Bumpers, Bikes & Bands Season in Plymouth: Reckless Driving, Exhibition of Speed, and Open Intoxicants Charges

Summer in Plymouth means car shows, motorcycle nights, and downtown cruise events. From Bumpers, Bikes, and Bands in July to weekly informal gatherings of classic cars in Kellogg Park-adjacent parking lots, Plymouth has a strong car culture — and Plymouth Police know it. A loud exhaust, a quick acceleration off a stoplight, or a tire chirp on Main Street can produce a citation that surprises drivers who thought they were just having fun.

This guide explains the specific Michigan vehicle code charges that come up around car and bike events in Plymouth and Western Wayne County.

Reckless Driving

Under MCL 257.626, reckless driving is operating a motor vehicle in “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” It is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail, a $500 fine, six points on your driving record, and a 90-day license suspension.

If reckless driving causes serious impairment of a body function (a significant injury), it becomes a five-year felony under MCL 257.626(3). If it causes death, it is a 15-year felony under MCL 257.626(4).

Exhibition of Speed (Drag Racing)

MCL 257.626a makes it a misdemeanor to engage in a drag race or exhibition of speed on a public highway. Penalties include up to 93 days in jail, fines, four points, and a 30-day license suspension. Exhibition of speed has a lower threshold than reckless driving — it can be established by acceleration patterns, tire chirps, two-vehicle parallel acceleration, or video evidence.

Careless Driving

MCL 257.626b is a civil infraction for careless or negligent driving. It carries three points and a fine. Many initial cases that look serious can resolve as a plea to careless driving instead of reckless driving or exhibition of speed — a major win when negotiated correctly.

Open Intoxicants in a Motor Vehicle

Under MCL 257.624a, transporting an open or uncapped alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of a vehicle is a misdemeanor. This applies whether you are sitting at a stoplight downtown or pulled into a parking lot for a car show. It applies to drivers and passengers.

Equipment Violations

Loud exhaust systems, tinted windows, after-market lighting, modified suspension — all of these create probable cause for a stop. Equipment violations are typically civil infractions, but they open the door to a broader contact that can lead to other charges. Common ones:

• Excessive noise from exhaust modifications (MCL 257.707c),
• Improper window tint (MCL 257.709),
• Unsafe equipment (MCL 257.683),
• Improper license plates or registration display.

Motorcycle-Specific Issues

Michigan's motorcycle helmet law (MCL 257.658) requires riders under 21 to wear a helmet. Riders 21 and older may ride without a helmet only if they have held a motorcycle endorsement for two years (or passed a safety course) and carry at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits coverage in addition to standard insurance. Failure to comply is a civil infraction.

Riding without a motorcycle endorsement (MCL 257.312a) is a misdemeanor and can result in additional penalties beyond a normal traffic stop.

Stops Around Plymouth Car Events

Common locations where Plymouth Police actively patrol during summer cruise nights:

• Main Street between Ann Arbor Trail and Wing,
• Ann Arbor Road through downtown,
• Mill Street and Wing Street parking areas,
• Sheldon Road north and south of the downtown core,
• Five Mile Road approaching Plymouth from the east.

Stops escalate quickly when officers detect the odor of alcohol or marijuana, observe nervous behavior, or see open containers in the vehicle.

What to Do If You're Stopped at or Near a Car Event

• Be polite and provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance.
• You can decline to consent to a search of your vehicle. The officer may still search if they have probable cause, but you preserve your rights by not consenting.
• You do not have to answer questions about where you have been or what you have been doing.
• If you are asked to perform field sobriety tests or a PBT, those are voluntary at the roadside but refusal of the post-arrest chemical test has serious implications.
• If arrested, ask for a lawyer immediately.

Where Plymouth Cases Are Heard

Traffic-criminal cases in the City of Plymouth and Plymouth Township are arraigned in the 35th District Court in Plymouth. Civil infractions are also handled there. Felony cases (reckless driving causing injury or death) are bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court.

Defending a Reckless Driving Case

Key defense issues include:

• Whether the driving actually met the legal definition of “willful or wanton disregard” — a high standard.
• Whether the officer's observations were corroborated by video or other witnesses.
• Whether the stop itself was lawful.
• Whether the case can be reduced to careless driving (a civil infraction).

Don't Let a Cruise Night Cost You Your License

A reckless driving conviction adds six points and triggers a 90-day suspension — consequences that affect your insurance, your job, and your record for years. Boria Law has defended Plymouth drivers facing reckless and traffic-criminal charges for years. Call attorney Aaron J. Boria at (734) 453-7806 to discuss what can be done.