There are several steps you can take to raise your odds of success at a driver’s license restoration hearing.
Hire an attorney who practices in the area of Michigan drivers license reinstatement. Before the hearing, an attorney can help you:
- strategize
- obtain evidence
- file the necessary paperwork
- prepare you to testify.
At the hearing, a lawyer can:
- elicit testimony from you
- question any witnesses
- submit key evidence
- argue your case to restore your drivers license.
What Do You Need To Prove?
To restore your Michigan drivers license, you must convincingly prove 4 things:
- That your alcohol and/or substance abuse problem is controlled and will likely remain under control in the future.
- That you have a low risk of drunk driving and a low risk of past abusive behavior.
- That you have the ability and motivation to drive safely and within the law.
- You must prove 6 – 12 months of sobriety. In my experience, most will have to prove twelve months of continued sobriety before the hearing.
Basically, you must show that you have put your alcohol/substance abuse problem behind you and that you are a good candidate for safe driving. You must prove these elements with clear and convincing evidence.
Here Is What You Can Do To Improve Your Odds of Success
Finish your alcohol treatment or counseling. If you were required to attend alcohol/drug abuse treatment or counseling, finish the program. At your hearing to restore your driver’s license, your attorney can present these records as proof that you addressed the problem and that you are committed to overcoming it.
Attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or another structured support group. AA truly helps many. Attending AA demonstrates your continued commitment to getting over your alcohol/substance abuse problem. It shows that you take it seriously. Make sure you know the serenity prayer and twelve steps. How much should you attend? The best advice is the more the better. The greater the frequency and length of AA attendance the better. If possible, get an AA sponsor. Your AA sponsor can be very helpful in documenting your attendance and commitment. It can be very helpful if your AA sponsor testifies or submits a letter of support.
Letters of sobriety. Sobriety letters help you prove that you have been sober and are committed to remaining that way. Well before your hearing, lay the groundwork for getting a cross-section of family, friends and co-workers to write supporting letters. These letters are crucial to your success at your hearing to restore your driver license.
