What is process to get drivers license reinstated?

McHenry County Law Firm Helping Clients Regain Their Driving Privileges

What Are the Eligibility Requirements for License Reinstatement?

A suspended license can typically be reinstated at the end of the suspension period by paying a reinstatement fee, although you may want to attend a Secretary of State license reinstatement hearing if you wish to obtain a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) during the suspension period. Reinstating a revoked license requires a number of additional steps. To be eligible for reinstatement, you may be required to complete a drug and alcohol education class, an early intervention program, and/or a drug and alcohol abuse treatment program. Your specific requirements will be based on the results of an alcohol and drug evaluation that is administered by a licensed alcohol counselor.

Once the minimum period of license revocation ends, you must attend a license reinstatement hearing. At this hearing, you must show that you have taken the steps necessary to address any substance abuse problems and become a safe driver. If your license revocation was the result of a DUI conviction, you will be asked questions about the circumstances of your DUI arrest, your past criminal history, the lifestyle changes you have made to become a safe driver, and your participation in treatment programs and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous if you were classified as a high-risk driver by the substance abuse counselor. If your revocation was the result of a non-DUI offense such as leaving the scene of an accident or drag racing, the hearing will focus on your driving history, your criminal record, and the steps you have taken to avoid future violations of the law.

What Happens at a License Reinstatement Hearing?

Whether a formal or informal license reinstatement hearing will be necessary depends on the reasons for your license suspension or revocation and your level of risk classification as determined by a licensed alcohol counselor. An informal hearing will be held at a Secretary of State Driver Services facility, and in this hearing, questions will be asked by a hearing officer to determine whether you have satisfied the criteria for reinstatement or an RDP. A formal hearing is conducted in a similar manner as a courtroom trial. Your attorney and a lawyer for the Secretary of State will ask you questions under oath in front of a hearing officer. At either type of hearing, you will be required to show that the reinstatement of your driving privileges will not create a risk to public safety.

The hearing officer will determine whether you have met the necessary requirements, and they will evaluate whether you are likely to offend again. They will then offer recommendations to the Secretary of State, who will determine whether your reinstatement will be granted or denied. If it is denied, you must wait 90 days before you can attend another hearing and be given a second chance at reinstatement. At Botto Gilbert Lancaster, PC, our attorneys will make sure you are prepared for a formal or informal hearing. We know the questions you will be asked, and we will guide you on how to provide the correct answers. Our top priority during a reinstatement hearing is to prove that you are no longer a risk on the road and should be allowed to drive again.

Let Us Help You Get Your Freedom Back

Requests for driver’s license reinstatement are frequently denied. By hiring an experienced lawyer from Botto Gilbert Lancaster, PC, you can make sure you will have the best chance possible of having your license reinstated. To learn how our law firm can help you complete the license reinstatement process successfully, contact us today by calling 779-800-2268 to set up a complimentary consultation. We assist with driver’s license reinstatement cases in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, McHenry County, Lake in the Hills, Winnebago County, Barrington, Cook County, Huntley, Cary, Rockford, Woodstock, and Round Lake Beach.