Detroit's Senators Applaud Elimination of Driver Responsibility Fees

Lansing – The five Senators representing the City of Detroit applauded the passage of SB 166, legislation that would eliminate certain Driver Responsibility Fees.  The legislation was championed by Senator Bert Johnson (D-Detroit) and passed with unanimous support from the Senate.

The Senators issued the following statements:

Senator Bert Johnson:
"This legislation eliminates the most burdensome of these fees, allowing drivers to break the cycle of debt and instead come into compliance with the law.  This will result in fewer uninsured drivers and ultimately reduce insurance costs for all of Michigan."

Senator Morris Hood III:
"Driver Responsibility fees have been unfairly penalizing people for far too long, creating unnecessary hardships.  These fees have done nothing but create an unfair tax on the citizens of Michigan.  This bill, though we wanted a total repeal, will help ease the pain of Michigan drivers who have been caught up in the whirlwind of unjust fees."

Senator Coleman A. Young II:
"These draconian fees need to go.  They never should have been allowed by the Legislature in the first place.  Limiting these fees is a good first step, but I will continue to fight to eliminate these immoral and unjust fees."

Senator Tupac A. Hunter:
"These fees were designed to reduce the number of uninsured drivers and those driving without a license, but instead they have had the opposite effect.  It's simply time to end these fees and instead create a system that allows drivers an opportunity to come into compliance with the law."

Senator Virgil Smith:
"People can't pay these fees, therefore they get in more trouble because they still need to drive to work to feed their family.  These Driver Responsibilities Fees are a double tax on people who can least afford it.  Removal of these fees is long overdue."

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