Public Act 165 of 2003, known as the Driver Responsibility Law, took effect October 1, 2003. This law was amended by Public Act 52 of 2004 and Public Act 460 of 2008.

Its purpose is to encourage traffic safety by deterring potentially dangerous driving behavior. Other states, including New Jersey and Texas, have implemented similar laws. Michigan's Driver Responsibility Law calls for a monetary assessment for drivers who:

• Are convicted of specific qualifying offenses, or

• Accumulate seven or more qualifying points on their driving records

Revenues collected from Driver Responsibility Fees go to the state's General Fund, with collections in excess of $65 million (up to $3.5 million) being directed to a newly created Fire Protection Fund. The State of Michigan has begun notifying affected individuals of their payment obligations for violations of the Driver Responsibility Law, through correspondence from the Michigan Department of Treasury.