Free Clinic Helps Restore Suspended Michigan Driver’s Licenses

There are many people who fail to realize that having a driver's license is a privilege that you earn from learning and showcasing that you understand the laws of the road and how to operate a vehicle. Just like any other privilege in the world, your license can be taken away from you for violating the laws and placing others in danger.

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Most of the time your actions lead to tickets, court appearances, fines, points against your license, and sometimes jail time. When you gather enough of these infractions in a certain amount of time your license in suspended and you are no longer legally allowed to drive. In the state of Michigan there are many ways to earn your privileges back, but they all take a little bit of work.

One of those ways is a little bit easier than others and that's because the department has gone mobile and is bringing the resources to the community rather than the other way around. Michigan Secretary of State staff and volunteer attorneys have started and participate in the Road to Restoration program.

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The Road to Restoration program is designed to help individuals gain all the information needed to handle their necessary proceedings to earn their driver's license again. The clinic does make several stops around the state and has been successful in past years. Their first stop is in Kalamazoo on March 6th at Mt Zion Baptist Church from 10am to 4pm.

They will also be making stops in the following cities on the following dates:

• Benton Harbor on March 14
• Grand Rapids on May 16
• Battle Creek on June 17
• Holland on August 7
• Muskegon on September 17

The Michigan Secretary of State office wanted to make it very clear that the clinic is not for automatic license reinstatement, expunging infractions like DUI offenses or completing a license reinstatement hearing. Although services like vision testing and the written driver’s exam will be available along with driver's license status checks.

Michigan SOS says that registering ahead of time is recommended, as walk-ins are available as space permits between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. You can register online or by dialing 211. Below is a list of items to bring with you to the clinic:

• A copy of your driving record (purchased online for $16) dated no earlier than 48 hours before the clinic
• State ID or driver’s license
• If you are eligible to apply for your driver’s permit at the clinic, you will need to provide the following:
• Proof of your Social Security number (card, pay stub, W2, or another official document)
• Proof of legal presence in the U.S. (birth certificate, passport, Green Card, work authorization card, other immigration documents)
• Proof of identity (state ID card, school records, marriage or divorce decree, military ID, etc.)
• Two documents proving Michigan residency