Going through driver’s license restoration in Michigan is time consuming and requires great attention to detail. This is to ensure that the submitted documents are consistent. Our driver’s license restoration lawyers have helped hundreds of people get their licenses back with a 98% success rate, so they have no issue streamlining the process.
Basic Requirements Before You Start Your Driver’s License Restoration Application
Before you can operate a motor vehicle, you must get your driving privileges reinstated by the Secretary of State. However, the process can easily be overwhelming. If you proceed without driver’s license lawyers, chances are that your license will remain suspended or revoked. If you fail, you have to wait a full year before trying again.
Here’s just the surface level of what you need:
- You must provide at least 3 character reference letters
- You must submit a full and complete Substance Use Evaluation
- You must provide a 12-panel drug screen with integrity variables
Fulfilling the Secretary of State’s requirements without guidance is overwhelming. This is especially true because if you’re not successful, you must wait one (1) full year before you can try again.
You do have the option of a driver’s license appeal, but that can take months. Additionally, lawyers know how important details are, as they can make or break a case. Completing the required substance use evaluation, support letters, and a 12-panel urine test for the restoration process can be complex and mistakes are commonly made regarding all four.
Character Letters Needed for Driver’s License Restoration in Michigan
Another common mistake is when letter writers don’t mention how often they spend time with the person, the person’s sobriety date, or the letters are not from a cross-section of people who see the person frequently.
The hearing officers want to know:
- that you’re sober and are committed to maintaining your sobriety.
- whether you’re keeping a more stable home and social life.
- that the people you spend time with know about your substance use history.
Substance Use Evaluation
The evaluation is what matters most to the license restoration hearing officer. A substance use evaluation (or Michigan substance abuse evaluation) is completed by a professional (usually a counselor or social worker). They’ll speak with you to gather information about your history of substance use.
They’ll also have you answer some questions to gain insight into your recovery status and determine that status by using a testing instrument. That person will then write an evaluation based on your history and testing instrument results after seeing you can pass a 12 panel urine test.
The most common mistake people make when proving their sobriety is simply having inconsistent dates of sobriety written throughout all the supporting documents, as well as the hearing testimony.
This mistake, which will result in an automatic denial, is often made through simple typos. It’s the number one mistake that can be most easily avoided with a dedicated Michigan driver’s license reinstatement lawyer.
12-Panel Drug Test
The state of Michigan requires a 12-panel urine test before approval for scheduling your hearing. The sample must be tested for at least two integrity variables, also referred to as adulterants. The adulterants are:
- Specific Gravity
- pH Level
- Creatinine
If any of those three adulterants are outside a certain range, the hearing officer will consider the test invalid because it suggests the sample was diluted to avoid detection of drugs or alcohol.
Most people don’t confirm if their test results display those adulterants, or aren’t aware of the range these adulterants can’t reach or it can bring the validity of the test into question.
We guarantee* your results and don’t stop working until you are successful.
*The guarantee doesn’t include license violation hearings. While we’re skilled at violation hearings as well, violations happen and sometimes given the circumstances, we cannot win every one. We cannot guarantee a situation when a client relapses or doesn’t follow our advice. Circuit court appeals aren’t included.
Interested in getting your driver’s license restored? Unhappy with your current attorney? Request a free consultation now.