Will a Formal Hearing Be Needed Before My License Can Be Reinstated?

 Posted on April 22, 2022 in Uncategorized

There are a variety of reasons why a person’s driver’s license may be suspended or revoked. Arrests for drunk driving or DUI convictions are some of the most common reasons for the loss of a driver’s license, but multiple traffic violations on a person’s record may also result in a license suspension. In these situations, a person will need to determine their options for driver’s license reinstatement. Depending on the reasons for a suspension or revocation, a person may be required to attend a formal license reinstatement hearing. If your license has been suspended or revoked, you will want to understand when a formal hearing may be necessary, the procedures that will be followed in these hearings, and the steps you can take to show that your driving privileges should be restored.

Formal Hearings with the Illinois Secretary of State

Informal hearings, which are conducted at multiple Secretary of State facilities throughout the state of Illinois, will be used in most cases involving driver’s license suspensions. However, formal hearings will be required in certain situations. These include cases where a person has multiple DUI dispositions, including criminal convictions or statutory summary suspensions that occurred because they failed or refused to take a chemical blood alcohol test after being arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving. A formal hearing will also be required if a license was suspended or revoked because a person committed an offense that caused someone else to suffer great bodily harm or resulted in a person’s death. Formal hearings are held in four locations throughout Illinois. A person will need to request a formal hearing in writing, and they will state whether they are seeking the reinstatement of their driver’s license or requesting a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) based on hardship that will affect them and their family due to the loss of their driving privileges.

A formal license reinstatement hearing is conducted like a courtroom trial. An attorney representing the Secretary of State will be present, and the person requesting the reinstatement of their driving privileges may also have legal representation. Both sides will present their case to a Secretary of State hearing officer, and they may submit evidence or examine witnesses. To have their license reinstated, a person will usually need to show that they have met all requirements put in place by the Secretary of State. This may include providing documentation that they have received treatment for alcohol or drug abuse or completed any required traffic safety courses. They may also show that they are taking steps to ensure that they will be responsible in the future, such as by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

Contact Our Joliet License Reinstatement Hearing Lawyer

If you are looking to have your license reinstated after a DUI-related suspension or revocation, or if you need to determine your options for obtaining a Restricted Driving Permit, the Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C. can assist with your case. We will help you determine whether a formal or informal license reinstatement hearing will be necessary, and we can help you prepare for a hearing and ensure you meet all of your requirements to regain your driving privileges. Contact our Will County driver’s license reinstatement attorney by calling 815-740-4025 to set up a free consultation today.