“A registration certificate shall at all times be carried in the vehicle to which it refers or shall be carried by or electronically accessible to the person driving or in control of the vehicle, who shall display a paper or electronic copy of the registration certificate upon demand of a police officer.” MCL 257.223(1).6 “A digital photograph of a valid registration certificate satisfies the requirements of [MCL 257.223(1)].” MCL 257.223(3).
Failure to comply with MCL 257.223 is a civil infraction. MCL 257.223(4).
The general rules for assessing a civil fine and costs apply to no proof of registration violations. See Section 1.20 for a discussion of the general rules governing the assessment of a civil fine and costs.
However, “[i]f a person has received a citation for a violation of [MCL 257.223], the court shall waive any civil fine, costs, and assessment on receipt of certification by a law enforcement agency that the person, before the appearance date on the citation, produced a valid registration certificate that was valid on the date the violation of [MCL 257.223] occurred.” MCL 257.907(13).
6.“If a person displays an electronic copy of his or her registration certificate using an electronic device, the police officer shall only view the electronic copy of the registration certificate and shall not manipulate the electronic device to view any other information on the electronic device. A person who displays an electronic copy of his or her registration certificate using an electronic device as provided in this subsection shall not be presumed to have consented to a search of the electronic device. A police officer may require the person to electronically forward the electronic copy of the registration certificate to a specified location provided by the police officer. The police officer may then view the electronic copy of the registration certificate in a setting in which it is safe for the officer to verify that the information contained in the electronic copy of the registration certificate is valid and accurate. This state, a law enforcement agency, or an employee of this state or a law enforcement agency is not liable for damage to or loss of an electronic device that occurs as a result of a police officer’s viewing an electronic copy of a registration certificate in the manner provided in [MCL 257.223], regardless of whether the police officer or the owner or operator of the vehicle was in possession of the electronic device at the time the damage or loss occurred.” MCL 257.223(2).