Holiday Hours
The Third Circuit Court Civil and Family Divisions will close at noon today in observance of Good Friday.
In observance of Good Friday, the 36th District Court will be closed to the public today. Only criminal arraignments will be conducted.
The Wayne County Probate Court will close at noon today in observance of Good Friday and will reopen on Monday, April 1 at 8 a.m.
New laws take effect in Michigan this week
EAST LANSING (AP) — A law that prohibits teen drivers from using hand-held cellphones while behind the wheel is among dozens of new laws that took effect Thursday, three months after the Republican-controlled Legislature passed a flurry of bills in lame duck session.
“Kelsey’s Law” is among the 282 bills passed by the Legislature in the final weeks of that session. The law prohibits hand-held cellphones while driving for holders of Level 1 licenses, who must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or another driver at least 21 years old. It also covers Level 2 licenses, which allow driving alone with limits on hours and carrying of young passengers. Those drivers, who are usually between the ages of 15 and 17, still can use hands-free devices.
Teens caught texting or using their phone while behind the wheel will face fines up to $100 plus possible additional costs.
Other new laws that went into effect Thursday include:
— Right-to-Work: Workers will not be required to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, under the contentious legislation signed into law last December.
— Credit Score Insurance Regulations: Insurers will no longer be able to use someone’s credit information to deny, cancel or refuse to renew their personal insurance policy, like car or home insurance. The information can still be used to determine payment options for premiums. Insurers will also be required to notify a person if they increase their charges, or reduce coverage based on their credit report.
— Concussion Awareness: Coaches of youth athletes will be required to immediately take out any players who may have suffered a concussion during a game. That player will have to be cleared by a health professional before returning to play. The Department of Community Health also must create a concussion awareness education program that all youth sport coaches, employees and volunteers will be required to use to educate youth athletes on the dangers of concussions.
— Statute of Limitations: The statute of limitations for kidnapping, attempted murder and manslaughter will be extended to 10 years after the individual who committed the offense has been identified. Currently, the statute of limitations for these crimes is 10 years after the offense is committed. The law will apply to crimes that are reported to police within one year of the act being committed.
— Cyber Schools: More online charter schools will be allowed in Michigan, although the effects likely won’t be seen in the classroom until the beginning of next school year. The cap on cyber charter schools will be raised from two to 15 by 2014, and the total number of cyber students will be capped at 2 percent of the state’s student population, potentially boosting the number to 30,000 students.
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