A plan providing local police departments across the state with needed revenue flexibility to keep communities and neighborhoods safer was advanced overwhelmingly on Tuesday by the Michigan House.

Vehicles that have been damaged beyond repair and deemed to be a total loss by an insurance company go through a process that provides them with scrap or salvage titles. Prior to giving repaired salvage vehicles a new full title, local police agencies inspect them to make sure they are safe and road-worthy and charge a fee of $100 or less for that work.

The revenue from these fees is currently restricted to efforts that address auto theft. Instead of this vague and rigid requirement, BeGole’s House Bill 4716 allows revenue from salvage vehicle inspection fees be used for public safety initiatives. This includes police equipment, training and road patrol services.

“This will provide our law enforcement personnel with another tool in their toolbox as they work to ensure health and safety in our communities,” BeGole said when addressing the bill on the House floor. “Not only would agencies be able to use these fees for cracking down on auto theft and recovering stolen vehicle parts, but they would also have additional flexibility for other public safety efforts.

“We shouldn’t box departments in with how they can use these funds, especially when there is only so much funding available to a department each year.”

HB 4716 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Brian BeGole speaks on House Bill 4716 before the Michigan House on Tuesday, Oct. 31.