Greenville council adopts ordinance to incorporate Michigan Vehicle Code provisions

Greenville City Council adopted Ordinance No. 23-05 on Oct. 3, 2023, approving amendments to Chapter 42 of the city code to regulate motor vehicles and to adopt the Michigan Vehicle Code (1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1—257.923) and the Uniform Traffic Code by reference. The council approved the ordinance unanimously (7–0).

The ordinance incorporates state traffic rules and specifies that local references to "local authorities" will mean the City of Greenville and that the "Traffic Engineer" will be the city manager or a designee. It also adopts certain penalty provisions, including MCL 257.625 (Section 525(1)(c)), but limits local enforcement of any provision of the Michigan Vehicle Code and the Uniform Traffic Code for which the maximum imprisonment exceeds 93 days. The ordinance text lists potential penalties for some violations, including community service (up to 360 hours), imprisonment (up to 180 days), fines from $200 to $700, and cost recovery; publication in a local newspaper is required within 10 days of adoption and the ordinance becomes effective 15 days after adoption provided it is published.

The measure followed a public hearing at which resident Kevin Carlson asked council members, "What is the city trying to correct with this ordinance?" and questioned the ordinance's enforceability and how vehicles would be held accountable. Mayor Jeff Scoby opened and closed the hearing; no formal amendments to the ordinance text were recorded during the meeting.

Councilmember Lehman moved to adopt the ordinance; Councilmember Cunliffe seconded. The clerk recorded the vote as seven ayes, zero nays. The council directed publication per the ordinance's Section 3 requirements; the ordinance becomes effective after the specified publication window.