FAQs • Bay City, MI • CivicEngage

I need a police officer to come to my house, but it's not an emergency. Who should I call?: All Bay City Department of Public Safety Officers are dispatched by Bay County 911. It is okay to call 911 if you need a police officer. If you do not feel comfortable calling 911, you may contact the Law Enforcement Center at 989-892-8571, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

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Public Safety

Public Safety Director:	Director Caleb Rowell
Deputy Public Safety Director	Deputy Director Rod Schanck
- Law Enforcement Operations Division	Captain Nathan Webster
- Fire Operations Division	Fire Chief Kurt Corradi

2. What should I do if I find an abandoned bicycle?: If you find a bicycle in new or like new condition or if the bicycle has a city bicycle license, you should contact the Bay City Department of Public Safety at 989-892-8571, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. If the bicycle is damaged, unserviceable, or obviously does not have any worth, the bicycle may be discarded with your weekly trash pick up or kept by you.

3. What should I do if my neighbor's dog is outside barking all day or night?: If the problem is occurring during regular business hours (10am to 5pm, Monday through Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.), you should contact Bay County Animal Control at 989-894-0679. If the problem is occurring after regular business hours, you can contact Bay County Animal Control and leave a message. If it is an emergency or an extreme nuisance, you should call 911.

4. What should I do if my neighbor is keeping old cars in his/her yard that do not run or do not have license plates on them?: If someone is keeping unlicensed or abandoned vehicles in their yard you should contact the Bay City Code Enforcement Office at 989-894-8162 during regular business hours (9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday).

5. Who should I contact if I suspect someone is dealing drugs?: Drug tip information should be directed to the Bay City V.I.P.E.R. Unit at 989-391-3837.
VIPER Unit

6. Who should I contact if I need to get a copy of a law enforcement or accident report?: Crime victims and those involved in traffic accidents may be charged a fee for a copy of a police report. Traffic accident reports can be requested from Lexis Nexis. FOIA Request forms can be picked up at the Law Enforcement Center or downloaded HERE. The fees for FOIA requests are based on the time required to meet your request.

7. Who do I call to see if someone has been arrested or is in jail?: To find out if someone is in jail, you should contact the Bay County Sheriff's Office at 989-895-4050. The Bay City Department of Public Safety does not maintain information on individuals currently lodged in the Bay County Jail. All jail information is maintained by the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

8. When and where can I obtain a purchase permit for a handgun or register my handgun?: Residents of Bay City may obtain handgun purchase permits and register handguns at the Bay City Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Center Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Bay City residents will be required to present a photo ID; the cost for a purchase permit is $10. Individuals living outside the City of Bay City must obtain purchase permits and register handguns with the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

9. What do I need to do to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon?: Information regarding Michigan's concealed carry laws can be viewed at Michigan Concealed Pistol Licensing.

10. Does the City of Bay City have a curfew for minors?: Yes. The curfew for minors under the age of sixteen is 10pm to 5am. Minors that are sixteen years of age have a curfew of Midnight to 5am. Individuals seventeen years and older do not have a curfew.

11. How old does someone need to be to purchase or possess tobacco products in the State of Michigan?: Individuals must be eighteen years old to purchase or possess tobacco products in the State of Michigan.

12. How old does someone have to be to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol in the State of Michigan?: Individuals must be 21 years old to purchase, possess, or consume alcohol in the State of Michigan.

13. What if I am under 21, but my parents give me permission to drink alcohol under their supervision?: Michigan law requires that you be 21 years old to consume alcohol. There is no exception that allows parents to give persons under 21 permission to consume alcohol with their supervision. Persons found to be giving alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 can be charged with furnishing alcohol to minors.

14. What is the legal limit for drunk driving in the State of Michigan?: That depends. Persons 21 years old and older with a bodily alcohol content of 0.08% or more can be arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated. If you are under the age of 21, you can be arrested and charged under the zero tolerance statute if your bodily alcohol content is 0.02% or more.

Even if your bodily alcohol content is below a .08% you may still be charged with impaired driving if your ability to operate a motor vehicle is visibly impaired due to the consumption of alcoholic liquor.

15. How do I get a Personal Protection Order?: You must obtain the paper work necessary for a Personal Protection Order from the Bay County Circuit Court Clerk Office. The Bay County Circuit Court Clerk Office is located inside the Bay County Court House at 1230 Washington Avenue, Bay City, MI 48708.

16. Can you explain the Michigan seatbelt laws?: Review the current Michigan Seat Belt Law at Michigan Legislature.

17. I heard that I can only be charged with disturbing the peace if my stereo is too loud after 10pm. Is this true?: No. You may be cited or arrested at anytime if your stereo is turned up so as it disturbs the peace, quiet, and comfort of your neighbors or if it is louder than necessary for convenient hearing of people located in the room or vehicle where the stereo is located.

18. I need a police officer to come to my house, but it's not an emergency. Who should I call?: All Bay City Department of Public Safety Officers are dispatched by Bay County 911. It is okay to call 911 if you need a police officer. If you do not feel comfortable calling 911, you may contact the Law Enforcement Center at 989-892-8571, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

19. Is the Bay City Department of Public Safety hiring?: Yes. The Bay City Department of Public Safety takes applications at Bay City Job Listings.

20. Is it okay to set up my portable basketball hoop in the street?: No. Bay City has an ordinance prohibiting playing games in streets, alleys, or public places not intended for such use. If you are in violation of this ordinance, you may receive anything from a verbal warning to a citation along with having your basketball hoop confiscated.

21. What do I need to do to follow up on misdemeanor complaints?: If you have been the victim of a misdemeanor (simple assault, malicious destruction of property, etc.) and have made a report with the Bay City Department of Public Safety, you must contact the Bay County Prosecutors Office at 989-895-4185 and inform them that you wish to pursue charges against the suspect. The prosecutor's office will not proceed with misdemeanor charges against someone without first hearing from you.

22. How can I find out if there is a registered sex offender living in my neighborhood?: You can find information on current sex offenders by accessing the Michigan Sex Offender Registry.