I am no longer an Illinois Resident – How do I remove this hold?

There are two options to remove the hold Illinois has on your license. 1) An out of state packet can be mailed to Springfield for their review. This is the most convenient way, although in our experience, this method that yields the least success. 2) An in person hearing. Although not the most convenient option when you live out of state, in our experience, this method yields the greatest likelihood of success. Our firm will help you schedule this in person formal hearing and guide you through the entire process from beginning to end. Contact our office to discuss the process in detail.

Can I get this done any other way?

No, even if you never had an Illinois license, receiving a DUI conviction in Illinois is all it takes to get slapped with a hold on your out of state license. So yes, you will need to go through either the out of state packet or an in person hearing in order to have the hold removed from your license. It doesn’t matter if you have no plans to return to this state or ever drive here again in the future. You still must complete this process.

Unfortunately due to the national database system in place today, your home state will check to see if there are any issues with any other states prior to issuing you a license and in some cases, even prior to renewing your home state license. This procedure was put in place to stop individuals from just moving from state to state to obtain a new license after being revoked in another state.

What if I’ve been denied in the past? Can I still reapply?

Even if you have been denied in the past, we can still help. The secretary of state gives us the blueprint of what went wrong in your hearing in a document called “the denial letter”. Our firm will go through every issue with you and make the appropriate changes to not only the documents that you submitted to the state for the hearing, but also in preparing you for the numerous questions that will be asked. We will work closely with the evaluator to make sure they are addressing every concern the hearing officer had in reviewing your hearing. We will clarify any points of concern that the state had with your initial hearing.

What happened? An old DUI is now showing up? Do I still need a hearing? 

Believe it or not, even if your DUI was 10 or 20 years ago, it can still put a hold on your license. Nowadays, almost every state participates in the national database system that allows the states to “talk” to each other regarding traffic offenses and or arrests? This database system is relatively new and more and more information is being added to it every day. If you have had an old DUI added recently, it may have put a hold on your license even if you have had no traffic violations since that time. Unfortunately, you too will need to go through the Illinois hearing process, either with the out of state packet or the in person hearing to remove the hold on your license.

What type of documents do I need for the hearing?

The State of Illinois requires specific documents when evaluating your out of state packet or when you have the in person hearing. Although Illinois will accept out of state documents from out of state evaluators, it is important to make sure that person is aware of the requirements of Illinois and able to provide the appropriate documentation. Our firm will work with the evaluator to make sure that any issues or problems are resolved well in advance of your hearing.

I completed treatment once, do I have to do it again?

Typically no. The State of Illinois will give you credit for the treatment you completed after your last DUI or last alcohol related offense. At a minimum though, you must have an updated evaluation or a new evaluation prepared along with a treatment needs assessment / waiver if more than 6 months have passed since your last evaluation. We will advise you on what additional documentation you need if necessary.

Do I need an attorney?

You are not required to have an attorney with you during the out of state hearing process. However, this like all other legal issues are complex and confusing. You would want to take advantage of an experienced and knowledgeable Joliet drivers license reinstatement lawyer. We have helped many residents and non residents alike, get their driving privileges back. We will walk you through the entire process from beginning to end. We are confident we can get you back on the road again.