Getting around without a car can be a challenge—especially in Michigan where public transportation options are spotty. If a bus won’t take you to where you need to go, if your family or friends aren’t available to drive you, and if you don’t have extra money for a cab fare, you may end up bicycling or walking to your destination. But restoring your driver’s license is possible. With the help of a Lansing criminal defense lawyer, you may be able to use your driver’s license to drive once again.
4 Steps to Getting Your License Restored
Restoring you license takes careful planning. Through a step-by-step process, DeBruin Law can help you to get your license restored.
Step 1: Request a Driver’s License Review Hearing
The first step in restoring your license is to request a hearing from the State of Michigan. To do this, you’ll need to review documented SOS-257, entitled Request for Hearing, from the State of Michigan Department of State. This document asks for information on yourself, your attorney, your background, your criminal history, and your substance use history. For help in completing this form, contact an experienced Michigan criminal defense attorney today.
Step 2: Submit to a Substance Use Evaluation
If you were involved in a crime involving drugs or alcohol, you’ll need to submit to a substance use evaluation. This will be used to provide evidence of your current and past substance use. A professional substance abuse counselor, therapist, or trained group leader must conduct the evaluation. During your evaluation, you may be asked about your past drug or alcohol use, about your current use habits, about your mental health, and about your outlook for the future.
Step 3: Provide Evidence of Your Sobriety
Evidence of your sobriety will play a key role in your case. This evidence can come from multiple sources including:
- Urinalysis tests
- Notarized letters from family or friends
- Records from an ignition interlock device, if applicable.
This evidence will be used alongside your substance use evaluation to provide further evidence of your sobriety.
Step 4: Prepare For and Attend Your Hearing
Being prepared for your hearing—in which you’ll be questioned about your drug or alcohol use—is crucial to the success of your case. An experienced Lansing criminal defense attorney can help you to prepare your testimony and to help prepare others who will be testifying on your behalf.
What Does the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division Do?
After reviewing your request for hearing, your substance use evaluation, and further proof of your sobriety, the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division (also known as the Administrative Hearing Section) will consider whether the condition that originally led to your license suspension persists. If it’s found that your condition no longer exists, you may be able to have your license restored.
How a Lansing Criminal Defense Lawyer with DeBruin Law Can Help You
A Michigan criminal defense lawyer from DeBruin Law can play a central role in your case. He or she will strive to show that your substance use is controlled and will remain controlled, that you’re not going to be at risk of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs again, and that you genuinely desire to remain sober—and to drive safely—in the future. For help in requesting a hearing and in preparing your case, contact Lansing criminal defense lawyer Tiffany DeBruin with DeBruin Law at 517-324-4303 today.