The whole Michigan file

At a stop, the sections this page reads say, in short:

The license has to be in the driver's immediate possession at all times while driving.
The driver has to display the license on the demand of a police officer who identifies as one.
Evidence of insurance has to be produced on a police officer's request.
An insurance certificate shown on a phone is all the officer may view on it.
Obstructing includes a knowing failure to comply with a lawful command.

A driver has to have the license, or the receipt the statute allows in its place, in immediate possession at all times while operating a motor vehicle, and has to display it on the demand of a police officer who identifies himself or herself as one.

MCL 257.311

The owner or operator has to produce evidence that the vehicle is insured on a police officer's request. Not producing it, or not having the required insurance, is a civil infraction. Where the certificate is shown on a phone, the officer may only view that copy, may not manipulate the device to see anything else, and showing it is not consent to a search of the device.

MCL 257.328

Obstruct has a definition, and it includes failing to comply. Resisting or obstructing a person the individual knows or has reason to know is performing official duties is a felony punishable by not more than 2 years or $2,000, rising with injury. The section defines obstruct to include the use or threatened use of physical interference or force, or a knowing failure to comply with a lawful command.

MCL 750.81d

Whether a given command was lawful, and what an officer may ask beyond the license, registration and insurance, turn on the constitution and court decisions rather than on these sections, and are not covered on this page yet.

MCL 750.81d

Sources for this section (3)

MCL 257.311 — Carrying and displaying an operator's license
MCL 257.328 — Producing evidence of insurance
MCL 750.81d — Resisting or obstructing a person performing duties

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Michigan attorney.

MICHIGAN FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Marijuana and drugs

Impaired driving

Court and money

Your home

Recording

Carrying a firearm

Charges and penalties

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

MICHIGAN FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Traffic StopsMCL 257.311 — the license, the insurance, and what obstruction means▾

After A CrashMCL 257.619 — stop, stay, and hand over who you are▾

Your Phone Behind The WheelMCL 257.602b — hands free, and what counts as holding▾

Points On Your LicenseMCL 257.320a — what each violation costs, and the 9 point interview▾

Seat BeltsMCL 257.710e — who has to wear one, and who does not▾

Speed LimitsMCL 257.627 — the basic speed law, and the limits where no sign says otherwise▾

Fleeing And EludingMCL 257.602a — four degrees, from the stop not made to a death▾

Driving While SuspendedMCL 257.904 — the misdemeanor, the plates, and the added suspension▾

No Fault Benefits After A CrashMCL 500.3105 to 500.3145 — what personal protection insurance pays, 1 year to give notice, and when a driver can still be sued▾

Marijuana and drugs

MarijuanaMCL 333.27955 — what a person 21 or older may have, and where the act stops▾

Drug PossessionMCL 333.7403 — the schedule and the amount set the charge▾

Impaired driving

The OWI StopMCL 257.625 — what Michigan calls it, the numbers, and the two tests▾

Open Container In A VehicleMCL 257.624a — the passenger area, and where an open bottle may ride▾

OWI PenaltiesMCL 257.625 — first, within seven years, and the third▾

Court and money

Getting The Deposit BackMCL 554.609 — thirty days, a mailed list, and four days for an address▾

Being EvictedMCL 600.5714 — a demand, a court, and a writ; never a lock▾

When The Landlord Will Not Fix ItMCL 554.139 — fit for use, in reasonable repair, and up to code▾

Getting Public RecordsMCL 15.235 — five business days, and what a denial has to say▾

When A Dog BitesMCL 287.351 — the owner is liable, whatever the dog's history▾

Getting PaidMCL 408.472 — when wages are due, final pay, and deductions▾

Small Claims CourtMCL 600.8401 — up to $7,000, no lawyers, and no appeal▾

What A Creditor Cannot TakeMCL 600.6023 — property exempt from a judgment▾

Old Debts And Time LimitsMCL 600.5807 — six years on a contract, ten on a judgment▾

Debt CollectorsMCL 339.915 — what a collector may not do, and the $50 floor▾

Retaliation And Eviction DefensesMCL 600.5720 — when a court may not enter a judgment for possession▾

Deceptive Business PracticesMCL 445.903 — the consumer protection act's list, and the $250 minimum▾

Door To Door SalesMCL 445.112 — three business days to cancel▾

Unemployment BenefitsMCL 421.29 — quitting, misconduct, and 30 days to protest▾

Custody And Parenting TimeMCL 722.23 to 722.31 — the best interests factors, joint custody, parenting time, and moving a child▾

Getting DivorcedMCL 552.6 and 552.9 — the one ground, how long to live here first, and how long before a judgment▾

Hurt At WorkMCL 418.301 and 418.381 — what is covered, 90 days to tell the employer, 2 years to claim▾

Earned Sick TimeMCL 408.963 and 408.964 — 1 hour for every 30 worked, what it covers, and 3 years to file▾

When The Shop Fixes The CarMCL 257.1332 — a written estimate first, your consent to go over it, and your old parts back▾

A New Car That Keeps FailingMCL 257.1402 and 257.1403 — the lemon law: 4 repairs or 30 days, then a refund or a replacement▾

Discrimination At WorkMCL 37.2202 — the Elliott Larsen act: who is covered, harassment, retaliation, and the right to sue▾

Reporting Your EmployerMCL 15.362 and 15.363 — the whistleblowers' protection act, and its 90 days▾

Changing Your NameMCL 711.1 and 711.3 — a year in the county, a petition, and when the record stays confidential▾

Your home

Reading A Search WarrantMCL 780.654 — what it has to say, and what is left behind▾

Personal Protection OrdersMCL 600.2950 — who can ask, what it can forbid, and when it takes effect▾

TrespassMCL 750.552 — told to stay off, told to leave, or posted farmland▾

Recording

RecordingMCL 750.539c — eavesdropping, and the private discourse of others▾

Carrying a firearm

Carrying A PistolMCL 28.425f — the license, the immediate disclosure, and where it may not go▾

Rifles And Shotguns In A VehicleMCL 750.227d — unloaded, and cased, trunked or out of reach▾

Guns, Alcohol And BrandishingMCL 750.237 — a firearm while under the influence▾

Charges and penalties

Theft And Retail FraudMCL 750.356 — the value sets the charge▾

Setting Aside A ConvictionMCL 780.621 — expungement, by application or on its own▾

Assault And Domestic ViolenceMCL 750.81 — the misdemeanor, the household, and the weapon▾

Bond After An ArrestMCL 780.581 — interim bond on a misdemeanor, and bail▾

Minor In Possession Of AlcoholMCL 436.1703 — a civil infraction first, and medical help excepted▾

How you carry yourself

Stalking And HarassmentMCL 750.411h — a course of conduct, and a request to stop▾

Disorderly PersonMCL 750.167 — what the statute lists, and 90 days▾

Walk it through