Michigan

Is it legal to sleep at a Michigan rest area?

Published

5 months ago

December 2, 2025

Is it legal to sleep at a Michigan rest area?

Say you’re traveling over the river and through the woods and get really drowsy, is it OK to pull off into one of Michigan’s 61 highway rest areas for a nap.

Yes, it is.

The Michigan Department of Transportation, which runs the rest stops, has guidelines concerning how long you may stay — no more than 48 hours and no camping.

But those guidelines aren’t official and aren’t enforceable by police, which is why MDOT is in the process of pursuing approval for administrative laws that would make stays of more than 48 hours, camping, setting fires in non-authorized spots, among other things, illegal at rest areas and also at the state’s 82 roadside parks, 267 carpool lots, 23 scenic turnouts and 14 welcome centers. Breaking the guidelines would be a misdemeanor.

MDOT is sorting through public comments on the draft of rules. Those proposed rules would most likely require people who need to leave a car at a rest area or carpool for more than 48 hours to get a special permit to do so, according to Jocelyn Garza, MDOT spokeswoman. All the rules address specific situations that have occurred at rest areas, she added.

“When the draft rules were initially introduced there was a lot of concern over people not being able to rest at the rest area. That is absolutely not the intention,” Garza said. “The intention of a rest area is for somebody to come and sleep and make sure they’re safe when they’re back behind the wheel, they feel rested enough to be driving.”

Is it legal?

Welcome to a new recurring feature on freep.com that helps readers understand laws in Michigan and in their communities. Do you have a question about what’s legal and what isn’t in Michigan? Email isitlegal@freepress.com and we’ll investigate for you.

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Michigan

Before-and-after images show severity of Black Lake flooding

Published

12 hours ago

April 18, 2026

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Before-and-after images show severity of Black Lake flooding

Before-and-after images of homes on Black Lake near Onaway provide perspectives on how the community was affected by April flooding.

Snowmelt and rain have stressed dams and caused lakes to flood in northern Michigan.

The Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Office shared on social media photos and videos that the agency captured of Cheboygan County floods on Friday, April 17 from both the ground and air.

Deputies “observed a level of destruction that simply cannot be understood from ground level,” the sheriff’s office said in the post.

Google Maps images taken from two locations on Black Lake in 2024, compared with the Friday images, show how the floodwater has changed the landscape.

On North Black River Road and Taylor Road, the water has overflowed to North Black River Road.

In the 400 block of South Black River Road, water has also flooded homes and lakeside property.

“Black Lake, Black River, Cheboygan River, Burt Lake, Mullet Lake, the Sturgeon River − and nearly every waterway in the county have overflowed beyond their banks, swallowing docks, roads, yards, and in far too many cases, homes,” the sheriff’s office post said. “What should be familiar shorelines are now unrecognizable expanses of water.”

“Our hearts are with every family affected by this flooding,” Cheboygan County Sheriff Todd Ross said in the post. “We know many of you are facing significant damage to your homes and property, and the emotional toll that comes with it. Please know you are not alone. We are working around the clock with our partners to ensure safety, provide support, and begin the process of recovery. Stay strong, stay connected, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help, we will get through this together.”

Nearby, the UAW Black Lake Conference Center shared images on social media of floodwater threatening its Old Lodge.

The conference center is located at 2000 Maxon Road in Waverly Township.

The Cheboygan County Road Commission and the Cheboygan County Office of Emergency Management closed the bridge at Five Mile Point Road on Saturday, April 18 due to significant road washout in the area of South Black River Road and Red Bridge Road.

The sheriff’s office had encouraged residents in parts of the area to evacuate earlier in the week and said Saturday it had completed evacuation efforts on the west side of the lake.

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Michigan

Driver swerves to avoid oncoming traffic, dies after crashing into tree in Texas Twp

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

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Driver swerves to avoid oncoming traffic, dies after crashing into tree in Texas Twp

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A 20-year-old Kalamazoo man is dead after crashing his vehicle into a tree Friday evening in Texas Township, according to Michigan State Police (MSP).

It happened on South 3rd Street and West PQ Avenue around 6:50 p.m., troopers said.

While he was driving in a no-passing zone, the Kalamazoo man swerved off the road to avoid an oncoming vehicle and subsequently crashed into the tree, according to MSP.

The 20-year-old died at the scene. A passenger was hurt, but police said their injuries were non-life threatening.

Troopers do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor, and the two were reportedly wearing seatbelts.

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This incident remains under investigation by MSP.

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Michigan

Michigan man pleads guilty to using fake Social Security cards in $550K fraud scheme

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2026

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Michigan man pleads guilty to using fake Social Security cards in 0K fraud scheme

A Southfield man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and equipment to create fake documents, federal prosecutors said.

Jerome Antwan Andrews, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday to possessing the driver’s license information and Social Security numbers of more than 250 people in a scheme that caused more than $550,000 in fraud losses, U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said.

As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors say Andrews admitted to having an embosser, a laminator, a card cutter and an ID card printer and admitted that his business model was aimed at creating and selling fake Social Security cards and driver’s licenses in the names of real people.

“Jerome Antwan Andrews and his criminal associates stole more than $1.5 million by submitting hundreds of fraudulent claims to a pandemic program intended to help unemployed American workers. Today’s conviction of Andrews represents yet another attack in our war against fraud. It sends a stern warning that my office will relentlessly investigate those bad actors greedily lining their pockets with U.S. taxpayer funds,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

Andrews faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the pecuniary gain or loss, according to prosecutors. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor investigated Andrews’ case.

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