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Michigan's point system is designed to improve road safety assigning points to certain traffic violations, and if you accumulate too many points within a certain time frame your driving privileges may be suspended. How Does the Point System Work? When you commit a traffic violation, points may be added to your driving record. The number of points assigned depends on the se...

Restoring a revoked license is especially difficult in Michigan.  Not only are there several minimum requirements to prove and tons of paperwork to complete, but often times there are “obstacles” in the way of success. Every day, a frustrated applicant calls our firm wondering why they lost their appeal or why they can’t even get a hearing.  They have presented problem...

A Michigan driver's license appeal hearing is your chance to present your case to get your driving privileges reinstated after a suspension or revocation. The process can be daunting, but understanding what to expect can help you approach the hearing with confidence. The Hearing Process: Your Time to Shine The hearing will likely follow a formal structure: Opening Statements:  ...

Let's face it, there aren't too many Michigan attorneys who specialize in driver's license appeals. Most attorneys shy away from the practice area altogether.  Many attorneys "dabble" in license cases, but are not specialists and thus do not devote the necessary resources, training and education to this very important practice area. And some criminal defense attorn...

Robert, a veteran facing a driver's license suspension, found himself in a difficult situation. But thanks to the exceptional support and guidance he received from Geherin Law Group, hope was rekindled, and a second chance secured. "From the moment I reached out to Dan and his team, I felt a sense of hope and reassurance," Robert shared. Geherin La...

Want to get back on the road? Get back behind the driver’s seat with help from expert license appeals attorney, Dan Geherin. He’ll form a plan with you just as he does with each client who contacts his firm in search of license restoration.   While it's not mandatory to have legal representation, there are several reasons to consider hiring an attorney early in your license a...

“I am interested in hiring your firm. What's the first step?” Getting your driver's license back can be an difficult battle. The good news is you don't have to navigate it alone. Geherin Law Group, PLLC. is here to help you through the process, but you might be wondering, "Where do I begin?" The first step is to schedule a free consultation with Dan Geherin at Ge...

“Do I need an attorney to help restore my license?” The better question is, "how badly do I need my license?" Are you having trouble getting to and from work? Is having your driver’s license suspended affecting your ability to care and provide for your children? Not having a driver’s license can affect a lot of different things for many people in a variety of way...

The State of Michigan legalized marijuana use for adults over the age of 21 in 2018. Since then, several states such as Illinois and Minnesota have followed suit. Despite wider use of marijuana, Michigan Law doesn’t permit driving under the influence of marijuana.  As a specialized DUI attorney in Washtenaw County, we have been asked questions about the effect of driving high on DUI ca...

Most people understand that a conviction for drunk driving (OWI) in Michigan can be costly.  Court fines on a first-offense conviction often exceed $1,000.00.  Also, it’s common knowledge that an OWI conviction will result in some sanctions in the courtroom, including probation, education, testing, and community service. In addition, your driver’s license will be affected wi...

When you lose your license following an OWI conviction,  you must fight a long and tough battle to earn back privileges from the Michigan Secretary of State. Typically those privileges require you to equip your car with an Ignition Interlock Device , or BAIID.  A BAIID is a breath alcohol analyzer with computer logic and an internal memory. It connects with a motor vehicle's ignitio...

Just like driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while under the influence of a controlled substance is illegal under Michigan law. But what about marijuana? Is that a controlled substance for which you could be arrested and convicted of OWI?  What if you have a medical marijuana license in the State of Michigan? The legalization of marijuana and the proliferation of medical-use mar...

Now more than ever, educated consumers do their internet homework to find the best of everything:  the best restaurants, best hotels, and best salons.  But when someone is arrested for a DUI in Ann Arbor, how do they find the “best” attorney to protect their freedom, their reputation, and their license? Traditionally, people were referred to attorneys by their friends and fa...

Until March 2020, Michigan license appeal hearings were held at the Secretary of State branch office closest to the Petitioner’s address.  There were only three live hearing locations where Administrative Law Judges (or “Hearing Officers”) conducted license appeals hearings: Grand Rapids, Lansing and Livonia. Some branches had the videoconference capability to conduct the h...

When it comes to OWI arrests and procedures, it’s fair to say that every single police agency, prosecutor’s office, and court in Southeastern Michigan operates differently. In Washtenaw County, for first-offense drunk driving arrests, a driver is typically released from the station, hospital or jail and is notified of criminal charges weeks (or sometimes months) later.  However, ...

You probably don’t realize how valuable and necessary a Michigan driver’s license is---until you lose the privilege. How do Michigan residents lose the privilege to drive?  Most commonly, by getting arrested for drunk driving; refusing a chemical test; for medical reasons; or for accumulation of too many points.  Once a your license is taken away, through a short-term suspen...

The Michigan Secretary of State has a specific division which governs driver’s license revocation appeals. This division has undergone several name changes in the last decade – currently it’s called the Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight (OHAO) but was previously known as the Administrative Hearing Section (AHS), and before that as Driver’s Assessment and Appe...

Dan Geherin, DUI attorney at Geherin Law Group, PLLC, has been named in the 28th edition of The Best Lawyers in America List from BestLawyers.com. Best Lawyers publications have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public, as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals everywhere. Their lists of outstanding lawyers are compiled by conducting exhaustive surveys in whi...

FINALLY!! After years of legislative battles; starts and stops; teases and seismic changes in criminal expungement laws, it appears Michigan will finally permit expungement of a first-offense OWI conviction .  Read the full announcement here .  The consequences of a criminal conviction, including an OWI misdemeanor, can be both long-lasting and life-altering. Even a “traffic&rdquo...

In the State of Michigan, a person can have his or her driver’s license suspended for reasons completely unrelated to driving safety. For example, courts can actually suspend your driver’s license for failing to appear in court or simply possessing a controlled substance.   Having a license suspended not only immobilizes an individual, but it affects his or her ability to earn an...

Knowing the difference between a criminal and non-criminal traffic violation can help you decide when you might consider seeking legal help.  Criminal traffic offenses are considered misdemeanors or, possibly, felony offenses. The following are considered criminal misdemeanor traffic violations: reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, DWL...

It’s common to see an increase in alcohol abuse after disasters. This trend was seen after 9/11, the 2003 SARS outbreak and Hurricane Katrina, so it should come as no surprise that alcohol sales and consumption dramatically increased since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Before the Pandemic, most people drank socially at bars or restaurants. During the first week of the Pandemic, there ...

Yes, you can restore your license in Michigan if you’re a habitual offender. However, the process is a bit more complicated than for one-time offenders. How do I know if I’m considered a habitual offender? Under section 303 of the Michigan Vehicle Code [the Code; MCL 257.303] certain combinations of alcohol and/or drug-related convictions lead to a presumption that a person is a "...

In January and February 2021, Geherin Law Group had 12 hearings with the Michigan Secretary of State with clients who had their licenses revoked due to multiple drunk driving offenses. Listed by case number only, here are the 12 cases involving our clients, all of whom proved their sobriety and walked out with their Michigan driver’s license reinstated : 20-47093 20-50681 20-50652 20-48859 ...

If you have lost your Michigan Driver’s License due to drunk driving convictions, breath tests refusals, medical reasons or even point accumulation, you’re in a state of panic and frustration. How are you supposed to get to work or school?  How can you take care of your children?  Get to medical appointments?  And if you do drive, will police take you to jail during a p...

If you’ve been convicted of multiple drunk driving offenses, especially in a short period of time, your Michigan Driver’s License has likely been REVOKED . This means you must apply for the reinstatement of your license, and must jump through several “hoops” to get your license back.  The first step in the reinstatement process—and perhaps the single most i...

The Alcoholics Anonymous (“AA”) Program has been a staple of the recovery community for over 85 years. Its 12-step program, which focuses on the disease concept of alcoholism (and in particular, an addict’s powerlessness over alcohol), has helped millions of people throughout the world achieve and maintain sobriety. Because of that, it is probably the most well-known alcohol tre...

Every night on the news, we see the horrible reports and pictures of traffic and pedestrian accidents where someone is gravely injured or killed. In many instances, the driver is intoxicated or distracted and clearly at fault. In others, there’s nothing more than a “freak” accident with horrific consequences for the victim—and the driver. Often, these drivers are charged w...

Short of losing your freedom or your family, losing your driving privileges can be one of the most devastating actions the government can take against you. People who have lost their Michigan Driver’s License due to drunk driving convictions, breath tests refusals, medical reasons or even point accumulation feel a horrible and consequential impact that can last years. They’re left won...

On September 24 2020, the Michigan legislature sent a package of bills (collectively referred to as the “Clean Slate Initiatives”) to the Governor which would expand expungement eligibility for thousands of Michigan residents who have been convicted of certain crimes. The laws will: lessen waiting times; make some charges automatically erasable; expand the number of convictions eligib...

Many people take for granted their Michigan Driver’s License—until they lose it to a suspension or revocation.  Then they realize how truly difficult it is to work, take care of a family, and perform basic life responsibilities.  For those Michigan drivers who have been suspended or revoked due to criminal/drunk driving conviction(s), they face a long road (no pun intended) ...

You’re charged with OWI 1st Offense for driving with a blood alcohol level of .12, but unfortunately you were involved in a minor accident.  At your Arraignment, the Judge orders that you not possess or consume any alcohol whatsoever but doesn’t simply trust you or put you on “your honor” to comply.  Instead, the Judge orders that you begin testing for alcohol us...

Michigan residents who have had their driver’s license revoked for OWI but reinstated are often required to install an Ignition Interlock device (technically known as a “BAIID” for Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device) in their vehicle.  These devices are notoriously fickle, in that many drivers encounter countless technical glitches with them.  One of the most com...

Michigan Secretary of State offices have closed during the COVID-19 Emergency Order and may remain closed for the immediate future.  This hits especially hard for those already in the process of driver’s license restoration in Michigan but cannot get a hearing scheduled. It hits equally hard for clients who allegedly refused a breath/blood test following an OWI arrest and are currently...

Are You Trying To Get A Driver's License Reinstatement in Ann Arbor? What Are Your Options After Being Denied At A Michigan License Appeals Hearing?  You felt as though the hearing went smoothly.  After all, you have been sober for over a year; you submitted good letters from friends and family, and you answered all of the Hearing Officer’s questions honestly and tho...

Are you searching for driver's license restoration in Michigan? ...

For the last 20+ years, when my phone rings in the middle of the night, these are the most common questions I get asked by clients who have been arrested for drunk driving: “Should I refuse the breath or blood test?” “Will it affect my license reinstatement?” There is no quick or easy answer to this question.  If a driver refuses the roadside, preliminary test offered...

One of the “forgotten” consequences of a criminal case is the possible effect it could have on your driver’s license .  Even an  arrest for a DUI can lead to a lengthy license suspension. A conviction for DUI (not to mention a second or subsequent offense) might lead to your license being REVOKED for many years.  Even point accumulation, drug offenses, and ot...

It’s easy to take for granted the true benefit of a driver’s license---until you lose it. Driving to work or school; providing for your family; running everyday errands; these freedoms can be pulled out from under you like a rug if you’re charged with drunk driving offenses, accumulate too many points, get convicted of drug offenses, or are charged with refusing a breath test in...

Haven’t found a lawyer that specializes in license appeals? Are you afraid your freedoms will be taken away without proper representation? Are you unsure where to start when it comes to finding an attorney to help you? Look online, and you’ll only find a handful of licensing lawyers in Ann Arbor who attempt to handle this very specialized area of practice. Why? Because there’s a...

Your Michigan Driver’s License might be restricted or suspended for various reasons, including point-accumulation, poor driving and conviction of some criminal or traffic offenses.  After a restriction or suspension, a license is typically  automatically  reinstated upon payment of a small reinstatement fee.  However, if a license is  REVOKED , which typically occur...

What’s the difference between a driver’s license that’s been suspended vs REVOKED ? There are some major differences! Driver’s license  suspensions  usually result from: accumulation of points, unpaid tickets, low-level criminal and driving offenses, and outstanding warrants/defaults. Driver’s license  revocations  usually result from serious crim...

For the last 22+ years, attorney Daniel T. Geherin, licensing lawyer in Ann Arbor , has dedicated his career to helping put drivers back on the road following a license suspension or revocation.  It’s hard to find other specialized driver’s license appeals/reinstatement attorneys in Michigan.  Some attorneys “dabble” in these hearings, but don’t have a leng...

A revoked driver’s license will remain revoked until or unless the driver successfully appeals the revocation to the Michigan Secretary of State or Circuit Court.   For most drivers, this process is completely unknown and difficult to navigate.  And, a review of the Michigan Secretary of State website often makes the process seem even more overwhelming.  Even the simples...

The Michigan Driver’s License Appeals Process is complicated and confusing.  People who have lost their Michigan Driver’s License due to drunk driving convictions, breath tests refusals, medical reasons or point accumulation search for answers on how to restore their license and about the license appeals hearing process.  Every day, potential clients call with questions like...

When you have your driving privileges REVOKED, you can feel lost, overwhelmed and pessimistic.  How can you get/keep meaningful employment without a license?  Take care of children?  Accomplish the most basic of daily tasks, such as buying groceries, going to the doctor, running errands?  For many, the prospect of public transportation isn’t available, the cost of UBER i...

You may decide to leave Michigan, especially if you’ve had your driver’s license revoked due to repeat OWI or other criminal convictions.  The thinking and logic work like this:  I can move away from my troubles, and get a license in another state like California, Ohio, or Colorado. Unfortunately, that logic and thinking doesn’t always work.  Most often, out-of-st...

Daniel T. Geherin, owner of Geherin Law Group PLLC (GLGMichigan.com) and MiLicenseLawyer.com, fights for clients daily who’ve lost their license to drive in Michigan. Each day brings a new license appeal challenge, and Dan and his team are up for the fight–whether this challenge involves: a revoked or suspended driver’s license, problems from repeat drunk driving offenses (or cr...

When you have your license revoked—typically after a repeat drunk driving conviction—you have no privileges whatsoever.  You must apply to have your license reinstated through the Michigan Secretary of State, which is often a confusing, time-consuming and an expensive endeavor. What do many Michigan revoked drivers continue to do? They continue to drive while their license is rev...

Have you or a loved one left the scene of an accident? Are you worried about the penalty that may result because of your lapse in judgment? You need a criminal defense attorney in Ann Arbor to represent you! In Michigan, Leaving the Scene of an Accident statutes punish people who are involved in an  accident  who don’t stop and provide the required information to the other driver ...

Dan has advised clients charged with criminal offenses on how to avoid license sanctions and best protect their ability to drive for over 25 years.  He’s well-versed in all of the criminal laws that might carry “hidden” driver’s license sanctions, such as the following:  OWI/DUI/Drunk Driving:  All alcohol and drug-related driving offenses carry license sanc...

Was your license revoked for DUI? Are you looking for driver’s license reinstatement in Michigan? An Ignition Interlock (technically known as a “BAIID” for Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device) is a breath alcohol analyzer, with computer logic and an internal memory. It connects with a motor vehicle’s ignition and other control systems. The BAIID measures the driver&rs...