Legislators worked late into the evening Wednesday as the end of this session draws closer.
Lawmakers are putting the finishing touches to a bill that would allow speed limits as high as 75 miles per hour on some rural stretches of highway.
The legislature also sent to Governor Rick Snyder’s desk new regulation on rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft. Regulations would include company-conducted background checks for drivers, inspections on certain vehicles, and no-fault insurance requirements. Right now, ridesharing regulations vary by city and advocates say they can cause confusion if a driver goes from one city to another.
Republican Representative Tom Barrett is a bill sponsor. “We just wanted to lay out a state framework for people who are engaging in this already existing activity of using these transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft to help them move from place to place,” he said.
And Governor Snyder must also decide whether to change Michigan’s minor in possession of alcohol laws. The legislation would make minor in possession a civil infraction instead of a misdemeanor. But if a person gets too many minor in possession tickets, then they can be charged with a misdemeanor.
Bill co-sponsor Senator Jim Stamas said, “We’re making a criminal out of kids for a very bad decision. I like that the structure of the bill says, you get one chance, you get two chances, after that, now it is a misdemeanor.”
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—Cheyna Roth is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org
