A heads-up for unsuspecting drivers out there: Don't forget to put your updated proof of insurance in your vehicle as soon as you receive it in the mail from your insurance company; getting pulled over to find that you don't have a current proof document on hand, even after you show the court that you are insured, now puts you out $25 if you live in Michigan; the cost in other states varies.

I was there when a friend of mine was recently surprised with this fee. The policeman had told her she "might" have to pay $10. The clerk who took her money intended for the gas tank and fielded my questions about it referenced "Driver Responsibility" and said "Your governor wants you to have it (your proof of insurance) hot and handy." However, as I later discovered, michigan.gov states that there is no fee imposed when proof of insurance is shown to the court "within the specified timeframe." My friend showed proof just a couple days after receiving the citation. So I called the office in charge of taking payments and questions regarding Driver Responsibility and was told that the fine had nothing to do with them, that it was imposed by the court itself. So now I'm wondering why the clerk told us different, but will have to wait til Monday to find out.

If you hadn't yet heard about the whole Driver Responsibility thing, here's the scoop on that: Since October 2003, Michigan motorists who commit certain infractions have been charged, on top of the ticket and any other court costs, a two-consecutive-yearly fee ranging from $150 to $1,000. In addition to these "category two offense" fees, there's a point-based fee system. Once you've accumulated seven or more points categorized as "category one", you pay a fee of minimum $100 (it goes up $50 for each point above 7) each year until the points on your driving record drop back below seven. Points for each offense stay on your record for two years.

Those who are unable or who refuse to pay the fees have their licenses suspended, which tacks on another $125 (license reinstatement fee) to the debt they must pay before being able to legally drive again.

This cash cow for the state and cruel catastrophe for low-income residents hit by it is called the Driver Responsibility Law, and there are websites dedicated to trying to get it repealed, as well as numerous stories to be found of persons and families harshly burdened by the exorbitant fees.

The introduction page of the law's section on michigan.gov makes note that "Other states, including New Jersey and Texas, have implemented similar laws"... as if that makes it okay. The ostensible purpose of the law is to make the roads safer. The only thing it's really succeeding at, of course, besides handing out hardships, is raking in a lot of revenue, which could have been achieved in any number of less oppressive ways.