No. You Cannot Function Well in Michigan Without Driving. Time to Get Your License Back.
Nobody is Perfect. You might have had that DUI awhile back, and the State of Michigan suspended your license. You knew that was a possibility, but now you have been dealing for months, or even years, without a drivers’ license in Michigan, which we all know is nearly impossible. You can only ask your friends and family so much, before they are no longer available.
Are you eligible to have it restored? It depends on whether your license has been “revoked” or “suspended”. Under MCLA §257.52, a revocation is a termination of the driving privilege, without a date being given for restoration of that privilege. A driver whose license has been “revoked” (as opposed to being “suspended”) cannot reapply for a drivers license restoration until after the passage of one (1) year for a first revocation, and for a period of five (5) years for a subsequent revocation that is within seven years of an earlier revocation. The one- and five-year time periods are counted starting on the effective date of the revocation. MCLA §257.303(1)(c).
By contrast, a suspension is for a definite time period, with a beginning and ending date. When that end date is reached, the driver need only to appear at a branch office of the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office, and pay the fee for reinstatement of the driver’s license, assuming no additional violations occur during the period of suspension. MCLA §257.320e.
Once the minimum one/five year waiting time is passed, the driver can apply for a hearing before the Drivers License Appeal Board, for re-licensing. However, the driver must submit a completed “Substance Evaluation Form“. Completion of that form will require you to sit down with a qualified substance abuse counselor, who is licensed by the State of Michigan, to conduct the type of substance abuse evaluation that is required before you can get your license back.
Once your substance abuse evaluation is completed, call Jon Frank for help in submitting this, along with an application, and letters of support, that will help you get your license back!!
The lawyer you hire should be the one handling your case. At Frank Law, you will not be shunted off to a lawyer you never heard of.
Text/Call either of my numbers, (877) FRANK-LAW (372-6552), or (586) 727-1900
You Have Done Your Time.
Now...Get Your License Back
Drivers License Restoration. Understand Your Rights in Michigan.
A new driver, automatically deemed "probationary" for three years under MCLA §257.310d, demonstrates unsafe driving behaviors, including:
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Michigan is a big place, and particularly in the Detroit area, public transportation is often difficult and unreliable. Legally, driving is a privilege, but as a practical matter, it is an absolute necessity around Southeastern Michigan.
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The Michigan Secretary of State's Office requires driver re-examinations in the following situations, after which driving privileges are denied:
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The Client Bill of Rights
Get yours.
Client Bill of Rights
- 100% Client Satisfaction Guarantee
- 48-Hour Open Door Policy
- The Lawyer You Hire Is The Lawyer Who Works on Your Case
- Candid Explanations in Plain Simple English
- An Idea Where Your Case is Heading
- One-Day Returned Phone Call/E-Mail/Text Policy
- Cell Phone Access to Your Lawyer
- Constant Immediate Updating
- You Have A Right to A Lawyer Who Will Respect Nos. 1-8 Above
Being a client sucks. It is a terrible and anxious experience, and I know, because I am not only a lawyer, but I have been a client before, myself. It can be awful, and the lawyer you hire should not make it worse.
Because different lawyers do different work, the problems that bring you to a lawyer will vary. However, one thing is in common: you have to put yourself and a highly sensitive problem into the hands of another person. It means that there is a loss of control. A cloud hanging over your head.
Just you hire me to protect your rights, you have rights THAT EVERY LAWYER SHOULD BE WILLING TO PROTECT.
I AM.
CLIENT BILL OF RIGHTS
1. 100% Client Satisfaction Guarantee
You have a right to be satisfied, and soon, that I am hard at work on your matter, and that your case is not “just another case”, but it is my cause. I cannot guarantee outcomes of personal injury, criminal, or other court matters.
However, if you are not completely satisfied within the first 30 days, or before the first Court appearance, whichever is sooner, that I am working hard on your case, then you can come get your file, or I will send it to you, and you can go hire another lawyer.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE COMPLETELY SATISFIED THAT I AM WORKING HARD ON YOUR MATTER, AND THAT YOUR CASE IS MY CAUSE.
2. 48-Hour Open Door Policy
If you feel that you need to sit down with me face-to-face to discuss your case, I WILL CLEAR MY SCHEDULE, SETTING ASIDE TIME TO MEET WITH YOU IN MY OFFICE. Even if I am in the middle of trial, I will meet with you within 48 hours.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO MEET WITH ME AT MY OFFICE, WITHIN 48 HOURS OF YOUR REQUEST, AND TO EXPECT ME TO CLEAR MY SCHEDULE, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
3. The Lawyer You Hire Is The Lawyer Who Works on Your Case
When you hire Jon Frank and The Frank Law Firm, PC, you hire Jon Frank. You will not be shunted off to associates who are off-camera, and whose faces do not appear on websites, or TV advertising. I am the lawyer who will answer your calls.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT THE LAWYER YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO HIRE, IS THE ONE WHO IS ACTUALLY WORKING ON YOUR CASE.
4. Candid Explanations in Plain Simple English
Personal injury, no-fault, and criminal matters, while commonly settled “out of court”, are ultimately matters decided “in court”, and therefore, no guarantees can be made as to outcome. Anyone who says otherwise, is not being truthful with you.
So, too, where you hire me to deed a property into trust, handle a probate matter, or anything else that I might do as your lawyer, there is a process that we must follow, and as the “paying customer”, you are entitled to understand just what that process is.
These are often complex matters that need to be explained to you, by your lawyer. Not only should your lawyer GLADLY explain the process to you, your lawyer should explain to you, in plain simple English – without formal, condescending “legalese”.
Not every lawyer is willing to give their client a full and candid explanation, for good or ill, and in plain simple English, of just what is going on with their case.
I AM.
THEREFORE, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR CASE, AND TO KEEP ASKING ME TO EXPLAIN IT, UNTIL YOU DO UNDERSTAND.
Lawyers are paid to provide a service, and should not complain, when their clients ask for the service they have paid for.
5. An Idea Where Your Case is Heading
As I just mentioned, there is a process that your matter will follow, from start to finish. One of the biggest causes of client stress, is not knowing just what that process is – ahead of time. Knowing what road you will be taking, makes the trip easier, not just as a traveler on an Interstate, but also as a client in a legal matter.
THEREFORE, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW IN ADVANCE, WHERE YOUR CASE IS HEADING, AS TO:
- PROCESS AND PROCEDURE
- STRONG POINTS AND WEAK POINTS OF YOUR CASE
- DESIRED OUTCOMES
- LIKELY OUTCOMES
6. One-Day Returned Phone Call/E-Mail/Text Policy
If it is important enough for you to reach out to me, to call, e-mail, or text, it is important enough for me to return the communication, and to do so promptly.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT ME WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY, TO:
- RETURN YOUR PHONE CALL
- RETURN YOUR TEXT MESSAGE, AND/OR
- RESPOND TO YOUR E-MAIL
7. Cell Phone Access to Your Lawyer
You have just hired me to help you through one of the most sensitive, gut-wrenching episodes you will ever have in your life, as long as you live.
One of the deepest expressions of trust, one human being can give another, is to be vulnerable enough to ask for help. By hiring me as your lawyer, that is what you have done. Therefore, I make a point of giving my clients my cell phone number, so that they can contact me, day or night, 24/7/365, by phone or text message
While you ARE WELCOME TO MY CELL PHONE NUMBER, I have enabled my land lines, (586) 727-1900 and (877) FRANK-LAW (372-6552) to receive text messages. While I may not always be available to talk, I want to make it easy for you to contact me; if I am not readily available, I will get back to you, often within minutes or hours, but always within one business day.
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO MY CELL PHONE NUMBER, AND TO HAVE ACCESS TO ME 24/7/365 BY CELL PHONE AND TEXT MESSAGE.
8. Constant Immediate Updating
It is bad enough to have to put your life in someone else’s hands. When you have to put your life into my hands, you have an absolute right to be kept updated as to the progress of your matter. My policy is to send a copy to you, by email, of all correspondence I send to other people (lawyers, insurance companies, prosecutors, police agencies, etc.).
Receiving copies by email, will enable you to see what I am doing on your case, as I am doing it.
I will send you email copies, usually by “blind copy”, to protect your email privacy; sometimes, I will forward to you, a previously sent email. If you do not have email, then I will send you copies of outgoing correspondence, by regular mail.
YOU HAVE AN ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO BE COPIED ON ALL OUTGOING CORRESPONDENCE ON YOUR MATTER, BY E-MAIL, OR BY REGULAR MAIL, WHEN THAT CORRESPONDENCE IS BEING SENT.
9. You Have A Right To A Lawyer Who Will Respect Nos. 1-8 Above
If you are looking for a lawyer who can help guide you through your injury matter to a great recovery, at the earliest possible time, or someone who can help protect your rights in a drunk driving, or criminal matter, you have a right to a lawyer who will respect these rights you have as a client.
As a client, you should never have to worry or wonder if your lawyer cares about your rights as a client, or whether they respect you as a human being. You deserve, and have a right to a lawyer, who will do both.
TEXT OR CALL ME, Jon Frank, at 877-FRANK-LAW, or at (586) 727-1900, if you want me to protect your rights as a citizen – and as a client. You can email me as well, at jon@jonfranklaw.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Frequently Asked Drivers License Restoration Questions. Michigan Based Legal Answers.
How Do I Request MY OWN Driving Record From The MI Secretary of State?
Fill out form BDVR-153, which you can find here, and send it in with the required $11.00 fee, and you should get it in about 2-3 weeks. The form has an option for email response by the Secretary of State, but you will need to send in the form, with your payment first.
Fill out form BDVR-153, which you can find here, and send it in with the required $11.00 fee, and you should get it in about 2-3 weeks. The form has an option for email response by the Secretary of State, but you will need to send in the form, with your payment first.
How Do I Interpret The Confusing Driving Record I Just Got From The MI-SOS?
It ain't easy. In fact, even the Secretary of State's Office knows that their driving history form is confusing, because they even created a pamphlet, instructing folks on how to interpret the driving history forms. Here it is... Load complete answer.
It ain't easy. In fact, even the Secretary of State's Office knows that their driving history form is confusing, because they even created a pamphlet, instructing folks on how to interpret the driving history forms. Here it is.
Call me if you have any questions on how to interpret it, or what it means for your rights, in a criminal, traffic ticket or other setting.
What Are The Typical Scenarios Involving Driver Re-Examinations?
The Michigan Secretary of State's Office requires driver re-examinations in the following situations, after which driving privileges are denied: .. Load complete answer.
The Michigan Secretary of State's Office requires driver re-examinations in the following situations, after which driving privileges are denied:
- Driver accumulates 12 or more points on driving record, within a two year period of time;
- Driver has medical or other conditions rendering him/her potentially unable to safely operate a motor vehicle;
- Driver has been involved in accidents resulting in fatalities;
- Driver has violated restrictions granted on license; or
- Driver has been involved in 3 or more “at fault” crashes within a two year period of time
If you’ve you’d had your license suspended for any of the above reasons, your suspension is not permanent and with help from a lawyer, you could be back on the road sooner than you thought.
ADVICE FOR DRIVERS WITH LICENSES SUSPENDED DUE TO UNPAID "DRIVER RESPONSBILITY FEES"
Under a recent change to the law, "Driver Responsibility Fees" are being phased out, and any balance owing on such fees will be waived on October 1, 2018... Load complete answer.
Under a recent change to the law, "Driver Responsibility Fees" are being phased out, and any balance owing on such fees will be waived on October 1, 2018.
So, why pay them at all? Well, of course, the first reason is that you will need to drive (perhaps to work), between now and October 1, 2018.
If the fees are going to be waived anyway, what is the best approach?
Call Jon Frank at The Frank Law Firm, PC, 877-FRANK-LAW, and we can talk about this.