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

Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.742 (2026)

Stopping, detaining, and issuing citation for civil infraction; pursuing, stopping, and detaining person outside village, city, township, or county; purpose; violation as to load, weight, height, length, or width of vehicle or load; powers of police officer; issuing citation to driver of motor vehicle; form of citation; informing person of alleged civil infraction; delivering copy of citation to alleged offender; issuing, serving, and processing citations for parking and standing violations; filing citation with court; camera-based violation citation by mail; “parking violation notice” and "parking violations bureau" defined.

✓ current as of July 2026
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MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE


Act 300 of 1949


257.742 Stopping, detaining, and issuing citation for civil infraction; pursuing, stopping, and detaining person outside village, city, township, or county; purpose; violation as to load, weight, height, length, or width of vehicle or load; powers of police officer; issuing citation to driver of motor vehicle; form of citation; informing person of alleged civil infraction; delivering copy of citation to alleged offender; issuing, serving, and processing citations for parking and standing violations; filing citation with court; camera-based violation citation by mail; “parking violation notice” and "parking violations bureau" defined.

Sec. 742.

    (1) If a police officer witnesses an individual violating this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this act and that violation is a civil infraction, that police officer may stop the individual, detain the individual temporarily for purposes of making a record of vehicle check, and prepare and subscribe, as soon as possible and as completely as possible, an original and 3 copies of a written citation, which must be a notice to appear in court for 1 or more civil infractions. If a police officer of a village, city, township, or county, or a police officer who is an authorized agent of a county road commission, witnesses an individual violating this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this act within that village, city, township, or county and that violation is a civil infraction, that police officer may pursue, stop, and detain the individual outside the village, city, township, or county where the violation occurred for the purpose of exercising the authority and performing the duties prescribed in this section and section 749, as applicable.

    (2) If a police officer has reason to believe that the load, weight, height, length, or width of a vehicle or load are in violation of section 717, 719, 719a, 722, 724, 725, or 726 and that violation is a civil infraction, that police officer may require the driver of the vehicle to stop, and the police officer may investigate, weigh, or measure the vehicle or load. If, after personally investigating, weighing, or measuring the vehicle or load, the police officer determines that the load, weight, height, length, or width of the vehicle or load are in violation of section 717, 719, 719a, 722, 724, 725, or 726, the police officer may temporarily detain the driver of the vehicle for purposes of making a record or vehicle check and issue a citation to the driver or owner of the vehicle as provided in those sections.

    (3) A police officer may issue a citation to an individual who is a driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident when, based upon personal investigation, the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the individual is responsible for a civil infraction in connection with the accident. A police officer may issue a citation to an individual who is a driver of a motor vehicle when, based upon personal investigation by the police officer of a complaint by someone who witnessed the individual violating this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this act and that violation is a civil infraction, the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the individual is responsible for a civil infraction and if the prosecuting attorney or attorney for the political subdivision approves in writing the issuance of the citation.

    (4) The form of a citation issued under subsection (1), (2), (3), or (9) shall be as prescribed in sections 727c and 743.

    (5) The officer shall inform the individual of the alleged civil infraction or infractions and shall deliver the third copy of the citation to the alleged offender.

    (6) In a civil infraction action involving the parking or standing of a motor vehicle, a copy of the citation is not required to be served personally upon the defendant but may be served upon the registered owner by attaching the copy to the vehicle. A city may authorize personnel other than a police officer to issue and serve a citation for a violation of its ordinance involving the parking or standing of a motor vehicle. A city may authorize a person other than personnel or a police officer to issue and serve a citation for parking violations described in section 675d if the city has complied with the requirements of section 675d. State security personnel receiving authorization under section 6c of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6c, may issue and serve citations for violations involving the parking or standing of vehicles on land owned by this state or land of which this state is the lessee when authorized to do so by the director of the department of state police.

    (7) If a parking violation notice other than a citation is attached to a motor vehicle, and if an admission of responsibility is not made and the civil fine and costs, if any, prescribed by ordinance for the violation are not paid at the parking violations bureau, a citation may be filed with the court described in section 741(4) and a copy of the citation may be served by first-class mail upon the registered owner of the vehicle at the owner's last known address. A parking violation notice may be issued by a police officer, including a limited duty officer, or other personnel duly authorized by the city, village, township, college, or university to issue that parking violation notice under its ordinance. The citation filed with the court pursuant to this subsection need not comply in all particulars with sections 727c and 743 but must consist of a sworn complaint containing the allegations stated in the parking violation notice and must fairly inform the defendant how to respond to the citation.

    (8) A citation issued under subsection (6) or (7) for a parking or standing violation must be processed in the same manner as a citation issued personally to a defendant under subsection (1) or (3).

    (9) A citation may be issued by mail to the registered owner of a vehicle as provided in section 682 for a camera-based violation as defined in section 682.

    (10) As used in subsection (7):

    (a) "Parking violation notice" means a notice, other than a citation, directing a person to appear at a parking violations bureau in the city, village, or township in which, or of the college or university for which, the notice is issued and to pay the fine and costs, if any, prescribed by ordinance for the parking or standing of a motor vehicle in violation of the ordinance.

    (b) "Parking violations bureau" means a parking violations bureau established pursuant to section 8395 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.8395, or a comparable parking violations bureau established in a city or village served by a municipal court or established pursuant to law by the governing board of a state university or college.

    

    

History: Add. 1978, Act 510, Eff. Aug. 1, 1979 ;-- Am. 1979, Act 66, Eff. Aug. 1, 1979 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 249, Imd. Eff. July 28, 1980 ;-- Am. 1980, Act 426, Imd. Eff. Jan. 13, 1981 ;-- Am. 1981, Act 104, Eff. Oct. 1, 1981 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 74, Imd. Eff. Apr. 18, 1984 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 89, Eff. Sept. 19, 1989 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 68, Imd. Eff. May 4, 1998 ;-- Am. 2000, Act 268, Eff. Oct. 1, 2000 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 171, Imd. Eff. July 2, 2008 ;-- Am. 2024, Act 161, Eff. Apr. 2, 2025

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 26 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1985–2025 · leading case: People v. Barbarich, 807 N.W.2d 56 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011).
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People v. Barbarich, 807 N.W.2d 56 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “However, even assuming that Bommarito legitimately translated “almost hit me” into “driving recklessly,” MCL 257.742(3) circumscribed as follows Bommarito’s authority to stop a vehicle: A police officer may issue a citation to a person who is a driver of a motor vehicle involved…”
People v. Chapo, 770 N.W.2d 68 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009). “Driving over an active fire hose, without the consent of the fire department, is a civil infraction. MCL 257.680.”
People v. Dunbar, 879 N.W.2d 229 (Mich. 2016). “See MCL 257.742(1) (“A police officer who witnesses a person violating [the Michigan Vehicle Code, MCL 257.”
Elena Herrada v. City of Detroit, 275 F.3d 553 (6th Cir. 2001). “Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.742 (7) (providing that a citation may be filed in the court with jurisdiction over the location where the infraction occurred if a parking violation notice is issued and the vehicle owner does not admit responsibility or pay the fine).”
People v. Estabrooks, 438 N.W.2d 327 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 2× “MCL 257.742(1), (3); MSA 9.2442(1), (3). A police officer may not stop a driver for a civil infraction solely on the basis of a witness’ complaint.”
Constantino v. Michigan Dep't of State Police, 707 F. Supp. 2d 724 (W.D. Mich. 2010). · cites it 6× “Plaintiffs allege that the helmet law as applied is invalid under Michigan law because troopers require the removal of helmets for inspection and detain motorcyclists longer than is necessary to prepare a written citation in violation of Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.742 (1). 5 (Compl.”
People v. Laube, 397 N.W.2d 325 (Mich. Ct. App. 1986). “” We note that the trial court’s findings with respect to the actual reason for the stop are unclear. It appears that the court ultimately accepted defense counsel’s characterization of Deputy Williams’ testimony—that the stop was occasioned by a general suspicion.”
People of Michigan v. Emilio Rey Hernandez (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 16× “Defendant argues that the evidence seized during the traffic stop must be suppressed because the stop was effectuated in violation of MCL 257.742(1) of the Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC), MCL 257.”
Constantino v. Michigan Dep't of State Police, 794 F. Supp. 2d 773 (W.D. Mich. 2011). · cites it 14× “) A law enforcement officer’s authority to stop and detain an individual for a civil infraction is governed by Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.742 (1), which permits an officer to stop and detain a person temporarily for purposes of making a record of vehicle check, and preparing and…”
People v. Carey, 383 N.W.2d 81 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985). “) MCL 257.742; MSA 9.2442. Thus, peace officers who are trained and certified pursuant to 1965 PA 203 are included in the definition of a police officer under section 42.”
People v. Barbarich, 772 N.W.2d 781 (Mich. 2009). “2d 451 (1985); or whether the citizen's tip constituted "a complaint by someone who witnessed [a] person violating [the Vehicle Code] or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to [the Vehicle Code], which violation is a civil infraction" for purposes of MCL 257.742(3)…”
People of Michigan v. Kellie Nichole Stock (Mich. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “The issue raised by defendant is whether the police officers had probable cause to effectuate a traffic stop of defendant.”
Show all 26 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.742(1) — 19 cases
People v. Chapo, 770 N.W.2d 68 (Mich. Ct. App. 2009). “Driving over an active fire hose, without the consent of the fire department, is a civil infraction. MCL 257.680.”
People v. Dunbar, 879 N.W.2d 229 (Mich. 2016). “See MCL 257.742(1) (“A police officer who witnesses a person violating [the Michigan Vehicle Code, MCL 257.”
People v. Estabrooks, 438 N.W.2d 327 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). “MCL 257.742(1), (3); MSA 9.2442(1), (3). A police officer may not stop a driver for a civil infraction solely on the basis of a witness’ complaint.”
People v. Laube, 397 N.W.2d 325 (Mich. Ct. App. 1986). “” We note that the trial court’s findings with respect to the actual reason for the stop are unclear. It appears that the court ultimately accepted defense counsel’s characterization of Deputy Williams’ testimony—that the stop was occasioned by a general suspicion.”
People of Michigan v. Emilio Rey Hernandez (Mich. Ct. App. 2025). “Defendant argues that the evidence seized during the traffic stop must be suppressed because the stop was effectuated in violation of MCL 257.742(1) of the Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC), MCL 257.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.742(3) — 4 cases
People v. Barbarich, 807 N.W.2d 56 (Mich. Ct. App. 2011). “However, even assuming that Bommarito legitimately translated “almost hit me” into “driving recklessly,” MCL 257.742(3) circumscribed as follows Bommarito’s authority to stop a vehicle: A police officer may issue a citation to a person who is a driver of a motor vehicle involved…”
People v. Estabrooks, 438 N.W.2d 327 (Mich. Ct. App. 1989). “MCL 257.742(1), (3); MSA 9.2442(1), (3). A police officer may not stop a driver for a civil infraction solely on the basis of a witness’ complaint.”
People v. Barbarich, 772 N.W.2d 781 (Mich. 2009). “2d 451 (1985); or whether the citizen's tip constituted "a complaint by someone who witnessed [a] person violating [the Vehicle Code] or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to [the Vehicle Code], which violation is a civil infraction" for purposes of MCL 257.742(3)…”
People of Michigan v. Kellie Nichole Stock (Mich. Ct. App. 2019). “The issue raised by defendant is whether the police officers had probable cause to effectuate a traffic stop of defendant.”
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