General Ordinances - City of New Buffalo

CITY OF NEW BUFFALO
CODE OF ORDINANCES
Chapter 10 - MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
Section 10-1. Uniform Traffic Code Adopted [Ord. 127, 5/17/2000]
Pursuant to the authority granted by the City of New Buffalo by MCL 117.3; MSA 5.2073, as amended, the
Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.1; MSA 9.1801 through and including MCL 257.923; MSA 9.2623, as may be
amended from time to time by the State of Michigan) is adopted by reference and made part of this Chapter as if
fully set forth herein.
A. Purpose.
The purpose of the Michigan Vehicle Code is to provide for the registration, titling, sale, transfer and regulation of
certain vehicles operated upon the public highways of this state or any other place open to the general public or
generally accessible to motor vehicles and distressed vehicles; to provide for the examination, licensing and control
of operators and chauffeurs; to provide for the giving of proof of financial responsibility and security by owners and
operators of vehicles; to provide for the regulation and use of streets and highways; to provide penalties and
sanctions for a violation of the Code; to provide for civil liability of owners and operators of vehicles and to provide
for the enforcement of the Code; and to provide for the creation of and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain
state and local agencies. Complete printed copies of the Michigan Vehicle Code shall be kept at the office of the
City Clerk available for inspection by and distribution to the public at all times. References in the Michigan Vehicle
Code to "state" shall mean the City of New Buffalo. Section numbers of the Michigan Vehicle Code shall also
apply to violations of this City ordinance, except that City ordinance violations shall bear the prefix "F10" instead of
"257."
B. Evidence of insurance; produce upon request; driver's license suspension (MCL 257.328).
1. The owner of a motor vehicle who operates or permits the operation of the motor vehicle upon the streets of
the City or the operator of the motor vehicle shall produce, pursuant to subsection (2), upon request of a
police officer, evidence that the motor vehicle is insured under Chapter 31 of Act No. 218 of the
Public Acts of 1956, as amended, being sections 500.3101 through 500.3179 of the Michigan Compiled
Laws. An owner or operator of a motor vehicle who fails to produce evidence under this subsection when
requested to produce that evidence is responsible for a civil infraction.
2. A certificate of insurance, if issued by an insurance company, which certificate states that security which
meets the requirements of sections 3101 and 3102 of Act No. 218 of the Public Acts of 1956, as amended,
being sections 500.3101 and 500.3102 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, is in force and shall be accepted as
prima facie evidence that insurance is in force for the motor vehicle described in the certificate of insurance
until the expiration date shown on the certificate. The certificate, in addition to describing the motor
vehicles for which insurance is in effect, shall state the name of each person named on the policy, policy
declaration, or a declaration certificate whose operation of the vehicle would cause the liability coverage of
that insurance to become void.
3. If an owner of a motor vehicle is determined to be responsible for a violation of subsection (1), the court in
which the civil infraction determination is entered may require the person to surrender his or her operator's
or chauffeur's license unless proof that the vehicle has insurance meeting the requirements of section 3102
of Act No. 218 of the Public Acts of 1956, as amended, is submitted to the court. If the court requires the
license to be surrendered, the court shall order the Secretary of State to suspend the person's license and
shall forward the surrendered license and a certificate of civil infraction to the Secretary of State. Upon
receipt of the certificate of civil infraction and the surrendered license, the Secretary of State shall suspend
the person's license beginning with the date on which a person is determined to be responsible for the civil
Chapter 10- MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC 10-1