Attorney's Note

Under the Michigan Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Eup to 5 years
For details, see Mich. Comp. Laws ch. 777 pt. 2

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Terms Used In Michigan Laws 324.81134

  • Alcoholic liquor: means that term as defined in section 1d of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257. See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  • Code: means the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257. See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Department: means the director of the department of natural resources or his or her designee to whom the director delegates a power or duty by written instrument. See Michigan Laws 324.301
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • local unit: means a municipality or county. See Michigan Laws 324.301
  • Local unit of government: means a county, township, or municipality. See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  • Operate: means to ride in or on, and be in actual physical control of, the operation of an ORV. See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  • Owner: means any of the following:
    (i) A vendee or lessee of an ORV that is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease of the ORV, with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement, and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee. See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 324.301
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Prior conviction: means a conviction for any of the following, whether under a law of this state, a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a law of this state, a law of the United States substantially corresponding to a law of this state, or a law of another state substantially corresponding to a law of this state:
  •     (i) A violation or an attempted violation of section 81134(1), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), except that only 1 violation or attempted violation of section 81134(6), a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 81134(6), a law of another state substantially corresponding to section 81134(6), or a law of the United States substantially corresponding to section 81134(6) may be used as a prior conviction other than for enhancement purposes as provided in section 81134(11)(b). See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Rule: means a rule promulgated pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24. See Michigan Laws 324.301
  • Specialty court program: means a program under any of the following:
  •     (i) A drug treatment court, as defined in section 1060 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600. See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • vehicle: means a motor-driven off-road recreation vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road or trail, on or immediately over land, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. See Michigan Laws 324.81101
  •     (1) A person shall not operate an ORV if any of the following apply:
        (a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a controlled substance, as defined by section 7104 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7104, or a combination of alcoholic liquor and a controlled substance.
        (b) The person has an alcohol content of 0.08 grams or more per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine.
        (c) The person has in his or her body any amount of a controlled substance listed in schedule 1 under section 7212 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7212, or a rule promulgated under that section, or of a controlled substance described in section 7214(a)(iv) of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7214.
        (2) The owner or person in charge or in control of an ORV shall not authorize or knowingly permit the ORV to be operated by a person if any of the following apply:
        (a) The person is under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a controlled substance or a combination of alcoholic liquor and a controlled substance.
        (b) The person has an alcohol content of 0.08 grams or more per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine.
        (c) The person’s ability to operate an ORV is visibly impaired due to the consumption of an alcoholic liquor, a controlled substance, or a combination of an alcoholic liquor and a controlled substance.
        (3) A person shall not operate an ORV if, due to the consumption of alcoholic liquor, a controlled substance, as defined by section 7104 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7104, or a combination of alcoholic liquor and a controlled substance, the person’s ability to operate an ORV is visibly impaired. If a person is charged with violating subsection (1), a finding of guilty is permissible under this subsection.
        (4) A person who operates an ORV in violation of subsection (1) or (3) and by the operation of that ORV causes the death of another person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not less than $2,500.00 or more than $10,000.00, or both.
        (5) A person who operates an ORV within this state in violation of subsection (1) or (3) and by the operation of that ORV causes a serious impairment of a body function of another person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $5,000.00, or both. As used in this subsection, “serious impairment of a body function” means that term as defined in section 58c of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.58c.
        (6) A person who is less than 21 years of age, whether licensed or not, shall not operate an ORV if the person has any bodily alcohol content. As used in this subsection, “any bodily alcohol content” means either of the following:
        (a) An alcohol content of 0.02 grams or more but less than 0.08 grams per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine, or, beginning October 1, 2018, an alcohol content of 0.02 grams or more but less than 0.10 grams per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine.
        (b) Any presence of alcohol within a person’s body resulting from the consumption of alcoholic liquor, other than consumption of alcoholic liquor as a part of a generally recognized religious service or ceremony.
        (7) A person shall not operate an ORV in violation of subsection (1), (3), (4), (5), or (6) while another person who is less than 16 years of age is occupying the ORV.
        (8) If a person is convicted of violating subsection (1)(a) or (b), all of the following apply:
        (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by 1 or more of the following:
        (i) Community service for not more than 360 hours.
        (ii) Imprisonment for not more than 93 days.
        (iii) A fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $500.00.
        (b) If the violation occurs within 7 years of a prior conviction, the person shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $200.00 or more than $1,000.00 and to 1 or more of the following:
        (i) Imprisonment for not less than 5 days or more than 1 year.
        (ii) Community service for not less than 30 days or more than 90 days.
        (c) If the violation occurs after 2 or more prior convictions, regardless of the number of years that have elapsed since any prior conviction, the person is guilty of a felony and shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500.00 or more than $5,000.00 and to either of the following:
        (i) Imprisonment under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections for not less than 1 year or more than 5 years.
        (ii) Probation with imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days or more than 1 year and community service for not less than 60 days or more than 180 days. Not less than 48 hours of the imprisonment imposed under this subparagraph shall be served consecutively.
        (d) A term of imprisonment imposed under subdivision (b) or (c) shall not be suspended unless the defendant agrees to participate in a specialty court program and successfully completes the program.
        (9) A person who is convicted of violating subsection (2) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not less than $100.00 or more than $500.00, or both.
        (10) If a person is convicted of violating subsection (3), all of the following apply:
        (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by 1 or more of the following:
        (i) Community service for not more than 45 days.
        (ii) Imprisonment for not more than 93 days.
        (iii) A fine of not more than $300.00.
        (b) If the violation occurs within 7 years of 1 prior conviction, the person shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than $200.00 or more than $1,000.00, and either of the following:
        (i) Community service for not less than 10 days or more than 90 days, and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 1 year.
        (ii) Imprisonment for not more than 1 year, and may be sentenced to community service for not more than 90 days.
        (c) If the violation occurs after 2 or more prior convictions regardless of the number of years that have elapsed since any prior conviction, the person shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than $200.00 or more than $1,000.00 and either of the following:
        (i) Community service for a period of not less than 10 days or more than 90 days, and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 1 year.
        (ii) Imprisonment for not more than 1 year, and may be sentenced to community service for not more than 90 days.
        (11) If a person is convicted of violating subsection (6), all of the following apply:
        (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by 1 or both of the following:
        (i) Community service for not more than 360 hours.
        (ii) A fine of not more than $250.00.
        (b) If the violation occurs within 7 years of 1 or more prior convictions, the person may be sentenced to 1 or more of the following:
        (i) Community service for not more than 60 days.
        (ii) A fine of not more than $500.00.
        (iii) Imprisonment for not more than 93 days.
        (12) A person who violates subsection (7) is guilty of a crime as follows:
        (a) A person who operates an ORV in violation of subsection (1), (3), (4), or (5) while another person who is less than 16 years of age is occupying the ORV is guilty of a crime as follows:
        (i) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $200.00 or more than $1,000.00 and to 1 or more of the following:
        (A) Imprisonment for not less than 5 days or more than 1 year. Not less than 48 hours of this term of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. This term of imprisonment shall not be suspended unless the defendant agrees to participate in a specialty court program and successfully completes the program.
        (B) Community service for not less than 30 days or more than 90 days.
        (ii) If the violation occurs within 7 years of a prior conviction or after 2 or more prior convictions, regardless of the number of years that have elapsed since any prior conviction, a person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a felony and shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $500.00 or more than $5,000.00 and to either of the following:
        (A) Imprisonment under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections for not less than 1 year or more than 5 years.
        (B) Probation with imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days or more than 1 year and community service for not less than 60 days or more than 180 days. Not less than 48 hours of this term of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. This term of imprisonment shall not be suspended unless the defendant agrees to participate in a specialty court program and successfully completes the program.
        (b) A person who operates an ORV in violation of subsection (6) while another person who is less than 16 years of age is occupying the ORV is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as follows:
        (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), a person who violates this subdivision may be sentenced to 1 or more of the following:
        (A) Community service for not more than 60 days.
        (B) A fine of not more than $500.00.
        (C) Imprisonment for not more than 93 days.
        (ii) If the violation occurs within 7 years of a prior conviction or after 2 or more prior convictions, regardless of the number of years that have elapsed since any prior conviction, a person who violates this subdivision shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $200.00 or more than $1,000.00 and to 1 or more of the following:
        (A) Imprisonment for not less than 5 days or more than 1 year. This term of imprisonment shall not be suspended unless the defendant agrees to participate in a specialty court program and successfully completes the program.
        (B) Community service for not less than 30 days or more than 90 days.
        (13) For a conviction under subsection (4) or (5), the court shall order, without an expiration date, that the person not operate an ORV.
        (14) As part of the sentence for a violation of subsection (1) or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to subsection (1), the court shall do the following:
        (a) If the court finds that the person has no prior convictions within 7 years, the court shall order that the person not operate an ORV for a period of not less than 6 months or more than 2 years.
        (b) If the court finds that the person has 1 or more prior convictions within 7 years, the court shall order that the person not operate an ORV for a period of not less than 1 year or more than 2 years.
        (c) If the court finds that the person has 2 or more prior convictions within a period of 10 years, the court shall order that the person not operate an ORV for a period of not less than 1 year or more than 2 years.
        (15) As part of the sentence for a violation of subsection (3) or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to subsection (3), the court shall do the following:
        (a) If the court finds that the person has no prior convictions within 7 years, the court shall order that the person not operate an ORV for a period of not less than 90 days or more than 1 year.
        (b) If the court finds that the person has 1 or more prior convictions within 7 years, the court shall order that the person not operate an ORV for a period of not less than 6 months or more than 18 months.
        (c) If the court finds that the person has 2 or more prior convictions within a period of 10 years, the court shall order that the person not operate an ORV for a period of not less than 1 year or more than 2 years.
        (16) In addition to imposing the sanctions prescribed under this section, the court may order the person to pay the costs of the prosecution under chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.1 to 769.36.
        (17) A person sentenced to perform community service under this section shall not receive compensation and shall reimburse the state or appropriate local unit of government for the cost of supervision incurred by the state or local unit of government as a result of the person’s activities in that service.
        (18) Before imposing sentence for a violation of subsection (1), (3), (6), or (7) or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to subsection (1), (3), or (6), the court shall order the person to undergo screening and assessment by a person or agency designated by the office of substance abuse services, to determine whether the person is likely to benefit from rehabilitative services, including alcohol or drug education and alcohol or drug treatment programs. As part of the sentence, the court may order the person to participate in and successfully complete 1 or more appropriate rehabilitative programs. The person shall pay for the costs of the screening, assessment, and rehabilitative services.
        (19) Before accepting a plea of guilty under this section, the court shall advise the accused of the statutory consequences possible as the result of a plea of guilty in respect to suspension of the person’s right to operate an ORV and the penalty imposed for violation of this section.
        (20) Each municipal judge and each clerk of a court of record shall keep a full record of every case in which a person is charged with a violation of this section. The municipal judge or clerk of the court of record shall prepare and immediately forward to the secretary of state an abstract of the court of record for each case charging a violation of this section.