Some states, including Georgia, have put similar programs in place, and the federal government is also working to improve resources for those in need of immediate mental health services.
Once installed, operators could connect callers with local care providers and resources, including up-to-date availability of psychiatric and substance abuse services.
Read more at mLive.com
The federal minimum age for purchasing any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, jumped to 21 on Dec. 20.
Michigan 18-year-olds can vote, buy rifles or register for the military draft, yet they are now too young to legally buy cigarettes or vaping devices.
Read more at the Detroit Free Press
On Dec. 16th, a new state law took effect to combat "porch pirates."
On Monday, a new state law takes effect to close the gap. If caught stealing, mail thieves could face fines and up to a year in jail. Repeat offenders could face up to five years in prison.
Read more at Fox17
The application process for getting a criminal record sealed from public view in Michigan can be daunting.
But before you even apply, figuring out whether you're eligible can be confusing.
A recent study by two University of Michigan Law professors found that expungement leads to higher earnings and low recidivism rates. Yet, the professors estimate that more than 90% of people who qualify don't apply within five years of becoming eligible.
Read more at Detroit Free Press
Some of the infractions have no clear penalties in the current law
Any changes the workgroup comes up with are going to face a hurdle. To change a citizen-initiated law requires a three-fourths vote of the legislature, instead of the normal majority vote. On some pieces, Nessel said, that three-fourths vote is going to be unavoidable, and it’s hard to do..
Read more at mLive.com
Consuming marijuana is limited to private places -- like your home or a friend’s home. It’s not legal to consume marijuana in your car -- even if you are a passenger -- or in public.
When sales do launch at retail stores, there will be a large variety of products to choose from. From the marijuana flower that you smoke to pre-rolled joints to vape cartridges, there are a number of ways to consume marijuana.
Read more at mLive.com
The Michigan Court of Appeals delivered a unanimous decision on Wednesday regarding an Ionia County traffic stop they say violated an individual’s constitutional protection from unreasonable searches.
Michigan court rules in favor of drunk driver, says cop had wrong speed limit.
Read more at Detroit Free Press
At the end of 2018, the state of Michigan established new fireworks laws
Fireworks season has legally started in Michigan
Here's what you need to know about the new fireworks laws, fines and being mindful of veterans.
Read more at wzzm13.com
"Because (the driver) did not have apparent common authority over the backpack, the search of the backpack was not based on valid consent and is per se unreasonable unless another exception to the warrant requirement applies,” the court ruled.
The ruling is significant “because it cleared up an area in which the Supreme Court had gotten the law wrong,” said David Moran, a University of Michigan law professor who leads the Michigan Innocence Clinic. “…The Fourth Amendment is all about common sense and reasonable expectations of privacy and social norms. It’s just common sense that the police will now need to ask passengers: ‘Mind if I search that bag?’”
A recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling on police searches of passengers during traffic stops can give people more power to challenge such probes and is expected to affect police training in Metro Detroit and across the state, officials and legal experts say.
Read more at The Detroit News
Michigan motorists will be required to buy significantly more liability coverage under the new auto insurance law.
Michigan motorists will be required to buy significantly more liability coverage under the new auto insurance law, and there are no assurances those extra costs will not offset reductions the law requires in the personal injury protection (PIP) portion of motorists' premiums, according to a top insurance industry executive.
Read more at The Detroit Free Press
