Articles Posted in Traffic Violation

The petition to obtain driving privileges is a legal proceeding where you must prove by clear and convincing evidence that you will never drink and drive again. You are required to submit letters, a drug screen, a substance abuse evaluation, and your own paperwork.  You are also required to provide live testimony in support of your paperwork. If you live outside the State of Michigan then you may be able to avoid a hearing with a Secretary of State Administrative Law Judge. A lawyer’s role is to facilitate the preparation and filing of a successful petition and to oversee the testimony and presentation of evidence at the live hearing.

A license restoration attorney will guide you through the entire process, beginning with a determination of eligibility.  Sometimes, even if the necessary time period has passed, you still will be unable to meet your burden of proof and a good lawyer will advise you of this, and what steps might be necessary to make you eligible.  This is because many hidden issues can impact your eligibility to even petition for privileges. While just generally knowing your driving record should aid in this determination, many times it is beneficial to obtain a full driving history from the Secretary of State and then to discuss your eligibility with your lawyer.

Further, the attorney will aid you in understanding the requirements that must be met to obtain privileges. This is important to understand before you even start to compile your evidence. We have often found that clients who attempt to begin assembling evidence prior to hiring a lawyer make mistakes that only create delay. Unfortunately, this self-help is generally a wasted effort and will not save you money as most legal fees for these matters are “flat fees” that include all the preparation.  It is rarely helpful for you to begin the efforts yourself because the actual requirements are much more specific and detailed than most people realize. It is always the most efficient practice to retain the attorney as soon as you can. This way your lawyer can begin working on your case and getting you ready long before you are even eligible for a hearing.  This will result in avoiding an unnecessary waste of time and money and in your getting your license as soon as possible.

A lawyer will help maximize the chances of getting your license back, but the Driver Assessment and Appeal’s Division (DAAD) of the Michigan Secretary of State does not require that you be represented by a lawyer.  It is possible to do it yourself, but this is not recommended.

The reason lawyers are helpful is because you have the burden of proof and must show by clear and convincing evidence that your substance use disorder is under control and likely to stay that way, and that you are at minimal risk for repeat behavior. Most of the time your evidence and testimony must demonstrate a minimum period of 12 continuous months of abstinence. You will be required to submit your evidence to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who will weight this evidence and determine if you’ve met your burden.

At the hearing the evidence your evidence should consist of 3-6 letters of support, a substance use evaluation, AA sign in sheets, or other documentary evidence of your participation in a 12-step program and your sworn testimony. Your lawyer will assist you in making sure all of your evidence is in order and is presented in the most effective way possible.  Also, your lawyer should help to prepare your testimony by discussing the parameters of your testimony and guiding you through a “question and answer” practice dry run prior to the hearing.  This is especially important because you will probably be very nervous at the hearing, and giving testimony is difficult even for experienced witnesses.  Plus, the ALJ will be able to ask you questions, and an experienced license restoration lawyer will know what to expect and help you prepare for these questions as well.