Michigan Vehicle Code, section by section › MCL 257.601d
Person who commits moving violation that is the proximate cause of death of another person or serious impairment of body function; penalty; other violations; "moving violation" defined.
In plain terms
A driver whose moving violation is the proximate cause of another person's death commits a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail; a moving violation that causes serious impairment of a body function carries up to 93 days. Any other charge still applies.
How this section works in practice
This section is the criminal counterpart of the civil claim, and its two phrases are the same ones the civil case turns on: proximate cause and serious impairment of a body function, the threshold term defined in MCL 500.3135. A police report that charges section 601d tells an injured person's lawyer that the investigating officer has already concluded the other driver broke a traffic rule and that the rule violation caused the harm. That conclusion is not binding on the civil court, and the criminal case moves on its own schedule with its own burden of proof, but a plea or a conviction is powerful evidence of negligence, and a pending charge often changes how the driver's insurer values the claim. The section also defines a moving violation broadly, as any act or omission the Vehicle Code or a matching local ordinance prohibits while operating a vehicle, so a failure to yield under section 649, a speed violation or a phone violation each qualifies.
Text of MCL 257.601d
Sec. 601d.
(1) A person who commits a moving violation while operating a vehicle upon a highway or other place open to the general public, including, but not limited to, an area designated for the parking of motor vehicles, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both, if the moving violation was the proximate cause of the death of another person.
(2) A person who commits a moving violation while operating a vehicle upon a highway or other place open to the general public, including, but not limited to, an area designated for the parking of motor vehicles, that causes serious impairment of a body function to another person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
(3) This section does not prohibit the person from being charged with, convicted of, or punished for any other violation of law.
(4) As used in this section, "moving violation" means an act or omission prohibited under this act or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this act that involves the operation of a motor vehicle, and for which a fine may be assessed.
History: Add. 2008, Act 463, Eff. Oct. 31, 2010 ;-- Am. 2016, Act 46, Eff. June 13, 2016 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 566, Eff. Mar. 28, 2019
Source: MCL 257.601d at legislature.mi.gov (official text). Text as published in the 2025 edition of the Michigan Compiled Laws; reviewed by Koussan Law on September 19, 2026.
Practice pages
Important: This is not legal advice
This article is general information about Michigan personal injury law. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Michigan attorney about your specific situation. The laws, deadlines, procedures, and frameworks here are general guidelines that may or may not apply to your case.
Every personal injury case turns on its own unique facts. The timing, the parties, the evidence, the jurisdiction, the insurance available, and dozens of other variables can change the legal analysis. Do not rely on anything written on this website to make decisions about your case.
If you have been injured in Michigan, the only responsible step is to speak with a licensed Michigan attorney about your specific facts. Call Koussan Law at (313) 800-0000 for a free consultation, or contact a different Michigan personal injury attorney of your choosing.
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