Can you drink and drive on private property in Michigan?

You can be arrested for DUI when on private property. Private means only so much. Michigan’s drunk driving law allows the police to arrest you for DUI or OUI even if you’re on your own property!

(1) A person, whether licensed or not, shall not operate a vehicle on a highway or other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles, including an area designated for the parking of vehicles, within this state if the person is operating while intoxicated.

Michigan Legislature – Section 257.625

The Michigan Supreme Court says a driveway is no refuge for a drunken driver.

The court says Northville authorities could charge Gino Rea with drunken driving, even if his car never left the driveway. The court says a driveway is “generally accessible to motor vehicles” under state law, even if on private property.

Police went to Rea’s home three times one day in 2014 to respond to noise complaints. At one point, an officer saw him drive out of the garage and pull back in. His blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

In a dissent Monday, justices Bridget McCormack and David Viviano say the court should be “hesitant to assume” that lawmakers wanted to extend their reach to the private property of homeowners.

Michigan Supreme Court Drunk Driving in Driveway

Can you consume cannabis and drive on private property in Michigan?

Marijuana and driving laws in Michigan prohibit operating a vehicle under the influence, consuming while operating a vehicle and smoking as a passenger in the passenger compartment. One would assume that drinking and consuming cannabis lead to a driving or operating under the influence issue and the answer would be.. NOPE

(e) consuming marihuana in a public place or smoking marihuana where prohibited by the person who owns, occupies, or manages the property, except for purposes of this subdivision a public place does not include an area designated for consumption within a municipality that has authorized consumption in designated areas that are not accessible to persons under 21 years of age;

(g) consuming marihuana while operating, navigating, or being in physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, snowmobile, off-road recreational vehicle, or motorboat, or smoking marihuana within the passenger area of a vehicle upon a public way;

http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-333-27954

Can a passenger drink in a car in Michigan?

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (5), a person who is an operator or occupant shall not transport or possess alcoholic liquor in a container that is open or uncapped or upon which the seal is broken within the passenger area of a vehicle upon a highway, or within the passenger area of a moving vehicle in …

Michigan Legislature – Section 257.624a

Can a passenger consume cannabis in a car in Michigan?

(g) consuming marihuana while operating, navigating, or being in physical control of any motor vehicle, aircraft, snowmobile, off-road recreational vehicle, or motorboat, or smoking marihuana within the passenger area of a vehicle upon a public way;

http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-333-27954

Here’s the transportation laws

MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT)
Act 300 of 1949

257.624a Transportation or possession of alcoholic liquor in open or uncapped container open or upon which seal broken; violation as misdemeanor; exception; subsections (1) and (2) inapplicable to passenger in commercial quadricycle; definitions.

Sec. 624a.

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (5), a person who is an operator or occupant shall not transport or possess alcoholic liquor in a container that is open or uncapped or upon which the seal is broken within the passenger area of a vehicle upon a highway, or within the passenger area of a moving vehicle in any place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles, including an area designated for the parking of vehicles, in this state.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5), a person may transport or possess alcoholic liquor in a container that is open or uncapped or upon which the seal is broken within the passenger area of a vehicle upon a highway or other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles, including an area designated for the parking of vehicles in this state, if the vehicle does not have a trunk or compartment separate from the passenger area, and the container is in a locked glove compartment, behind the last upright seat, or in an area not normally occupied by the operator or a passenger.

(3) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. As part of the sentence, the person may be ordered to perform community service and undergo substance abuse screening and assessment at his or her own expense as described in section 703(1) of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1703. A court shall not accept a plea of guilty or nolo contendere for a violation of this section from a person charged solely with a violation of section 625(6).

(4) This section does not apply to a passenger in a chartered vehicle authorized to operate by the state transportation department.

(5) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, unless prohibited by local ordinance, subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a passenger in a commercial quadricycle. A passenger in a commercial quadricycle shall not transport or possess alcoholic liquor other than beer, wine, spirits, or a mixed spirits drink.

(6) As used in this section:

(a) “Glove compartment” means a recess with a hinged and locking door in the dashboard of a motor vehicle.

(b) “Passenger area” means the area designed to seat the operator and passengers of a motor vehicle while it is in operation and any area that is readily accessible to the operator or a passenger while in his or her seating position, including the glove compartment.

History: Add. 1991, Act 98, Eff. Jan. 1, 1992 ;– Am. 1994, Act 211, Eff. Nov. 1, 1994 ;– Am. 1996, Act 493, Eff. Apr. 1, 1997 ;– Am. 1998, Act 349, Eff. Oct. 1, 1999 ;– Am. 2012, Act 306, Imd. Eff. Oct. 1, 2012 ;– Am. 2015, Act 126, Imd. Eff. July 15, 2015

• PDF – Michigan Vehicle Code 2022
• Check for changes to laws – http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-257-624a
• What the F is a Quadricycle anyway?