[johnsmith80917]

I am possibly taking a job in Lansing MI.

A few questions, how bad is law enforcement on hassling you to switch you tags from your previous state to MI plus your driver license. Are they bad like state such as California, Virginia or Maryland or are they pretty lax. The state I live in, I have not been able to find work at all, period but got a call on the MI which sounds like a very good fit job wise.

Also what kind of outdoor recreation is there to pursue there ? Are there things like bike trails especially around the MSU campus ?

[MI-Roger]

My son relocted in April of '07 from Florida to our home in Michigan after graduating Law School there. He kept his Florida license plate and Florida driver's license until they expired in October. He was never stopped by any police during that time period.

What kind of bike trails? I believe the Grand Ledge area ,south-west of Lansing, has mountain biking trails. I am sure Lansing area residents will have more responses on this part of your post.

[Bydand]

There is any type of outdoor recreation you can think of really. May have to drive to find some of them like rock climbing, but there are bike trails, walking/hiking trails. Plenty of water sports and recreation.

My sister did the same thing when she and her husband moved back from North Carolina and her plates and drivers license. She kept them until her plates ran out then switched everything over. Neither of them were stopped either.

[chance2jump]

MI is very lax on plates. My hubby had his Ohio plates and license for a good couple years before ever switching them over, and even then it was only done because it was a long drive to OH to get his license renewed.

Outdoor activities... Glad you asked!

There are some really good state parks within 30-45 mins of Lansing that offer awesome biking trails!! On top of that, there is Birchfield Park just outside of Lansing that will give you a run for your money. The bike trails are built and maintained by the local MB-ing chapter, and they know how to have fun. A good resource would be Eric's Cycle on south MLK Blvd - that is the weekly gathering place for riders that do group rides. Also, take a look at the Michigan Mountain Biking Assoc website and introduce yourself on the Mid-State Chapter forum.

[nessatar]

I concur that MI is lax on plates.

There is an 8-mile river trail from EL campus to Lansing. Not a "bike trail" per se, but nice. Grand Ledge has some rock climbing options. Lake Lansing has some hiking trails but I don't know if you can bike on them.

[MinPips]

I moved to Michigan last summer and I was in a bad financial state. Not only were my tags from out of state, but they were expired. I never changed my tags or my driver's license till I move again.

[Kattie]

My husband and I just moved back to Michigan about 3 months ago and still have our North Carolina plates and have not had an issue. I think they are pretty lax about that.

As, for bike trails around MSU, I'm not sure. However, there are alot of recreational activities in Michigan. Bike, walking, and running trails. Water recreation, sand dunes(Silver Lake), snowmobile trails and offroading with quads. What ever you can think of, Michigan has.

[Joanie B]

Why would you get stopped for out of state plates?
I can't imagine that it's a problem, especially since tourism is the state's second largest industry.
Unless you committed a traffic violation, how could you get a ticket if you have out of state plates and a matching drivers license ?

[Rutt Roh]

wow. i am extremely surprised at the posts here, but maybe it's just me.

just coming out of the military, i had MS tags (which don't expire until 5/09) and was driving to detroit from kalamazoo... purposely renewed my tags before i actually relocated here. driving on 94 E, i noticed a state trooper tagging people. i wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary; just following the normal flow of traffic. all of a sudden he leaves the area where he was and FOLLOWS me of all cars... slows down traffic a bit, never passes me and looks over my car and then eventually pulls me over. he cites how long i've been living here and (i could've lied) said 2 mths. he said i need to change my tags even though my registration was good till next summer.

i heard of cops (esp. state troopers) giving out-of-state people crap especially on 94 because of the drug trafficking between chicago and detroit. but goddamn, that was a whole waste of 20 min for him to run my plates and see my insurance. didn't get a ticket though... still, i thought that was bull****. sorry.

so subsequently, i changed my plates over to MI tags... costed me a pretty penny too... just so i wouldn't be "singled out."

[GRRAZO]

The only place your going to have trouble with the plates is if you have illinios plates entering MI 94 east bound, they think they own the place because they actually do own many of the cottages along southern lake MI, but still come into the state going 85.

Lansing probably has the most out of state plates in the state due to the colleges and the state offices. I currently live downtown lansing and my parking lot litterally has about a quarter from out of state and many different ones at that.

Heck I have bought several vehicles from out of state and drove with the old plates on for a while and never any trouble including FL, IN, KY and NJ

And there is a bike trail that runs from MSU campus along the river past downtown lansing probably 5 miles long, i am sure there are others