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Driver's License Assessment Reexamination and Appeal Hearings in Michigan

If the period for your driver’s license suspension or restriction has come to an end, you’re likely eager to apply to the Michigan Secretary of State for reinstatement. A revoked or denied driver’s license may require that you apply for a hearing before the Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight of the Secretary of State. The experienced driver’s license reinstatement attorneys at Grabel & Associates have helped drivers get their licenses in circumstances that are likely just like yours.

Driver Assessment Reexamination Process

The Michigan Secretary of State’s Traffic Safety Division is responsible for conducting driver reexaminations that are required by the Michigan Vehicle Code. In essence, these reexaminations are intended to determine your ability to continue driving safely and decide whether licensing restrictions should be imposed. Michigan law allows for a reexamination in several different circumstances, including the following:

  • you have received tickets while on probation,
  • there is reason to believe that you can no longer operate a motor vehicle safely due to your physical or mental condition,
  • you were involved in a fatal crash,
  • you have been involved in three or more traffic crashes during a two-year period where you were determined to be at fault,
  • you have accumulated 12 points or more on your driving record during a two-year period, or
  • you have been convicted of violating the restrictions, terms, or conditions on your driver’s license.

If you are scheduled for a driver assessment reexamination, you will receive a notice from the Secretary of State telling you when and where to appear. The reexamination itself consists of the analyst reviewing and discussing with you your driving record. In addition, you may be required to take and pass vision and “knowledge,” i.e., classroom-style, tests as well as an on-road driving test. You may be required to provide a medical or vision statement to be considered as well.

At the conclusion of your driver assessment reexamination, the hearings officer will come to a decision. It may well be that your license is unaffected. But it could also be restricted, suspended, or revoked depending on numerous factors, such as the type of violation or driving behavior at issue, your driving record as a whole, and your willingness to comply with assessment recommendations and requirements. In the event your license is affected as a result of the reexamination, the hearings officer will provide you with information regarding license reinstatement as well as on how to appeal.

Driver’s License Appeal Hearings

Under MCL 257.323, “[a] person aggrieved by a final determination of the secretary of state denying the person an operator’s or chauffeur’s license, a vehicle group designation, or an indorsement on a license or revoking, suspending, or restricting an operator’s or chauffeur’s license, vehicle group designation, or an indorsement may petition for a review of the determination in the circuit court in the county where the person was arrested . . . or, in all other cases, in the circuit court in the person’s county of residence. . . .” Stated more simply, you can appeal a Secretary of State decision that you believe is wrong to the circuit court in the county where or were arrested or the county where you live depending on certain circumstances.

When doing so, there are several things you’ll want to keep in mind. The first is the timing: You have to file your appeal “within 63 days after the determination is made” (or within 182 days so long as you can show “good cause”). To do so, you’ll first prepare a petition that includes your name, address, birth date, and driver’s license number. You’ll also have to submit a copy of the official order from the Secretary of State as well as all affidavits, letters of reference, and evidence that was presented at your administrative or driver’s license restoration hearing. All of this documentation must be served on the Secretary of State’s office in Lansing (430 West Allegan Street, P.O. Box 30196, Lansing, MI 48909-7696) at least 20 days before the hearing.

Perhaps the most important thing to understand before appealing is that burden of proof you’ll face on appeal: proving the Secretary of State decision was an abuse of discretion. The abuse-of-discretion standard requires appellate judges to give lower decisions a significant amount of deference. The Michigan Supreme Court, for example, has said that a lower court abuses its discretion when it chooses an outcome that falls beyond the range of principled outcomes. Although you’re allowed to submit new testimony on appeal as well, you need to know that prevailing on appeal against the abuse-of-discretion burden is tough to do.

Driver Assessment Reexamination Locations

There are Driver Assessment Reexamination locations throughout Michigan:

Alpena
2666 S US 23
Alpena, MI 49707
Bay County PLUS
1007 N Euclid
Bay City, MI 48706
Bessemer
206 E Mary St
Bessemer, MI 49911
Cadillac
1574 N Mitchell
Cadillac, MI 49601
Calhoun County PLUS
2545 Capital Ave SW, Ste 140
Battle Creek, MI 49015
Clinton Township Super Center
37015 S Gratiot Ave
Clinton Township, MI 48036
Dearborn
5094 Schaefer
Dearborn, MI 48126
Delta County PLUS
305 Ludington, Rm 6A
Escanaba, MI 49829
Detroit Super Center
Cadillac Place
3046 W Grand Blvd, Ste L-650
Detroit, MI 48202
Flint Super Center
5512 Fenton Rd
Flint, MI 48507
Grand Rapids Area Super Center
3601 28th St SE (Centerpointe Mall)
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Houghton
902 Razorback Dr, Ste 1
Houghton, MI 49931
Hudsonville
5211 Cherry Avenue, Ste 140
Hudsonville, MI 49426
Iron Mountain
Midtown Mall
1044 S Stephenson Ave
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
Jackson County PLUS
1184 Jackson Crossing Mall, G-102
Jackson, MI 49202
Lansing Area PLUS
8158 Executive Court, Ste 30
Lansing, MI 48197
Marquette County PLUS
2025 Highway 41 West
Marquette, MI 49855
Mecosta County PLUS
206-A N Michigan Ave
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Mt Pleasant
1245 North Mission
Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
Muskegon County PLUS
1485 Apple Ave
Muskegon, MI 49442
Oakland County Super Center
1270 Pontiac Rd
Pontiac, MI 48340
Petoskey
1185 US 31 North (Giantway Plaza)
Petoskey, MI 49770
Sault Ste Marie
2700 Davitt St, Ste 2
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
South Kalamazoo County PLUS
603 Romence Road
Portage, MI 49024
Grand Traverse County PLUS
1759 Barlow
Traverse City, MI 49684
Tuscola County PLUS
150 Millwood St
Caro, MI 48723
Washtenaw County PLUS
353 N Maple
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
West Branch
2394 West M-55
West Branch, MI 48661
West Oakland County PLUS
672 N Milford Rd
Highland Twp, MI 48357
Ypsilanti
2729 Washtenaw Ave
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Driver’s License Appeals Locations

There are also many Driver’s License Appeals locations throughout Michigan:

Alpena
2666 S US 23
Alpena, MI 49707
NW Berrien County PLUS
1960 Mall Drive
Benton Harbor, MI 49911
Mecosta County PLUS
206 North Michigan Ave
Big Rapids, MI 49307
Cadillac
1574 N Mitchell
Cadillac, MI 49601
Capital Area Super Center
3315 E Michigan Ave, Ste 1
Lansing, MI 48918
Clinton Township Super Center
37015 S Gratiot Ave
Clinton Township, MI 48036
Delta County PLUS
305 Ludington, Rm 6A
Escanaba, MI 49829
Flint Super Center
5512 Fenton Rd
Flint, MI 48507
Grand Rapids Downtown
One Division St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Houghton
902 Razorback Dr, Ste 1
Houghton, MI 49931
Iron Mountain
1044 S Stephenson Ave
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
Jackson County PLUS
1184 Jackson Crossing Mall, G-102
Jackson, MI 49202
South Kalamazoo County PLUS
603 Romence Rd
Portage, MI 49024
Livonia Area Super Center
17180 Farmington Rd
Livonia, MI 48152
Marquette County PLUS
2025 Highway 41 West
Marquette, MI 49855
Monroe County PLUS
1107 Telegraph Rd
Monroe, MI 48161
Mt Pleasant
1245 North Mission
Mt Pleasant, MI 48858
Muskegon
1485 Apple Ave
Muskegon, MI 49442
Petoskey
1185 US 31 North (Giantway Plaza)
Petoskey, MI 49770
St Clair County PLUS
2887 Krafft Rd
Port Huron, MI 48060
Saginaw County PLUS
4404 Bay Rd
Saginaw, MI 48603
Sault Ste Marie
2700 Davitt St, Ste 2
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
Grand Traverse County PLUS
1759 Barlow
Traverse City, MI 49684
Tuscola County PLUS
150 Millwood St
Caro, MI 48723
Washtenaw County PLUS
353 N Maple
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
West Branch
2394 West M-55
West Branch, MI 48661
Bessemer
206 East Mary
Bessemer, MI 49911
Ypsilanti
2729 Washtenaw Ave
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

Rely On Our Experience

The experienced attorneys at Grabel & Associates have successfully worked through this process—from the moment someone is charged all the way to the successful restoration of driving privileges—time and time again. Getting it right with reexaminations and appeals is so important because of the limitations that come with them. If you believe that relying on our experience will help your effort to get back on the road, contact us online or at 1-800-342-7896 today. We can work with you to understand what happened to your license, analyze the potential strategies and possible consequences going forward, and then rely on our experience to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family.


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If you are reading these reviews you are about to make a decision that will have a large impact on the rest of your life. I choose Grabel and Associates to represent me in my case and I could not have been more satisfied with the level of professionalism and dedication to their clients. I had the opportunity to meet and work with multiple lawyers in the practice all of which showcased a vast knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of the legal system. When you choose Scott Grabel to represent you will open yourself up to all of his resources. Depending on your case Grabel knows experts in all fields. I worked with polygraph examiners, investigators, and forensics experts. Grabel and Associates will defend without prejudice of innocence or guilt. Scott Grabel was able to lead me through every step of the process with great communication the whole way. I would recommend Scott Grabel and Associates to my friends, family and anyone who is in need of representation. B. A.
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Scott and his firm did an awesome job representing a family member of mine, I would highly recommend him and his firm! They were extremely reliable, trustworthy and very informative and did a great job with the case. I couldn't be happier with the results that we received, I can't speak highly enough about the great job he did. If you are thinking about using his firm, I would highly recommend, I would definitely use his firm again if needed, he is an a great attorney with a great firm, you won't be disappointed! M. F.
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