An experienced law firm can help you get your license back after a DUI, and “experienced” is a key word in that statement. You may only have one shot per year to get your license back, so you don’t want to risk dropping the ball with someone who does not focus in this area.
Understanding the specific steps involved will help facilitate a smoother process, as will an open line of communication between you and your attorney.
How to Get Your License Back after a DUI in Michigan
In order to understand how to get your license back after a DUI in Michigan, it’s important to speak with your attorney to get all of your questions answered.
To start with, you typically must be sober for at least one year before you can submit a request for a license reinstatement.
Generally, this is how to try to get your license back after a DUI:
- Consultation and Discussion
After your initial phone call or message, we will discuss your past substance abuse and your current sobriety; any alcohol or drug treatment classes you have attended; your current job situation; and any recent relevant changes that have occurred in your personal or professional life.
- Compiling Documentation
We will make a list of documents and other information you may need before we can file your case. These include at least three letters of recommendation that attest to your sobriety. I typically recommend closer to five or six letters.
- Drug Screening
You will be advised to take a drug test, and I will review it to make sure it is negative and that it was completed correctly.
- Sobriety Evaluation
A substance abuse counselor will be asked to provide an evaluation, which includes the counselor’s opinion about your sobriety, ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and other pertinent details.
- Filing the Case and Preparing for the Hearing
I will then file your case with the Michigan Secretary of State. The Michigan SOS Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight oversees these hearings and petitions.
After filing your case, I will answer any questions you may have about your upcoming hearing. At this hearing, information will be presented to a board and you may call witnesses to testify on your behalf.
- Attending the Hearing
I will attend the hearing with you. After testimonies from witnesses, I will offer a closing argument and discuss the documents that support your appeal to get your license back after the DUI.
Is the Process Difficult?
Every case is different, although some of the basic steps are similar. The process of getting your license back after a DUI in Michigan isn’t terribly difficult conceptually, but it does require plenty of legwork on your part and on ours. In the months following your license revocation, you may be required to attend sobriety classes, for instance.
You can try to get your license back after a year, but that will also require you to compile documentation, request letters or recommendation, find witnesses who will testify on your behalf, and attend the hearing.
With that being said, the most challenging aspect of your effort to get your license back is based on the importance of success. If you do not submit adequate documentation, did not follow the rules of your suspension, and so on, you could lose your case. If that happens, you won’t be able to try again for another year, and that could be devastating to your professional and personal life.
That’s why it’s of the utmost importance to consider choosing an experienced lawyer with an outstanding success rate to handle your license reinstatement case.
How an Experienced Law Firm Can Help You
A law firm experienced in license restoration cases can provide you with substantial benefits as you are trying to get your license back after a DUI in Michigan. From knowing the specific details that should be presented at the hearing to being able to analyze your drug screening results properly, having a skilled attorney by your side can be pivotal.
As you are trying to get your license back after a DUI, an experienced law firm may be able to:
- Help to ensure that you get it right the first time, essentially saving you time and valuable resources in the long run.
- Understand the technicalities of the process.
- Better advocate on your behalf as a result of past knowledge of successful license reinstatement cases.
- Simply give you peace of mind in knowing that you don’t have to navigate through this process alone.
After many years of experience, I know how challenging and confusing this process can be. To understand how to get your license back after a DUI, contact my office, and we will schedule a consultation to discuss your case in detail.