Michigan Driver's License Restoration Experts
Hills Law Offices provides expert drivers license restoration services throughout Michigan.
If your Michigan driver's license has been suspended or revoked as a result of accumulation of points or through criminal charges, including drunk driving, we can help. Contact Us today to get experienced, personal representation to recover your driving privileges.
Attorney Jerry Hopkins heads the drivers license restoration and reinstatement division within Hills Law Office and Mr. Hopkins focuses exclusively on regaining driving privileges for the clients of Hills Law Office.
Restoring Your License
The process to restore a revoked or suspended Michigan drivers license varies depending on the reason for the license suspension or revocation, but usually involves a hearing before the Driver License Appeal Division (DLAD).
In the case of a drivers license revocation due to drunk driving charges, the process starts heavily weighted against you. Unlike a criminal trial where you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, when you appeal to restore license privileges, the State of Michigan will review your case from a presumption that they will not be restoring your license. You must then provide proof in the form of Clear and Convincing Evidence (CCE) in two categories: that any substance abuse problem has been remedied, and that you are unlikely to drink and then drive in the future. Again, the burden of this proof is on you.
Supplying this CCE proof involves letters of testimony, a minimum time of abstinence from drugs or alcohol, a drug screen, a substance abuse evaluation and your own sworn testimony.
Having an experienced driver's license restoration attorney guiding you through the process and defending your interests is vital. In Michigan, driver's license revocations are life-long by default. Only through the appeal process can you restore your license.
Driver's License Restoration Expert, Jerry Hopkins
Jerry Hopkins graduated from Cooley Law School and upon graduation began a successful private practice. Mr. Hopkins was then hired by the Michigan Secretary of State as an attorney to preside over hearings regarding individuals' driver's license issues. For 30 years he worked in this capacity helping draft rules and regulations applying to driver's license litigation. In his time with the Michigan Secretary of State Mr. Hopkins presided over thousands of hearings regarding driver's license issues including allegations of breath test refusals, restorations and other sanctions imposed by the Michigan Secretary of State.
Mr. Hopkins has recently retired from his position with the Michigan Secretary of State and has taken a position at Hills Law Office. Mr. Hopkins' considerable expertise in driver's license restoration is a valuable addition to our practice. His focus will be to help Hills Law Office clientele to regain their driving privileges.
"We are extremely proud and privileged that Mr. Hopkins agreed to join our firm. His extensive knowledge of the intricate and complex laws surrounding the Michigan Secretary of State's rules and regulations regarding driver's licenses will be an extraordinary benefit to our clientele." Michael D. Hills President, Hills At Law, P.C.
Drivers License Sanctions
Under Southwest Michigan law, traffic violations fall into two general categories - civil infractions and criminal offenses. The crimes specified in the motor vehicle code include misdemeanors and felonies. Driver’s license sanctions are included in these crimes.
Civil infractions can result in financial penalties and points against your license, so they must be taken seriously. Moreover, multiple infractions can result in the accumulation of points against your license, which can have dramatic effects. Criminal traffic offenses often have serious consequences beyond the criminal penalties of incarceration. Upon conviction of a criminal offense, including drunk driving offenses, the Secretary of State may take action against your driver's license, resulting in the assessment of points, driver’s license sanctions or revocation. The process of drivers license restoration would then be required to acquire the right to drive again. Even without a conviction, the Secretary of State's Driver Assessment Division has authority to re-examine a driver when, for example, a driver has accumulated too many points or is involved in certain types of accidents. Such hearings include an on-the-road performance test and may result in a restriction, suspension, or revocation of driving privileges.
Driver’s License Restoration in Michigan
Michigan drivers aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary may request a hearing before the Driver License Appeal Division (DLAD) to achieve driver’s license restoration. The services of a Southwest Michigan and Kalamazoo criminal defense attorney may be needed. Appeals are typically from branch office application denials, driver assessment determinations, and implied-consent hearings and they include appeals for driver’s license restoration following revocation for various circumstances.
Moreover, driver license sanctions requiring the need for restoration may result from criminal convictions that have nothing to do with the operation of a motor vehicle. For example, convictions for certain drug offenses, possession of alcohol by minors in some instances and forging certain Secretary of State documents all may result in license sanctions.
Experienced Help for Michigan Driver's License Restoration
We at Hills Law Office have significant experience handling driver’s license restoration in Michigan. We have handled criminal cases with licensing implications and represented clients in licensing actions before the Michigan Secretary of State, including driver assessment and DLAD hearings. We are well-suited to provide you with the valuable advice you need for drivers license restoration and to minimize the impact of sanctions on your ability to drive and to regain your driving privileges.
If you've had your Michigan drivers license revoked due to accumulation of too many points, because you were involved in an accident, or from a conviction of a criminal offense like drunk driving, then you should to talk to a drivers license restoration attorney immediately about protecting your driving privileges and getting your drivers license reinstated.
Don't fall victim to the system — have an experienced attorney with expertise in drivers license restoration law there to represent you and protect your drivers license at driver assessments, DLAD hearings, and before the Michigan Secretary of State.
Driver's License Restoration Service Areas:
Driver's license restoration representation is provided for these Michigan counties:
|
|
Hills Law Office is located in Kalamazoo Michigan and specializes in Criminal Defense and drivers license restoration & reinstatement for the Southwest Michigan area. Contact us today about driver's license restoration in Kalamazoo, and the surrounding Southwest Michigan area.