Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 257 / Act 300 of 1949
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.223 (2026)

Registration certificate; carrying; electronic accessibility; display; viewing on electronic device; digital photograph; violation as civil infraction.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.223 Registration certificate; carrying; electronic accessibility; display; viewing on electronic device; digital photograph; violation as civil infraction.

Sec. 223.

    (1) A registration certificate shall at all times be carried in the vehicle to which it refers or shall be carried by or electronically accessible to the person driving or in control of the vehicle, who shall display a paper or electronic copy of the registration certificate upon demand of a police officer.

    (2) If a person displays an electronic copy of his or her registration certificate using an electronic device, the police officer shall only view the electronic copy of the registration certificate and shall not manipulate the electronic device to view any other information on the electronic device. A person who displays an electronic copy of his or her registration certificate using an electronic device as provided in this subsection shall not be presumed to have consented to a search of the electronic device. A police officer may require the person to electronically forward the electronic copy of the registration certificate to a specified location provided by the police officer. The police officer may then view the electronic copy of the registration certificate in a setting in which it is safe for the officer to verify that the information contained in the electronic copy of the registration certificate is valid and accurate. This state, a law enforcement agency, or an employee of this state or a law enforcement agency is not liable for damage to or loss of an electronic device that occurs as a result of a police officer's viewing an electronic copy of a registration certificate in the manner provided in this section, regardless of whether the police officer or the owner or operator of the vehicle was in possession of the electronic device at the time the damage or loss occurred.

    (3) A digital photograph of a valid registration certificate satisfies the requirements of subsection (1).

    (4) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction.

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 510, Eff. Aug. 1, 1979 ;-- Am. 2007, Act 143, Imd. Eff. Nov. 19, 2007 ;-- Am. 2017, Act 59, Eff. Sept. 26, 2017

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1976–2021 · leading case: People v. Nutt, 677 N.W.2d 1 (Mich. 2004).
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People v. Nutt, 677 N.W.2d 1 (Mich. 2004). · cites it 2× “625, and, subsequently, failure to display a valid registration on demand, MCL 257.223—both" "non-intent" offenses—was properly tried for both offenses because the applicable statutes were intended to prevent different harms or evils.”
Crampton v. 54-A Dist. Judge, 245 N.W.2d 28 (Mich. 1976). · cites it 4× “Subsequently, on June 28, a separate complaint charging Crampton with failure to display a valid registration on demand, MCLA 257.223; MSA 9.1923, was also filed in the district court.”
People v. Brooks, 274 N.W.2d 430 (Mich. 1979). · cites it 4× “2011 and MCL 257.223; MSA 9.1923. They were in different names.”
Clevenger v. Allstate Ins., 505 N.W.2d 553 (Mich. 1993). · cites it 2× “Every application for renewal of registration must be accompanied by a valid certificate of insurance.”
People v. Burrell, 339 N.W.2d 403 (Mich. 1983). “16 MCL 257.223; MSA 9.1923. 17 Contrast with People v Ulrich, 83 Mich App 19 ; 268 NW2d 269 (1978).”
People v. Courts, 247 N.W.2d 325 (Mich. Ct. App. 1976). “The ordinance, which appears to be similar to MCLA 257.223; MSA 9.1923, subjects an offender to a maximum penalty of $100 and/or 90 days in jail.”
People of Michigan v. Alec Michael Swartz (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). “311; MCL 257.223(1); MCL 257.328(1). Nonetheless, Swartz refused to produce the documentation.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.223(1) — 1 case
People of Michigan v. Alec Michael Swartz (Mich. Ct. App. 2021). “311; MCL 257.223(1); MCL 257.328(1). Nonetheless, Swartz refused to produce the documentation.”
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