Michigan
Is it legal to sleep at a Michigan highway rest area?
Is it authorized? Clarifying Michigan Legal guidelines for On a regular basis Life
“Is it authorized?” is a weekly column on freep.com that solutions reader questions on Michigan legal guidelines. Subjects coated embrace automobile window tint laws, allowable methods to work together with groundhogs and whether or not it’s authorized to file conversations in Michigan.
Say you are touring throughout the river and thru the woods and get very sleepy, is it okay to go to considered one of Michigan’s 61 freeway relaxation areas for a nap?
Sure, that is true.
The Michigan Division of Transportation, which manages the remainder areas, has pointers on how lengthy you’ll be able to keep: not more than 48 hours and no tenting.
However these pointers are unofficial and unenforceable by police. That is why MDOT is pursuing passage of administrative legal guidelines that may, amongst different issues, make stays longer than 48 hours, tenting and unauthorized burning unlawful at relaxation areas in addition to on the 82 roadside parks, 267 carpool areas, 23 scenic interchanges and 14 welcome facilities. Violating the rules can be a felony offense.
MDOT is soliciting public feedback on the draft guidelines. In accordance with MDOT spokeswoman Jocelyn Garza, these proposed guidelines will most certainly require individuals who want to depart their vehicles at a relaxation space for greater than 48 hours or carpool to acquire a particular allow. All the principles relate to particular conditions which have occurred at relaxation areas, she added.
“When the draft guidelines had been initially launched, there was a variety of concern about folks not having the ability to relaxation in the remainder space. That’s completely not the intention,” Garza mentioned. “The aim of a relaxation space is for somebody to come back and sleep and ensure they’re protected once they get again behind the wheel, they really feel rested sufficient to drive.”
Is it authorized?
Welcome to a brand new recurring function on freep.com that helps readers perceive the legal guidelines in Michigan and their communities. Have a query about what’s authorized and what’s not in Michigan? Ship an electronic mail to isitlegal@freepress.com and we are going to examine it for you.