How To Get A Suspended License Reinstated
LANSING – Over 73,000 people across Michigan whose driver's licenses were suspended for certain infractions can get back on the road as a new law takes effect Friday.
Starting Oct. 1, Michiganders who had their licenses suspended for failure to pay court fines or failure to appear in court for violations can have them reinstated. The new law taking effect is part of Michigan's criminal justice reform package Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed in January 2021.
Of the 73,000 people immediately eligible to have their licenses reinstated, roughly half will be able to use their current licenses and the others can get new ones, according to the Michigan Supreme Court.
The law does not change license suspensions for dangerous driving activities.
More:Whitmer signs bills to curb license suspensions, dozens of criminal justice reforms
"The revocation of a driver's license has an immediate ripple effect on a person's life, and to lose it for reasons completely unrelated to driving safely was unnecessarily punitive," Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a statement. "I am grateful for the work of the Michigan Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration, and the many community partners who worked diligently to right this wrong.
"Our Department has been working for months on the implementation of these changes, and now we're ready to help residents get their licenses and get back on their feet," she added.
Under the state's previous law, people who failed to respond to a traffic citation or failed to comply with a court judgment had their driver's license suspended until that matter was resolved, according to the Michigan Department of State.
Who is eligible?
People whose licenses were suspended for failure to pay tickets or court fines or failure to appear in court for certain violations are eligible to have their driving privileges reinstated.
The violations associated with the failure to pay court fines category are:
- Open intoxicants in a vehicle
- Open intoxicants in a vehicle (passenger)
- Person under 21 transporting/possessing alcohol in a vehicle
- Person under 21 transporting/possessing alcohol in a vehicle (passenger)
- Minor in possession of alcohol
- Failure to comply with a civil infraction
- Person under 21 used fraudulent ID to purchase liquor
- Sold/furnished alcoholic liquor to a person under 21
- Felonious driving
- Controlled substance
- False report or threat of a bomb/harmful device (school)
- Holds placed on licenses for unpaid parking tickets will also be lifted
How will I know if this impacts me?
The Michigan Department of State will mail a letter to all the people impacted by the new law. The letters should arrive within the first two weeks of the month to the addresses listed with people's driving record.
More:Michigan's new expungement laws kick in Sunday. Here's how to get help.
That letter will list the violations and suspensions that will be lifted from a person's record and what, if any, additional steps are needed.
When can I start driving?
In some circumstances, people will be able to begin driving once the suspension is cleared from their record. People should verify their record through the Department of State.
The letter mailed to people will have information on getting their physical license back if they do not have one currently.
Will the offenses still appear on my record?
Yes. The license suspensions will still be listed on driving records but marked as cleared.
Am I still responsible for any fines tied to the suspension?
No. People who have their licenses reinstated will not have to pay fines tied to the suspension, John Nevin, communications director for the Michigan Supreme Court, said.
Where can I go if I need help?
The Department of State is planning some informational sessions and virtual clinics to help people through the process. Once those events are scheduled, they will be posted on the department's website.
People can also reach out to Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org, the Counsel and Advocacy Law Line at 888-783-8190 or the Legal Aid and Defender Association at 313-967-5800 or 877-964-4700.
Contact reporter Craig Lyons at 517-377-1047 or calyons@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @craigalyons.
How To Get A Suspended License Reinstated
Source: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2021/09/30/michigan-clean-slate-drivers-license-suspension-october-1-reinstatement/5933795001/
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