Michigan Compiled Laws
Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.311 (2026)
Possession of operator's or chauffeur's license or receipt when operating motor vehicle required; display; identification.
✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE
Act 300 of 1949
257.311 Possession of operator's or chauffeur's license or receipt when operating motor vehicle required; display; identification.
Sec. 311.
The licensee shall have his or her operator's or chauffeur's license, or the receipt described in section 311a, in his or her immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle, and shall display the same upon demand of any police officer, who shall identify himself or herself as such.
History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1983, Act 63, Eff. Mar. 29, 1984
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 41
cases (18 in the last 5 years), 1954–2026 · leading case: People v. McKinley, 661 N.W.2d 599 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003).
People v. McKinley, 661 N.W.2d 599 (Mich. Ct. App. 2003). “Nevertheless, the district court concluded that Deputy Schmaltz had not orally identified himself to defendant as a police officer and had therefore failed to identify himself within the meaning of MCL 257.311. Accordingly, the district court held that there was insufficient…”
People v. Brooks, 274 N.W.2d 430 (Mich. 1979). “MCL 257.311; MSA 9.2011 and MCL 257.223; MSA 9.”
Alan Hoover v. Timothy Walsh, 682 F.3d 481 (6th Cir. 2012). “51 See Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.311 (2007). Such a violation constitutes a misdemeanor.”
Guilford v. Frost, 269 F. Supp. 3d 816 (W.D. Mich. 2017). “Once Guilford refused to produce his license—and indeed, admitted he did not have his license with him— Sergeant Frost incontestably had probable cause to arrest Guilford for a misdemeanor under Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.311 . See *829 Mich.”
People v. Burrell, 339 N.W.2d 403 (Mich. 1983). “7 Brown denied that he consented to the search.”
Glorianna Moore v. Oakland Cnty., Mich., 126 F.4th 1163 (6th Cir. 2025). “Soon after refusing to produce her license in violation of Michigan law, Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.311 , she shifted her hands toward the center console outside of the officer’s view.”
City of Troy v. McMaster, 398 N.W.2d 469 (Mich. Ct. App. 1986). “62a of the Troy City Code and the comparable state statute, MCL 257.311; MSA 9.2011. *570 At trial, defendant argued that he was unaware that his license had been suspended.”
People v. Cavitt, 272 N.W.2d 196 (Mich. Ct. App. 1978). “MCL 257.311; MSA 9.2011. After the arrest for this traffic offense, one of the officers conducted a pat down search "for offensive weapons".”
Marrs v. Tuckey, 362 F. Supp. 2d 927 (E.D. Mich. 2005). “” Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.311 . In addition, it appears that Michigan law authorizes the arrest of a driver who fails to maintain his license in his immediate possession or produce it upon a police officer's request.”
People v. Philabaun, 602 N.W.2d 371 (Mich. 1999). “MCL 257.311, 257.710e(3); MSA 9.2011, 9.2410(5)(3).”
People v. Tucker, 172 N.W.2d 712 (Mich. Ct. App. 1969). “4 MCLA § 257.311 (Stat Ann 1968 Rev § 9.2011) requires the operator of a motor vehicle to have in his immediate possession a license which he shall display upon demand of any uniformed police officer.”
People v. Will, 142 N.W.2d 467 (Mich. Ct. App. 1966). “Upon trial the *332 defendant was found guilty of driving without a valid operator’s license in contravention of CLS 1961, § 257.311 (Stat Ann 1960 Rev § 9.2011) and was sentenced to 15 days in the Detroit house of correction.”
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