The Michigan House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing at 10:00 AM Friday, June 19th, at 1 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1900, to hear testimony on bills to repeal or amend Michigan's Driver Responsibility Act.

This is the law that assesses taxes on driver-license points of $50/year per point above 6, and levies irreducible fines of $400 or $1,000 for driving without insurance, and $1,000 for driving with a suspended license [[as for failure to answer a ticket or pay the "responsibility tax").

This law is opposed by district-court judges, the NAACP, and various other groups, but has so far proven impossible to repeal due to the desire by the legislature for revenue and lobbying by collection agencies acting as contractors to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Only about half the "responsibility fees" are being collected. Around 200,000 former drivers are in debt to the state under this law, and remain unlicensed and legally immobilized.

Below are summaries of the 3 bills that will be taken up by the Committee:

HB 4098 REPEAL DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY TAX [[B. Scott) Repeal Driver Responsibility Act [[convictions and points taxes) after Dec. 31, 2009. Halve amounts assessed in 2009, and settle unpaid amounts for 50% in 2009 [[no refund of previously-paid amounts). Compare HB 4101 and 4604; SB 127, 312.

HB 4101 HALVE DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY TAX [[Jackson) Halve Driver Responsibility Act conviction taxes. [[Does not halve points tax.) Compare HB 4098, 4604 and SB 127, 312.

HB 4604 DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY TAX [[Kowall + 25) Repeal Driver Responsibility Act surtaxes for convictions for no valid license or proof of insurance, after 2009. Retain all other surtaxes and points tax, including no insurance and operating while license suspended. Settle outstanding debts for other than serious violations for 75% of amount due during 60-day period. Allow payment of entire tax in one year. Make conforming amendments. Similar to SB 127.