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Michigan Traffic Ticket Defense and Civil Infractions
Michigan Traffic Tickets at a Glance
Michigan sorts traffic offenses into three tiers under the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.1 et seq.). Most tickets are civil infractions, not crimes, and are resolved with fines and license points. Some, such as reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, are misdemeanors that carry jail exposure. A few, including repeat or injury-causing offenses, are felonies. The Secretary of State adds points to a driver’s record under the point system (MCL 257.320a), two to six per offense depending on severity, and those points stay on the record for two years. Reaching 12 points within a two-year window triggers a driver reexamination that can end in suspension.
Governing law: The Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.1 et seq.) and the driver point system (MCL 257.320a).
Penalty range: Fines and license points for infractions, up to jail and felony exposure for reckless or repeat offenses.
License points: Two to six points per offense, kept on the record for two years from the date of conviction.
Where cases are heard: The district court for the city or township where the citation was issued.
Possible defenses: Challenging the stop, the speed reading, or negotiating a reduced, point-free plea.
What to do now: Talk to an attorney before paying, since paying a ticket is an admission of responsibility.
At Neumann Law Group, our Northern Michigan traffic ticket defense lawyers handle citations in the district courts that cover Grand Traverse, Wexford, Kalkaska, and the surrounding counties, including the 86th District Court in Traverse City and the 84th District Court in Cadillac. A ticket can feel minor until it stacks onto an existing record, threatens a commercial license, or spikes an insurance premium for years. This work is part of our broader Northern Michigan criminal defense practice, and the smartest time to get advice is before the response deadline on the ticket passes.
Is a Michigan Traffic Ticket a Crime?
Most Michigan traffic tickets are civil infractions, not crimes. A civil infraction does not carry jail time or a criminal record, but it does carry fines, court costs, and license points, and it is resolved through an informal or formal hearing before a district court magistrate or judge. The driver can admit responsibility, admit with explanation, or deny and contest the ticket at a hearing.
The line into criminal territory matters. Reckless driving and driving while license suspended (MCL 257.904) are misdemeanors, and serious or repeat conduct can be charged as a felony. Paying a civil infraction by mail might feel like the simplest option, but it is treated as an admission of responsibility, which locks in the points and the conviction on your record. That single choice is why a quick payment can cost far more over time than the ticket itself.
How Does Michigan’s Point System Work?
Michigan assigns two to six license points to each traffic offense under MCL 257.320a, scaled to severity. Reckless driving and operating while intoxicated each carry six points, careless driving and going 11 to 15 over the limit carry three, and minor speeding carries two. Points remain active for two years from the date of conviction, and only the highest-point offense counts when several charges come from one incident.
| Points | Common offenses |
|---|---|
| 6 | Reckless driving, operating while intoxicated, a BAC of 0.08 or higher, refusing a chemical test, fleeing or eluding, or a felony involving a motor vehicle |
| 4 | Impaired driving (OWVI), drag racing, going 16 mph or more over the limit, or any alcohol content while under 21 |
| 3 | Careless driving, disobeying a signal or stop sign, or going 11 to 15 mph over the limit |
| 2 | Going 10 mph or less over the limit, or an open container of alcohol |
The thresholds are where licenses are lost. At 9 points the Secretary of State may call a driver in for an interview about their driving ability, and failing to appear adds three more points. At 12 points within two years, the state is required to investigate and may order a full reexamination, which can include a road test and end in restrictions or suspension. The conviction itself stays on a driving abstract for years even after the points expire, and most traffic offenses cannot later be expunged. For perspective on how routine these stops are, Michigan State Police recorded 288,880 traffic crashes statewide in 2024, each one a potential citation.
Because the points, not the fine, are the lasting cost, the attorneys on our criminal defense team focus on keeping a conviction off the record entirely or trading it for an offense that carries no points. A free consultation is worth the call before you decide how to answer a ticket.
What Happens If You Are Charged With Reckless Driving?
Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in Michigan under MCL 257.626, punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, and six license points. It also brings a hard license suspension, and unlike an OWI, a reckless driving conviction generally does not allow a restricted license during that period. If the driving causes a serious injury, the charge becomes a five-year felony, and if it causes death, it becomes a 15-year felony.
Reckless driving requires proof of willful or wanton disregard for safety, which is a higher bar than ordinary carelessness. Speeding alone does not establish it: excessive speed by itself may not show the willful or wanton disregard reckless driving requires. That gap between careless driving, a civil infraction under MCL 257.626b, and reckless driving, a misdemeanor, is often where these cases are won. Reckless driving frequently arrives alongside an Michigan OWI or drunk driving allegation, and the two are defended together.
Can You Keep Points Off Your Record?
Several tools can keep points off a Michigan record. The most common is negotiating the ticket down to a non-moving violation or a lesser offense that carries fewer points or none at all. For eligible drivers, a Basic Driver Improvement Course under MCL 257.320d keeps points off the record, and off insurance reporting, when it is completed within 60 days of the Secretary of State’s eligibility notice. Eligibility is limited: the course does not cover criminal offenses, careless driving, certain school-zone and work-zone speeding, drivers cited for more than one violation from the same incident, commercial drivers, or anyone who has completed the course before.
A formal hearing is the other path. Contesting the citation forces the officer to appear and the state to prove the violation, which creates room to negotiate or win outright. Which option fits depends on your record, the offense, and what is at stake, and a commercial driver’s license raises the stakes on all of it.
How Neumann Law Group Handles Traffic Cases
We look past the fine to the record. Before recommending how to respond, we check your current point total, whether a conviction would push you toward a reexamination, and whether your job or commercial license is exposed. From there we appear in the local district court, negotiate with the prosecutor or the officer, and aim for a resolution that protects your license rather than just closing the file. The firm handles citations across Northern Michigan and statewide, and we travel to clients when a court appearance far from home would otherwise be the burden.
Frequently Asked Questions About Michigan Traffic Tickets
Should You Just Pay a Michigan Traffic Ticket?
Often not. Paying a Michigan traffic ticket is an admission of responsibility that puts points on your record and stays on your driving history. Contesting the ticket, or negotiating it down to a non-moving or point-free offense, frequently produces a better long-term result on both your license and your insurance than simply mailing in the fine.
How Many Points Before Your License Is Suspended in Michigan?
Accumulating 12 or more points within two years triggers a driver reexamination by the Secretary of State that can lead to restrictions or suspension. At 9 points, the state may already call a driver in for an interview, and failing to appear adds three more points. Points stay active for two years from the date of conviction.
Is Reckless Driving a Misdemeanor in Michigan?
Yes. Reckless driving under MCL 257.626 is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, six license points, and a hard license suspension. If the driving causes serious injury it becomes a five-year felony, and if it causes death it becomes a 15-year felony. It requires proof of willful or wanton disregard for safety, not just speeding.
Can a Traffic Ticket Be Expunged in Michigan?
Generally no. Traffic offenses, including most moving violations and OWI, are excluded from Michigan’s automatic and petition-based expungement under the Michigan Clean Slate Act. Because a conviction stays on your driving record for years, contesting the ticket up front is usually the only realistic chance to keep it off.
Do You Need a Lawyer for a Traffic Ticket in Michigan?
Not always, but it often pays for itself. An attorney can negotiate a reduced or point-free plea, request a formal hearing, and protect a commercial license that a single conviction could jeopardize. The higher the point value or the greater the risk to your job, the more representation matters.
Related Practice Areas
A traffic stop in Northern Michigan can lead to more than a ticket. If your citation came with a drunk driving allegation or a criminal charge, our work on Traverse City criminal defense covers how those cases move through the local courts and how a traffic count fits into the larger case.
Before you pay a ticket and lock in the points, find out what contesting it could save you. Neumann Law Group provides Michigan traffic ticket defense that looks past the fine: we check your record, appear in the district court for you, and work to keep a conviction off your driving history and your insurance. Call (800) 525-6386 for a free case review, or reach our Traverse City, Grand Rapids, and Detroit offices before your response deadline passes.