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Michigan Littering Law

According to Michigan’s 1994 Public Act 451, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, the following are types of environmental crimes.

ONE THAT PERTAINS TO THIS SITUATION:

  • Inland Lakes and Streams & Wetlands

  • It is illegal to dredge, fill, place a structure on, or otherwise tamper with lakes and wetlands in Michigan without proper permits. These are misdemeanors. You can be fined for up to $10,000 per day that you are found to be in violation of the law.

 

NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 451 of 1994

324.8905a Violation as state civil infraction; civil fine; default remedies; exception.

Sec. 8905a.

  (1) A person who violates this part, if the amount of the litter is less than 1 cubic foot in volume, is responsible for a state civil infraction and is subject to a civil fine of not more than $800.00.

  (2) A person who violates this part, if the amount of the litter is 1 cubic foot or more but less than 3 cubic feet in volume, is responsible for a state civil infraction and is subject to a civil fine of not more than $1,500.00.

  (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), a person who violates this part, if the amount of the litter is 3 cubic feet or more in volume, is responsible for a state civil infraction and is subject to a civil fine of not more than $2,500.00. A person found to have committed a violation described in this subsection in a subsequent proceeding is subject to a civil fine of not more than $5,000.00.

  (4) A person who violates this part, if the litter is described in section 8901(a)(ii) to (v), is responsible for a state civil infraction and is subject to a civil fine of not less than $500.00 or more than $2,500.00. A person found to have committed a violation described in this subsection in a subsequent proceeding is subject to a civil fine of not less than $1,000.00 or more than $5,000.00. However, the court shall not order the payment of a fine unless the vehicle has been disposed of under section 252g of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.252g, the abandoned vessel has been disposed of under section 80130k, the ORV that is considered abandoned has been disposed of under section 80130k as made applicable in section 81151, or the snowmobile that is considered abandoned has been disposed of under section 80130k as made applicable in section 82161.

  (5) A default in the payment of a civil fine or costs ordered under this part or an installment of the fine or costs may be remedied by any means authorized under the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.101 to 600.9947.

  (6) This section does not apply to a violation of section 8903 or 8905.

 

 


History: Add. 1998, Act 15, Imd. Eff. Mar. 9, 1998 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 494, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 2004 ;-- Am. 2014, Act 549, Eff. Apr. 16, 2015
Compiler's Notes: Former MCL 324.8905a, which pertained to violations as civil infractions, was repealed by Act 111 of 1995, Eff. Dec. 31, 1997.
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: Littering
Popular Name: NREPA

 

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