What a Michigan speeding ticket is

The Michigan Vehicle Code (legislature.mi.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026) sets speed limits in MCL 257.627, headed “Speed limits.” This page quotes that section, MCL 257.629c on limited access freeways, MCL 257.320a on the driving record, MCL 257.907 on civil fines, costs, and court schedules, and MCL 257.601b on doubled fines. It does not apply them to any notice. Read any court, charge, speed limit, alleged speed, section number, and amount shown on your notice. Confirm what your notice says.

The Michigan Compiled Laws text below is quoted from legislature.mi.gov as shown when retrieved on 29 Oct 2026. Tables are quoted line by line as printed.

What MCL 257.627 says about the basic speed law

MCL 257.627(1): “An individual operating a vehicle on a highway shall operate that vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and of any other condition existing at the time. An individual shall not operate a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than that which will permit a stop within the assured, clear distance ahead. A violation of this subsection shall be known and may be referred to as a violation of the basic speed law or "VBSL".” That is the statute’s statement.

What MCL 257.627 says about speed limits set in the section

MCL 257.627(2): “Except as provided in subsection (1), it is lawful for the operator of a vehicle to operate that vehicle on a highway at a speed not exceeding the following:” Subsection (2) has ten paragraphs, (a) to (j), and this page does not cover the other nine. Paragraph (b) reads:

(b) “Twenty-five miles per hour on a highway segment within a business district.”

MCL 257.627(6) begins: “An individual operating a vehicle on a highway, when entering and passing through a work zone described in section 79d(a) where a normal lane or part of the lane of traffic has been closed due to highway construction, maintenance, or surveying activities, shall not exceed a speed of 45 miles per hour unless a different speed limit is determined for that work zone by the state transportation department, a county road commission, or a local authority, based on accepted engineering practice.”

MCL 257.627(8): “Subject to subsection (17), the maximum speed limit on all limited access freeways upon which a speed limit is not otherwise fixed under this act is 70 miles per hour, which shall be known as the "limited access freeway general speed limit". The minimum speed limit on all limited access freeways upon which a minimum speed limit is not otherwise fixed under this act is 55 miles per hour.”

MCL 257.627(9): “Subject to subsection (17), the speed limit on all trunk line highways and all county highways upon which a speed limit is not otherwise fixed under this act is 55 miles per hour, which shall be known as the "general speed limit".”

MCL 257.627(12): “Except for speed limits described in subsections (1), (2)(d), (2)(e), and (9), speed limits established under this section are not valid unless properly posted. In the absence of a properly posted sign, the speed limit in effect is the basic speed law described in subsection (1). Speed limits established under subsection (2)(b), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) are not valid unless a traffic control order is filed as described in subsection (11).”

MCL 257.627(16): “An individual who violates a speed limit established under this section is responsible for a civil infraction.”

That is the statute’s statement. Subsection (6) has other sentences, and MCL 257.627 has other subsections, including subsection (11), which subsection (12) refers to, and subsection (17), which subsections (8) and (9) refer to, that this page does not cover. This page does not quote section 79d, it does not list the speed limits posted on particular roads, and it does not say whether a particular sign is properly posted or a traffic control order is filed.

What MCL 257.629c says about limited access freeways

MCL 257.629c(1): “Notwithstanding sections 320a and 907, a person who is determined responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction for violating the maximum speed limit on a limited access freeway or part of a limited access freeway upon which the maximum speed limit is 55 miles per hour or more shall be ordered by the court to pay a minimum fine and shall have points entered on his or her driving record by the secretary of state only according to the following schedule, except as otherwise provided in subsections (2) and (3):”

“Number of miles per hour” “that the vehicle exceeded the” “applicable speed limit at the” “time of the violation”	“Points”	“Minimum” “Fine”
“1 to 5”	“0”	“$10.00”
“6 to 10”	“1”	“$20.00”
“11 to 15”	“2”	“$30.00”
“16 to 25”	“3”	“$40.00”
“26 or over”	“4”	“$50.00”

MCL 257.629c(2): “Subsection (1) does not apply to a person operating a vehicle or vehicle combination for which the maximum rate of speed is established pursuant to section 627(5) to (7).”

MCL 257.629c(3): “For a violation of a maximum speed limit on a limited access freeway by a person operating a vehicle or vehicle combination described in subsection (2), points shall be assessed under section 320a and fines shall be assessed under section 907.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy. This page does not say which vehicles subsection (2) describes, whether a particular road is a limited access freeway, or what speed limit is posted on it.

What MCL 257.320a says about points for speed violations

MCL 257.320a(1): “Not more than 5 days after receipt of a properly prepared abstract from a court of this state or another state, the secretary of state shall record the date of conviction, civil infraction determination, or probate court disposition, and the number of points for each, based on the following formula, except as otherwise provided in this section and section 629c:” Each paragraph is printed with its number of points after it. Its speed paragraphs read:

(g) “A violation of section 627(6) pertaining to speed in a work zone described in that section by exceeding the lawful maximum by more than 15 miles per hour 5 points”
(h) “A violation of any law or ordinance pertaining to speed by exceeding the lawful maximum by more than 15 miles per hour 4 points”
(k) “A violation of section 627(6) pertaining to speed in a work zone described in that section by exceeding the lawful maximum by more than 10 but not more than 15 miles per hour 4 points”
(n) “A violation of any law or ordinance pertaining to speed by exceeding the lawful maximum by more than 10 miles per hour but not more than 15 miles per hour 3 points”
(p) “A violation of any law or ordinance pertaining to speed by exceeding the lawful maximum by more than 5 miles per hour but not more than 10 miles per hour 2 points”
(q) “A violation of any law or ordinance pertaining to speed by exceeding the lawful maximum by more than 1 mile per hour but not more than 5 miles per hour 1 point”
(w) “A violation of section 627(6) pertaining to speed in a work zone described in that section by exceeding the lawful maximum by 10 miles per hour or less 3 points”

Subsection (1) has other paragraphs, for other violations, that this page does not cover.

MCL 257.320a(2): “Points must not be entered for a violation of section 310e(14), 311, 602c, 625m, 627c, 658, 682(5), 710d, 717, 719, 719a, or 723.”

MCL 257.320a(5): “If more than 1 conviction, civil infraction determination, or probate court disposition results from the same incident, points must be entered only for the violation that receives the highest number of points under this section.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy. MCL 257.320a has other subsections that this page does not cover, and this page does not cover the sections that subsection (2) lists.

The compiled MCL 257.320a retrieved on 29 Oct 2026 lists, as the last entry in its history, “Am. 2026, Act 66, Imd. Eff. July 23, 2026”. This page does not say what that act changed.

What MCL 257.907 says about civil fines, costs, and court schedules

MCL 257.907(2) has two sentences. The second reads: “Except as otherwise provided, a person found responsible or responsible "with explanation" for a civil infraction must pay costs as provided in subsection (4) and 1 or more of the following civil fines, as applicable:” Subsection (2) has fifteen paragraphs, (a) to (o), and this page does not cover the other fourteen. Paragraph (a) reads:

(a) “Except as otherwise provided, for a civil infraction under this act or a local ordinance that substantially corresponds to a provision of this act, the person must be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than $100.00.”

MCL 257.907(4): “If a civil fine is ordered under subsection (2) or (3), the judge or district court magistrate shall summarily tax and determine the costs of the action, which are not limited to the costs taxable in ordinary civil actions, and may include all expenses, direct and indirect, to which the plaintiff has been put in connection with the civil infraction, up to the entry of judgment. Costs must not be ordered in excess of $100.00. A civil fine ordered under subsection (2) or (3) must not be waived unless costs ordered under this subsection are waived. Except as otherwise provided by law, costs are payable to the general fund of the plaintiff.”

MCL 257.907(7): “Each district of the district court and each municipal court may establish a schedule of civil fines, costs, and assessments to be imposed for civil infractions that occur within the respective district or city. If a schedule is established, it must be prominently posted and readily available for public inspection. A schedule need not include all violations that are designated by law or ordinance as civil infractions. A schedule may exclude cases on the basis of a defendant's prior record of civil infractions or traffic offenses, or a combination of civil infractions and traffic offenses.”

MCL 257.907(8): “The state court administrator shall annually publish and distribute to each district and court a recommended range of civil fines and costs for first-time civil infractions. This recommendation is not binding on the courts that have jurisdiction over civil infractions but is intended to act as a normative guide for judges and district court magistrates and a basis for public evaluation of disparities in the imposition of civil fines and costs throughout this state.”

MCL 257.907(12): “In addition to any civil fines or costs ordered to be paid under this section, the judge or district court magistrate shall order the defendant to pay a justice system assessment of $40.00 for each civil infraction determination, except for a parking violation or a violation for which the total fine and costs imposed are $10.00 or less. On payment of the assessment, the clerk of the court shall transmit the assessment collected to the state treasury to be deposited into the justice system fund created in section 181 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.181. An assessment levied under this subsection is not a civil fine for purposes of section 909.”

That is the statute’s statement. Subsection (2) has a first sentence and other paragraphs, and MCL 257.907 has other subsections, including subsection (3), that this page does not cover. This page does not cover section 909 or the revised judicature act.

Under subsection (7), schedules are set court by court. This page does not quote any court’s schedule or the state court administrator’s recommended range. The sources quoted on this page do not state a statewide fine for speeding, and this page does not state one or add the quoted amounts together. Read any amount shown on your notice.

What MCL 257.601b says about doubled fines

MCL 257.601b(1): “Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, a person responsible for a moving violation in a work zone, at an emergency scene, or in a school zone during the period beginning 30 minutes before school in the morning and through 30 minutes after school in the afternoon, or in a school bus zone is subject to a fine that is double the fine otherwise prescribed for that moving violation.” That is the statute’s statement. MCL 257.601b has other subsections, including its definitions, that this page does not cover. This page does not calculate a doubled amount.

Paths the notice describes (not which to choose)

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Sources retrieved 29 Oct 2026:

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Information on this page was last checked against official sources on November 7, 2026.