial guidance for Michigan civil-infraction and traffic-offense proceedings

The exact violation matters. Some traffic matters are civil infractions. Others are misdemeanors or felonies. Some carry points. Some may affect a driver’s license, CDL, employment, insurance, probation status, or future sentencing exposure.

Traffic Matters We Handle

We represent clients in a wide range of traffic-related matters, including:

• Speeding tickets
• Careless driving
• Reckless driving
• Moving violations
• Civil infractions
• Driving while license suspended or revoked
• No valid license or failure to display license
• Failure to yield
• Failure to stop
• Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign
• Improper passing
• Holding or using a mobile electronic device while driving
• Texting or distracted-driving allegations
• Accident-related tickets
• CDL and commercial-driver violations
• Out-of-state driver issues
• License suspension or reinstatement problems
• Traffic-related bond, probation, or license-compliance issues
• Misdemeanor traffic offenses
• Felony traffic offenses, where applicable

The right approach depends on the violation, driving history, license status, court, prosecutor if involved, police agency, facts, and client goals.

Why You Should Take a Traffic Ticket Seriously

Many people assume it is easier to simply pay the ticket and move on. That may be a mistake.

In Michigan, paying a ticket usually results in responsibility or conviction being entered. Once that happens, the court may report the matter to the Michigan Secretary of State, and points or other licensing consequences may follow depending on the violation.

Even one ticket may affect insurance premiums. Multiple tickets can create larger problems, including license action, driver reexamination concerns, CDL consequences, employment problems, or increased penalties on future offenses.

Before you admit responsibility or pay the ticket, it is worth understanding what the citation may do to your record.

Michigan Driver’s License Points

Michigan law assigns points for many traffic violations under MCL 257.320a. The number of points depends on the offense.

Examples include:

• Reckless driving — 6 points
• Careless driving — 3 points
• Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign — 3 points
• Improper passing — 3 points
• Speeding more than 15 mph over the limit — 4 points
• Speeding more than 10 mph but not more than 15 mph over the limit — 3 points
• Speeding more than 5 mph but not more than 10 mph over the limit — 2 points
• Speeding more than 1 mph but not more than 5 mph over the limit — 1 point
• Most other reported moving violations — 2 points

Points are not the only issue. The nature of the conviction or civil-infraction determination, the abstract sent to the Secretary of State, insurance consequences, CDL consequences, license status, and employment consequences may matter just as much as the number of points.

Can a Traffic Ticket Be Reduced or Amended?

In some cases, a traffic ticket may be resolved through a reduction, amendment, or nonmoving violation. That depends on the charge, driving record, court, prosecutor if involved, police agency, facts, and whether the client has a CDL or other licensing concerns.

No result can be guaranteed. The goal is to review the citation, driving history, and consequences before deciding whether to negotiate, request a hearing, or proceed to trial.

A resolution that may help one driver may not be right for another. CDL holders, probationers, drivers with restricted licenses, drivers with prior points, and people who drive for work may need a more careful review before any admission is made.

Informal Hearings, Formal Hearings, and Trials

Some Michigan traffic civil infractions may be contested through an informal hearing or formal hearing. The right process depends on the ticket, court, evidence, possible points, insurance issues, CDL status, and client goals.

Informal hearings are generally less formal and usually involve the officer and the respondent appearing before a magistrate or judge. Formal hearings are more formal proceedings and may involve a prosecutor or attorney for the plaintiff.

Misdemeanor traffic cases are different. They may require criminal-court appearances, negotiation, motions, plea discussions, or trial preparation.

Before choosing a hearing path, it is important to understand what is at stake, including points, insurance, license status, CDL consequences, employment consequences, and whether the matter is civil or criminal.

What To Do After Receiving a Traffic Ticket

If you receive a traffic ticket, act quickly.

Read the citation carefully. Identify:

• The court
• The response deadline
• The cited offense
• Whether the ticket is marked as a civil infraction or misdemeanor
• Whether a court appearance is required
• Whether the ticket involves an accident
• Whether your CDL, job, probation, or license status may be affected

Keep a copy of the ticket, any accident report, police paperwork, photographs, dash-camera footage, GPS data, witness information, insurance documents, and repair records if the ticket involved an accident.

Do not miss the deadline to respond. In Michigan, failure to answer a citation, appear in court, or comply with a court order or judgment can create additional consequences, including license-related action in appropriate cases.

If you are unsure what to do, call before paying the ticket.

What Not to Do After Receiving a Traffic Ticket

Do not ignore the ticket.

Do not assume that paying it is the cheapest option.

Do not assume a civil infraction cannot affect your license or insurance.

Do not assume a “minor” ticket is harmless if you drive for work, hold a CDL, are on probation, have a restricted license, or already have points.

Do not contact the officer or court staff expecting legal advice.

Do not miss a court date or response deadline.

The safest first step is to understand the consequences before making a decision.

How Traffic Tickets Are Defended or Resolved

Every traffic case is different. Some tickets should be contested. Some may be resolved by negotiation. Some require a hearing or trial. Some require attention to license status before the court date.

Depending on the facts, the defense or resolution strategy may involve questions such as:

• Was the stop lawful?
• Was the cited violation actually committed?
• Was the speed measurement reliable?
• Was radar, lidar, pacing, or other speed-estimation evidence properly used?
• Was the driver correctly identified?
• Were road, weather, lighting, or traffic conditions relevant?
• Was there an accident, and if so, what caused it?
• Is there video, GPS, dash-camera, or witness evidence?
• Does the ticket create license, insurance, CDL, or employment consequences?
• Is a reduction, amendment, or nonmoving resolution available?
• Is a formal or informal hearing appropriate?
• Is trial necessary?

The goal is to protect your driving record, license, employment, and future consequences whenever possible.

Accident-Related Traffic Tickets

A ticket connected to a crash can have consequences beyond the traffic court file. Depending on the allegation, the case may affect insurance, points, restitution, civil-liability claims, employment, and license status.

If your ticket followed an accident, preserve photographs, repair estimates, insurance communications, dash-camera footage, witness names, medical information, and the crash report.

Do not assume the traffic ticket and the insurance claim are separate problems. Statements or admissions in one setting may affect another issue.

Multiple Tickets and License Review

Multiple traffic convictions or civil-infraction determinations can create larger problems than any single ticket. The Secretary of State records many convictions and civil-infraction determinations, and accumulated points or repeated violations may lead to additional license review or action.

If you already have points, prior tickets, a restricted license, a recent suspension, or a CDL, the next ticket should be reviewed before you make any admission.

Driving While License Suspended or Revoked

Driving while license suspended, revoked, or denied is more serious than an ordinary traffic ticket. In Michigan, these cases are commonly charged under MCL 257.904.

A suspended-license case can create criminal consequences, fines and costs, additional licensing consequences, and future problems if not handled correctly. In more serious cases, including cases involving injury, the potential consequences can be much greater.

Many suspended-license cases begin with an unresolved ticket, unpaid fines or costs, prior convictions, insurance issues, or administrative license action. Before going to court, it is important to understand why the license is suspended, whether the underlying issue can be cleared, and what can be done to reduce future damage.

If you are charged with driving while license suspended, revoked, or denied, do not assume it is just another ticket. Call before going to court.

Reckless Driving and Careless Driving in Michigan

Careless driving and reckless driving are different offenses under Michigan law.

Careless driving under MCL 257.626b generally involves operating a vehicle in a careless or negligent manner likely to endanger a person or property, but without wantonness or recklessness. It is a civil infraction and is generally a three-point offense.

Reckless driving under MCL 257.626 generally involves operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor and is generally a six-point offense. Depending on the facts, driving history, and any injury or death involved, reckless-driving-related allegations can carry serious criminal and licensing consequences.

These cases require careful review of the police report, traffic conditions, witness statements, video, accident facts, and the specific conduct alleged.

Holding or Using a Mobile Electronic Device While Driving

Michigan law restricts holding or using a mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. These cases may involve allegations of texting, calling, scrolling, watching or recording video, using social media, or otherwise holding or using a mobile electronic device while driving.

A mobile-device ticket may seem minor, but it can still create fines, court costs, Secretary of State reporting, insurance concerns, CDL consequences, and employment problems for drivers who depend on a clean record.

If you received a mobile-device or distracted-driving ticket, the citation should be reviewed before you assume it has no meaningful consequences.

CDL and Commercial Driver Issues

For commercial drivers, a traffic ticket can threaten employment even when the ticket seems minor. CDL holders may face employer discipline, insurance consequences, disqualification issues, or job loss depending on the violation and the driver’s record.

Some consequences may apply even if the driver was operating a personal vehicle rather than a commercial vehicle. A resolution that seems acceptable for a noncommercial driver may be harmful for a CDL holder.

CDL cases should be reviewed carefully before any admission is made. If you hold a CDL or drive for work, tell us immediately so we can evaluate the ticket with those consequences in mind.

Out-of-State Drivers

If you are licensed outside Michigan but receive a ticket in Michigan, the consequences may not stay in Michigan. Michigan may report certain convictions or determinations to the driver’s home state, and the home state may then apply its own rules.

Out-of-state drivers should not assume a Michigan ticket will be harmless because they do not live here. Before paying the ticket, it is important to understand whether it may affect your home-state license or insurance.

Local Traffic Defense in Northern Michigan Courts

Traffic cases are handled differently depending on the county, court, judge, magistrate, prosecutor if involved, police agency, violation, and driving history. Local practices may affect whether a case is eligible for negotiation, amendment, hearing, or trial.

The Law Offices of Gerald F. Chefalo represents drivers in Traverse City and throughout Northern Michigan, including:

• Grand Traverse County
• Leelanau County
• Antrim County
• Benzie County
• Kalkaska County
• Charlevoix County
• Emmet County
• Manistee County

Local knowledge matters, especially when your license, job, CDL, insurance, or driving record is at stake.

Talk to a Traverse City Traffic Ticket Attorney

A traffic ticket is not always “just a ticket.” The right approach depends on the charge, your record, your license status, whether you drive for work, and what consequences matter most to you.

Gerald F. Chefalo represents clients in traffic-ticket, license, misdemeanor traffic, suspended-license, reckless-driving, careless-driving, CDL, mobile-device, accident-related, and related matters throughout Northern Michigan.

If you received a ticket, were charged with driving while license suspended, or are worried about your driving record, call before you pay the ticket.

Call The Law Offices of Gerald F. Chefalo at 231-929-7744.

Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Traffic Tickets

Legal Authorities and Michigan Sources Considered

This page is based on Michigan traffic law, Michigan Vehicle Code point provisions, civil-infraction procedures, misdemeanor traffic-offense statutes, suspended-license law, and Michigan traffic-hearing procedures.

Relevant Michigan authorities include:

• MCL 257.320a — Michigan driver’s license points
• MCL 257.626b — careless driving
• MCL 257.626 — reckless driving
• MCL 257.904 — operating while license suspended, revoked, or denied
• MCL 257.602b — holding or using a mobile electronic device while driving
• MCL 257.907 — civil fines and costs for traffic civil infractions
• Michigan Judicial Institute Traffic Benchbook
• Michigan Department of State Offense Code Index — traffic-violation and non-moving-conviction offense-code reference.

Legal Disclaimer

This page provides general information about Michigan traffic tickets, traffic offenses, and license-related consequences. It is not legal advice for any specific case. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you received a traffic ticket, were charged with a traffic offense, hold a CDL, or have a license issue, speak with a lawyer about your specific facts before taking action.

Legal content reviewed for Michigan law as of June 2026.