House Bill 5501, sponsored by state Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), passed through the state House of Representatives with bipartisan support on Wednesday, May 21. Tinsley-Talabi’s bill, in conjunction with HB 5414, will bring an end to the controversial fees associated with the Driver Responsibility Act.
“I have been working hard during both of my terms in the Michigan House to see that these driver responsibility fees are eliminated, and I am proud that my legislation passed with bipartisan support last week,” Tinsley-Talabi said. “Those fees placed an unnecessary burden on too many Michigan residents, and it was time for them to go.”
If passed by the Senate and signed into law by the governor, beginning Oct. 1, 2017, HB 5501 will amend Section 4 of the enhanced Driver License and Enhanced Official State Personal Identification Card Act to strike “the assessment of a driver responsibility fee” from the list of licensing sanctions a holder of an enhanced driver license or state identification is subject to.
“It is my job as a state representative to see that Michigan residents are protected, and this legislation ensures Michiganders aren’t paying unnecessary and crippling fees,” said Tinsley-Talabi. “After years of hard work on this issue, I could not be more proud to see my legislation passed unanimously.”