Michigan Substance Abuse Evaluation for Driver’s License Reinstatement
If you get a DUI in Michigan, restoration of your driver’s license is not impossible. In order to have your driver’s license reinstated in Michigan, there are a list of guidelines and tasks you must complete to prove to the courts that your alcohol abuse is under control and you will not be drinking and driving again. After getting a DUI, it is necessary to submit a request for an administrative hearing to the Michigan Secretary of State Driver License Appeal Division (using SOS 257 Form). People are typically allowed only one hearing a year.
Prior to the hearing for getting the driver’s license restored after a DUI, it is mandatory to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and it must meet certain specifications per the Michigan Secretary of State. The substance abuse evaluation will include the disclosure of all current and past use of drugs and alcohol. The drug screen analysis brought to the evaluation will be reviewed and discussed.
Schedule your evaluation appointment and print out the Michigan form SOS 258 (Michigan Substance Use Evaluation) to take with you. The SOS 257 Form and SOS 258 Evaluation will need to be submitted simultaneously for your hearing with the Michigan Secretary of State Driver License Appeal Division. When you arrive to your evaluation appointment, it is imperative you have:
- Master Driving Record (call the Secretary of State Plus Office or order from Lansing, Michigan after having your license suspended).
- 12-Panel Urinalysis Drug Screen
- Four Notarized Letters of Support less than 6 months old: Letters have to be specific per the Secretary of State guidelines. Additionally, they have to be notarized by a public notary and cannot be older than six months at the time of your evaluation.
When you present your case at the hearing for your driver’s license reinstatement, you must include the following evaluation forms to the Michigan Secretary of State Driver License Appeal Division:
- All evaluator results from exams and testing
- Treatment history, including relapses
- Substance abuse criminal record – charges/convictions
- Support group attendance records
- Evaluator’s diagnosis and positive prognosis
- Person’s current living / work situation, address, environment, and lifestyle changes that have taken effect since the suspension
- Any relevant information pertaining to the person’s present circumstances
- Support description detailing what plan the person has for maintaining sobriety
If the substance abuse evaluation is not favorable, a lawyer can help guide you through the procedure of getting a second opinion in Michigan. While the substance abuse evaluation SOS 258 is a requirement from the Michigan Secretary of State Driver License Appeal Division when submitting your hearing request SOS 257 Form, it is not the only requirement for driver’s license restoration.
It is critical to change your lifestyle and obtain strong letters of reference from neighbors, friends, and co-workers that can attest to your change, as well as your character. Ensuring you have everything necessary along with your witnesses will best prepare you for the testimony with the Michigan Driver License Assessment and Appeal Division hearing.
If you or someone you know has lost their driver’s license after a DUI conviction in Michigan, we can help at MDADs with the Michigan Secretary of State Requirements and evaluation. Contact our professional, friendly staff today to learn more.