SPECIALTY COURT RESTRICTED LICENSE S.B. 580:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 580 (as introduced 9-22-25)
Committee: Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety
SPECIALTY COURT RESTRICTED LICENSE S.B. 580:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 580 (as introduced 9-22-25)
Committee: Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow a judge of a driving-while-intoxicated sobriety court (specialty court) to waive the mandatory 45-day license suspension for an individual qualified to receive a restricted license for participation in a specialty court interlock program.
Among other things, the Code prohibits an individual from operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and requires the Secretary of State (SOS) to suspend an individual's license for violating the prohibition. The length of the suspension and whether the SOS may issue the individual a restricted license depends on the specifics of the violation.
Currently, the SOS must issue a restricted license to a qualified individual for the individual to participate in a specialty court interlock program, which generally requires the participant to install an ignition interlock device that can measure a participant's breath alcohol content each time before driving. Specifically, the SOS must issue the restricted license to an individual whose license was suspended, restricted, revoked, or denied based on either of the following:
-- Two or more convictions for violating the prohibitions against operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or operating while visibly impaired.
-- One conviction for violating the prohibitions against operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or operating while visibly impaired, preceded by one or more convictions for violating a local ordinance or Federal or other state law that substantially corresponds to these prohibitions and a prohibition against operating a motor vehicle in the State as an individual under 21 years of age with any bodily alcohol content.
The SOS may not issue the restricted license under these circumstances until the individual's operator's or chauffeur's license has been suspended or revoked for 45 days and the judge assigned to a specialty court certifies to the SOS that the individual has been admitted into a specialty court interlock program and that an approved ignition interlock device has been installed on each motor vehicle owned or operated by the individual. Under the bill, the judge assigned to a specialty court could use the judge's discretion to waive the 45-day requirement.
MCL 257.304 Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.