Are you recently eligible for a DUI court hearing? If so, you are most certainly wondering how the DUI court process works and if you need a driver’s license reinstatement attorney to help you.
First, if your license was revoked, getting it back will take some legwork, so it’s important to choose a qualified attorney. Oversights or mistakes could hurt your chances of getting your license back, and if you don’t succeed, you won’t be able to try again for another year.
With that being said, knowing what typically happens can help you prepare for what’s to come.
The DUI Court Process: What to Expect
Once your revocation period is over, you would request a hearing with the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight. The first step is to send a hearing request form. A substance abuse evaluation that is not more than three months old would be required as well. The requests can be mailed or sent electronically.
You will also need to compile several documents that would be presented during the hearing. In addition to the evaluation form from a substance abuse counselor, you would need a drug screen as well as three to six letters from individuals in the community who can attest to your sobriety.
I recommend at least five letters, with one of them being from your substance abuse counselor or other therapist. The letters can come from the following individuals:
- Immediate family members or other relatives
- Friends
- Employers
- Neighbors
- Support group members
As your attorney, I would attend the hearing with you. In addition to submitting these documents, the DUI court process can include testimonies from individuals who have witnessed your progress during the course of your license revocation. You may testify as well, and you will have to answer questions about your sobriety and other positive changes you made during your revocation period.
How to Prepare
Whether you have only recently had your license revoked or are now eligible to get it back, preparing for your DUI court hearing basically involves following the recommended steps of your revocation.
Those recommendations usually include:
- Avoiding temptation, such as by not going to establishments that serve alcohol or other places where you are likely to drink or use illicit drugs
- Seeing a mental health therapist, attending sobriety classes and/or going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings
- Not being convicted of any other crimes, whether they are related to drinking and driving or not
- Paying fees and fines as necessary
- Properly using an ignition interlock device as required
As your attorney, I can help you prepare by explaining the DUI court process in more detail as it pertains to your situation. I also can help ensure that you have the necessary letters of support, point you in the right direction regarding drug and alcohol screenings, assist you in filling out the necessary forms, and answer any other related questions you may have.
The DUI court process can be very detailed and time-consuming, which is why it’s so important to work with an attorney who can make you feel confident in your ability to get your license back.
Please reach out to me if you have questions about your case or if you are ready to start the process of getting your license reinstated. I am here to help.