If you receive two or more DUIs in the state of Michigan, your driver’s license will be revoked. Unlike a suspended license, a revoked license is not automatically restored after a select period of time and requires at least one administrative hearing in order for the offender to win back their full driving rights.
However, drivers do have options in this area. With at least a year of sobriety and the help of an experienced driver’s license restoration attorney, you can win back your full driving rights over time. If you’re in this process or wondering what to expect if you decide to pursue a hearing, here’s an explanation of what happens after driver’s license reinstatement.
What Happens After A Reinstatement of My Michigan Driver’s License?
If you have no license at all before a successful license reinstatement case, then you’ll be given a restricted license and required to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. This device is designed to perform a breathalyzer test every time you go to start the engine so the state can make sure you’re able to stay sober and safe behind the wheel during this time period. It also collects data from every use, so it can report if you attempt to start the engine while under the influence.
After multiple DUIs and a successful license restoration hearing, you’re required to drive with this restricted license for one year. At the end of that year, you can file for a second hearing to try to get your license fully reinstated without restriction.
This means that if you had already been driving on a sobriety court restricted license for a year, then your license will be fully restored if your hearing goes well. This means you’ll have a standard driver’s license just like anyone else. You don’t need to worry about any more requirements related to your case. You just need to avoid any future DUIs and driving issues.
What If Your MI Driver’s License Is Not Restored – Can You Appeal?
The goal is always to win the initial case with the Michigan Secretary of State. However, if you are not successful, you do have the option to request an appeal with the court system. You need to file an appeal within 63 days of your initial Secretary of State hearing. And you are allowed to provide supplementary documents or testimony in your appeal case, but you cannot expand into completely new territory. So it’s important that you carefully review why you lost your Secretary of State hearing with an experienced driver’s license restoration attorney to determine what needs to change in order to obtain a more favorable result the second time around.
There are several reasons why an initial hearing might not go your way, and you might be able to get a different result through the appeal process. The court is allowed to disagree with the Secretary of State based on similar evidence and grant you a restricted license. Or you might be able to supplement the evidence you submitted the first time around enough to fully back up your case and receive a favorable result. Either way, it’s essential that you go over the initial results carefully to determine your best course of action.
A Reinstatement of a Suspended or Revoked License Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
Though you clearly want a positive result from your driver’s license reinstatement hearing, the process doesn’t need to be stressful. A Michigan license attorney who knows the ropes can help you navigate the experience and meet all the requirements, giving you the best possible chance of a positive outcome.
They also save you time by going over your paperwork and helping you compile evidence so you’re not constantly bogged down going over all the details of your case, which can sometimes seem confusing to inexperienced eyes. They also offer you peace of mind by ensuring that you won’t miss essential pieces of evidence or testimony, ultimately giving you a better chance of winning. And once your case is completed, a driver’s license restoration lawyer who is familiar with the process can also point you toward useful resources on how to keep your license once it’s restored.
Steps for Keeping Your Michigan Driver’s License After Getting It Restored
If you have been granted a restricted license after a successful restoration hearing, then proper use of the interlock device is essential for keeping your license. These devices collect data from each use. So if you attempt to start the engine of your vehicle while under the influence, that activity will be reported and your driving rights will likely be revoked again. Additionally, if you try to tamper with the device in any way, it could lead to another revocation or impact your chances of a full restoration in the future, depending on the nature of the incident.
Each model is slightly different, but they all function in a similar fashion. If you have questions about operating your specific device, speak with your Michigan license attorney or the interlock installation company to go over details before attempting to operate it.
Once you have your license fully restored, keeping your driving rights simply means staying sober and avoiding any future DUIs. It’s important to keep up with AA meetings, counseling, and other efforts aimed at maintaining sobriety. Even though these activities are no longer required for making a license restoration case, they can help you maintain the good habits that you’ve cultivated throughout the process and dramatically improve your chances of keeping your full driving rights intact. And more importantly, it will help you and others stay as safe as possible on the road.