GAYLORD — Due in part to changes in the law approved by the state legislature several years ago, drivers with a revoked or suspended license may have more options in getting their driving privileges reinstated.
The Michigan Secretary of State along with community partners will be at two free Road to Restoration legal clinics in Northern Michigan. Volunteer attorneys and MDOS staff will be on site to guide eligible drivers on the path to restoring their legal driving ability.
Khyla Craine is the deputy legal director for the secretary of state and she said the clinics are an opportunity for residents to learn how to get their driver's licenses restored.
"We will be bringing in team members from the secretary of state office and volunteer attorneys that are able to work with individuals so they know what their pathway is to get their license back. Sometimes they may be able to get their license restored on site and if they can't get back their driving privileges at the clinic, they will know the steps they need to take in the future to accomplish that goal," Craine said.
There is no charge to attend or talk to lawyers or other officials at the clinics.
"Some folks may need to pay for a copy of their driving record while others may already have it. They can pay for a copy of their driving record at the clinic," added Craine.
She said in 2021 the legislature passed the Clean Slate to Drive laws, which eliminated license suspension for certain violations and it also converted some violations from misdemeanors to civil infractions. For example, Michigan will no longer suspend driver's licenses for issues unrelated to driving safety, such as missed court appointments and unpaid fees.
"So for about 150,000 residents it helped them tremendously. For others while it removed some violations from their driving record, they still have more steps to take to get their licenses restored because they have other violations that are suspending their licenses or they have a revoked license related to DUIs or other issues that prevent restoration," Craine said.
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For more information about the program or to sign up for the Gaylord and Petoskey clinics, visit michigan.gov/sos/license-id/road-to-restoration.
The Petoskey clinic is scheduled from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16 at the Carnegie Building, 451 E. Mitchell St. Walk-ins will be accepted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as space permits.
The Gaylord clinic is set for 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 18 at the Ellison Place at 150 Dale Drive. Walk-ins will be accepted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as space permits.
"This is not an expungement clinic," said Craine. "Some folks think that we can just wipe things off of their driving record and automatically restore their driving privileges but that is not what we do at the clinic."
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
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