Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.256

Unlawful lending or use of certificate of title, registration certificate, registration plate, special plate, or permit; unlawful carrying or display of registration certificate or plate; violation as misdemeanor; penalty; unlawful display of registration plate on commercial vehicle.

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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE

Act 300 of 1949

257.256 Unlawful lending or use of certificate of title, registration certificate, registration plate, special plate, or permit; unlawful carrying or display of registration certificate or plate; violation as misdemeanor; penalty; unlawful display of registration plate on commercial vehicle.

Sec. 256.

(1) A person shall not lend to another person, or knowingly permit the use of, any certificate of title, registration certificate, registration plate, special plate, or permit issued to him or her if the person receiving or using the certificate of title, registration certificate, registration plate, special plate, or permit would not be entitled to the use thereof. A person shall not carry or display upon a vehicle any registration certificate or registration plate not issued for the vehicle or not otherwise lawfully used under this act.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by a fine of not more than $100.00, or both.

(3) A person who displays upon a commercial vehicle which is required to be registered according to the schedule of elected gross vehicle weights under section 801(1)(k) any registration plate not issued for the vehicle or not otherwise lawfully used under this act is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1987, Act 34, Eff. Aug. 26, 1987

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1970–2025 · leading case: Clevenger v. Allstate Insurance

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Clevenger v. Allstate Insurance (1993) mich · cites it 2× “MCL 257.256; MSA 9.1956. Finally, MCL 257.”

People of Michigan v. Peter Thomas Brinkey (2019) michctapp “904(1) ; and *96 unlawful use of a license plate, MCL 257.256. The trial court sentenced defendant, as a fourth-offense habitual offender, MCL 769.”

McCroskey v. Gene Deming Motor Sales, Inc. (1979) michctapp · cites it 3× “The Court held that the defendant dealer was estopped to deny that the automobile driven by Kenny was owned by the dealership due to his "flagrant” violation of MCL 257.256; MSA 9.1956, which provides: "No person shall lend to another any certificate of title, registration…”

Katherine Lynn Bazzo v. John Doe I (2022) michctapp · cites it 14× “Indeed, violation of the statute can result in a person being criminally charged with a misdemeanor.”

Wieland v. Kenny (1971) mich · cites it 4× “These employees were permitted at will to use such plates on their own cars for driving on public ways, for their own purposes of business or pleasure.”

Wieland v. Kenny (1970) michctapp · cites it 2× “is that it allowed Kenny to use its automobile dealership license plates in violation of MCLA § 257.256 (Stat Ann 1968 Rev § 9.1956).”

People of Michigan v. Aaron Earl Merritt (2018) michctapp “FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND This criminal prosecution arose from defendant’s May 22, 2016 motorcycle accident.”

People of Michigan v. Joseph John Blair Jr (2019) michctapp “” MCL 257.256(2). -8- a hazard, or fall within any of the other circumstances necessary to justify an impound, an impound cannot be effected.”

People of Michigan v. John Albert Christianson Jr (2023) michctapp “3102; and unlawful use of a license plate, MCL 257.256. After his convictions, defendant moved for a Ginther1 hearing, which the trial court granted.”

People of Michigan v. Sanders Nichols Jr (2024) michctapp “11, to a prison term of two to ten years for the fleeing and eluding conviction, with credit for 118 days served.1 We affirm. I.”

Taylor v. Moore (2025) mied “Laws § 257.256 , and dismissal of the other two charges.”

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.256(1) — 1 case

Katherine Lynn Bazzo v. John Doe I (2022) michctapp “Indeed, violation of the statute can result in a person being criminally charged with a misdemeanor.”

— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.256(2) — 2 cases

Katherine Lynn Bazzo v. John Doe I (2022) michctapp “Indeed, violation of the statute can result in a person being criminally charged with a misdemeanor.”

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