At Grabel & Associates, we understand how devastating it is to lose your driver’s license. Work schedules, family duties, and basic day-to-day errands all become uphill climbs when you have no legal way to drive. Our driver's license restoration lawyers have spent over two decades guiding clients through Monroe’s complex legal system and have established a statewide reputation for winning some of the most challenging cases. If your driving privileges have been suspended or revoked, our Monroe criminal defense team is ready to help get you back behind the wheel.
Public transportation options are limited in southeast Michigan outside Metro Detroit. A valid driver’s license is practically required for employment, medical appointments, and caring for loved ones. The cost of rideshares or relying on friends quickly adds up. And if you drive while your license is revoked, it can trigger new criminal charges under MCL 257.904, which can result in stacked penalties and further postpone reinstatement. We work to break that cycle, so you can steer your life forward rather than watch it pass you.
While a suspended and revoked driver’s license might sound similar, they are entirely separate concepts under Michigan law.
Most alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions, like second offense operating while intoxicated (OWI), result in a mandatory revocation. Under MCL 257.303, you must wait at least one year after a first revocation (or five years if another revocation occurs within seven years) before you may even apply for a restoration hearing.
Eligibility comes down to three factors:
If you are unsure of your eligibility, we will retrieve and analyze your master driving record, court dockets, and ignition-interlock data to pinpoint the earliest date you can file for your driver’s license reinstatement.
The SOS’s Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight (OHAO), formerly known as the Driver License Appeal Division (DLAD), conducts all license-restoration hearings. Hearings now occur via video (Microsoft Teams), in person at regional Driver Assessment branches, such as those in Dearborn, Livonia, or Clinton Township, or through a paper review.
Regardless of format, you face an administrative law judge (ALJ) who applies the “clear and convincing evidence” standard. That means the burden is on us to prove you are:
Because the burden is on us to prove these three things by clear and convincing evidence, the case we present to the ALJ cannot merely touch on these points. The evidence on all three must be strong.
The SOS spells out precisely what must be filed BEFORE the hearing will even be scheduled:
We compile, analyze, and electronically upload every document, flagging issues that could trigger a summary denial long before an ALJ sees the file.
Even rock-solid paperwork can be undermined by nervous or inconsistent testimony. Therefore, we almost always conduct a full mock hearing before your actual hearing. You will practice answering the ALJ’s go-to questions, such as:
When we log in to Teams or walk into the Driver Assessment office, you will know exactly what to expect and how to present the confident, consistent narrative judges need to hear.
First-time restoration requires a restricted license with a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) for a period of one year. Any failed or missed test, tamper event, or driving outside permitted hours can create a violation that restarts the revocation period. We guide you on choosing a reputable interlock provider, downloading monthly reports, and avoiding common compliance traps.
If the ALJ denies reinstatement, we can appeal to the Monroe County Circuit Court under MCL 257.323. The petition must be filed within 63 days (or 182 days in some rare instances) of the written denial and served on the Attorney General.
Circuit court judges may overturn OHAO decisions if they find the ALJ misapplied the law, relied on improper evidence, or issued findings unsupported by competent, material, and substantial evidence. Our firm’s appellate team handles these petitions routinely, drafting persuasive briefs and, when appropriate, negotiating stipulated remands to avoid prolonged litigation.
Our extensive experience helps us avoid the common pitfalls that unrepresented applicants and inexperienced attorneys run into in the driver’s license restoration process:
Minor missteps often lead to a one-year setback. We treat every detail as critical, no matter how simple, so you do not lose precious time.
Grabel & Associates has represented clients from Bedford Township to Downtown Monroe, from Dundee to Newport, and across the I-75 corridor. Our attorneys appear before the same ALJs every week, so we are familiar with each judge’s preferences, pet peeves, and go-to questions. We also understand what each ALJ is looking for in every case. Whether your history involves multiple OWI convictions, breath-test refusals, or previous hearing denials, we shape an individualized strategy that maximizes your odds in front of the ALJ on your case.
What makes us different from other firms that handle driver’s license restorations is everything from our experience in these cases to our around-the-clock availability:
Every day you do not have a driver’s license is a missed opportunity. Let us shoulder the heavy lifting on the legal side of things while you focus on staying sober and rebuilding your life. Call Grabel & Associates now or complete our secure online form for a free, confidential case review. We will clear the roadblocks between you and your driver’s license.