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HB 5703

Criminal procedure: sentencing guidelines; sentencing guidelines for injuring or causing death to individual in a work zone; provide for. Amends sec. 12e, ch. XVII of 1927 PA 175 (MCL 777.12e). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5702'26, HB 5704'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 14 co-sponsors

The bills raise penalties for moving violations in work zones injuring road workers, expand work-zone definitions, and convert many stationary-vehicle violations to civil infractio

bill electronically reproduced 03/10/2026
#crimes:vehicleoffenses #criminalprocedure:sentencingguidelines #trafficcontrol:violations
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 5703

Summary of House Bills 5702–5704 (Michigan, 2025-2026)

This package is designed to strengthen penalties and expand sentencing guidelines for moving violations occurring in work zones, particularly those that injure or kill road workers, and to broaden the scope of rules governing drivers approaching stationary vehicles with warning lights. The bills are interrelated (tie-bar with HB 5702 and HB 5704) and would take effect only if all three are enacted.

Main purpose and intent

  • Increase penalties and clarify sentencing for moving violations in work zones that injure or kill road workers.
  • Extend and harmonize protections for road workers and other stationary vehicles with warning signals when approached by passing vehicles.
  • Improve driver conduct around stationary emergency and nonemergency vehicles to reduce injuries and fatalities in and near work zones.

Key provisions by bill

HB 5702 (Michigan Vehicle Code amendments)

  • Expands penalties for moving violations in work zones to also cover injuries to road workers performing road work, not just injuries to other motorists.
    • Current penalties (for work/school bus zones with at least 3 points under 257.320a):
    • Injury: misdemeanor, up to 1 year imprisonment, up to $1,000 fine.
    • Death: felony, up to 15 years imprisonment, up to $7,500 fine.
    • HB 5702 would apply these same penalties when the moving violation injures or kills a road worker in a work zone.
  • Redefines “work zone” to include more scenarios and vehicles:
    • Broadens what constitutes a work zone and the indicators of a work zone (e.g., signs, temporary traffic control devices, beacons, flashing lights).
    • Expands to include removal of hazards and other road work activities beyond current definitions.
    • Expands the types of vehicles/equipment that mark the start and end of a work zone to include vehicles marked with road triangles, flares, or cones.
  • Classifies a moving violation resulting in the death of a road worker as a Class C felony with a maximum of 15 years imprisonment (under the sentencing guidelines in HB 5703).

HB 5703 (Sentencing guidelines amendment)

  • Adds the new Class C felony for a moving violation causing the death of a road worker performing road work to the state’s sentencing guidelines.
  • Classifies the offense as a Class C felony with a statutory maximum of 15 years.
  • Companion to HB 5702; does not by itself create new penalties outside the sentencing framework but places the new conduct within guideline computations.

HB 5704 (Approaching stationary vehicles; penalties)

  • Modifies penalties related to approaching and passing stationary vehicles with warning lights.
  • Extends and reclassifies penalties from criminal to civil infractions in certain situations:
    • Currently, Section 653a (approaching stationary emergency vehicles with flashing lights) imposes a civil fine of $400; criminal penalties apply if injury or death results.
    • Section 653b (passing stationary nonemergency vehicles with amber lights) currently misdemeanor up to 90 days, $100 fine.
  • HB 5704 would:
    • Extend Section 653a concepts to all stationary vehicles using flashing red, blue, white, or amber lights (emergency and nonemergency) and, additionally, to stationary vehicles with green flashing lights (snowplows) or hazard lights.
    • Replace Section 653b with the broadened 653a framework.
    • Differentiate between "road service vehicle" (assistance for disabled vehicles) and "road work vehicle" (performing construction, hazard removal, maintenance, etc.).
    • Set civil fines generally at $400, or $750 if an authorized emergency vehicle is present with police, firefighter, or emergency personnel.
    • Retain criminal penalties for violations that cause injury or death.
  • Overall effect: many scenarios that previously carried misdemeanor penalties would become civil infractions, potentially reducing jail costs but increasing civil fine revenue.

Who would be affected

  • Drivers committing moving violations in work zones.
  • Road workers and road construction/maintenance personnel.
  • Drivers approaching stationary vehicles (emergency and road-service/road-work vehicles) with warning lights.
  • Local courts, county jails, state prisons, and associated probation/parole supervision (financial and operational implications).

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The three bills are interconnected (tie-bar with HB 5702 and HB 5704). All three would need enactment to take effect.
  • As introduced and analyzed, they would adjust penalties and sentencing guidelines, with fiscal impacts varying by jurisdiction and case volumes.
  • Fiscal notes indicate uncertain statewide/local cost impacts due to the unknown number of violations that would occur; potential increases in incarceration costs if more felonies/misdemeanors are prosecuted, offset by civil penalties under HB 5704.

Fiscal impact overview

  • HB 5702: Possible higher jail/prison and probation costs if more violations are prosecuted; unknown due to lack of violation rate data. Felony convictions would carry state prison costs (~$48,100 per inmate in 2025) and parole/felony supervision costs (~$5,400 per supervised offender).
  • HB 5703: No direct state/local fiscal impact beyond implementing sentencing guideline changes.
  • HB 5704: Potential savings from converting some misdemeanor cases to civil infractions (reduces jail costs) and potential increased civil fine revenue; some revenue would support public/county law libraries and the state Justice System Fund.

Note

  • This summary reflects the package as introduced (March 2026) and focuses on substantive provisions, potential impacts, and affected actors. Implementation would depend on final passage and any subsequent amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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