Drivers license forfeitures in the state of Michigan originate at the Secretary of State’s office. The Secretary of State may either suspend, restrict or revoke an issued Michigan license for a number of offenses, including DUI. In order to have your license reinstated subsequent to a suspension, restriction or revocation, you will need to satisfy a set of requirements related to your reason for forfeiture.
Causes of Revocation
The most common reasons for license revocation in Michigan include operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with drugs or alcohol, refusing to submit to a roadside breathalyzer test under reasonable suspicion of OWI, accumulating too many points on your license for moving violations, neglecting to carry an active insurance policy on your vehicle, or using your vehicle in the commission of a felony. Depending on the severity of the infraction, your Michigan license may just be restricted or suspended. The most serious offenses result in outright revocation.
How long is a suspension?
A suspension only lasts for a limited amount of time, and varies depending on your infraction. Temporary suspensions may increase to full revocations for ongoing insurance violations, failure to appear in court for a traffic violation, or neglecting to comply with a court order. Once a Michigan drivers license has been revoked, you will need to begin the licensing application process from scratch. Typically, operators with revoked licenses will have to wait on year to reapply after initial revocations and five years after subsequent revocations. You may also need to petition Michigan courts through the Michigan SOS Driver Assessment and Appeal Division.
Depending on the circumstances of your specific license forfeiture, you may be eligible to apply for a restricted license during the term of your suspension or revocation. Restricted licenses allow operators to drive under specific circumstances and to and from authorized locations. Most operators will need to serve a minimum suspension duration before requesting a restricted licenses. They can then petition a Michigan court to waive the remaining term of suspension and issue a restricted license.