Road to Restoration driver's license clinic returns to Detroit
More than 125 residents learn pathway to regain license
DETROIT, Mich.- The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) joined partners in Detroit on Wednesday for a Road to Restoration driver’s license clinic hosted by the Detroit Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Expert staff and volunteer attorneys met one-on-one with visitors to the clinic, reviewed their driving record, and advised on their next steps to get back behind the wheel.
“Our Road to Restoration clinics bring support and services directly to eligible residents across the state, meeting people where they are to make government work for them,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “Thanks to our strong community partners, we've put hundreds of Detroit residents on a path to restore their licenses so they can drive to work, pick their kids up from school, and more fully participate in their communities.”
The Road to Restoration program was created after changes to state law in 2021 lifted suspensions for drivers who failed to pay tickets or court fines or failed to appear in court for certain non-moving and other violations. While new laws removed suspensions for more than 150,000 Michiganders, many must still take further action to get their driver’s license restored.
Devaul Neal of Detroit passed his knowledge test and was excited to walk out of the clinic with his driver's license restored.
"When you talk about a driver's license and you have kids, transportation is so vital," Neal said. "I had to go so many years without my license. I feel like I went so long without glasses and now I can see that I got glasses now. I'm just so excited about it. You just feel brand new. That just means so much right now."
In some cases, staff from the 36th District Court removed late fees, warrants and court reinstatement fees. They also created payment plans for participants with additional fees who weren’t able to make the full payment on site.
Participants who visited the clinic and weren't seen by the court received a voucher to receive those same discounts for the next 24 hours.
The Road to Restoration clinics are a successful public-private partnership that includes the Department of Attorney General, DTE Energy, Miller Canfield, Detroit Justice Center, the Michigan Association of United Ways, and Michigan 2-1-1.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Detroit Alumnae Chapter President Stephanie L. Williams said hosting the Road to Restoration clinic is a way to help the community.
"We believe that it is an economic development issue. It's also an issue of being able to live your life," Williams said. "If you don't have a driver's license, it's very difficult to get a bank account. It's difficult to get a job. Also, if you do have a job, how do you get there? That resource in our society is imperative to be able to be a success. Otherwise, if you don't have a driver's license, it makes it very difficult for you to be able to sustain your life."
Each clinic is equipped to provide immediate access to driving records and many Secretary of State office services, including the written driving test, to help people get back behind the wheel as quickly as possible. Participants leave Road to Restoration clinics with a plan to return to the road after taking additional steps based on their personal circumstances or, in many cases, with their restored driver’s permit in hand.
The next Road to Restoration clinic will be held in St. Clair Shores on Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South Lake High School.
The clinics do not provide DUI/OWI expungement services and license reinstatement is not guaranteed.
Residents can learn more about the next Road to Restoration clinics at Michigan.gov/R2R.
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Devaul Neal of Detroit left Wednesday's clinic with his driver's license restored after passing the written driver's exam on site.
A representative from 36th District Court assists a clinic participant.
Staff from the Secretary of State Mobile Office were on site at the clinic to provide driver's license and ID services.
Staff from the 30th District Court provided assistance to residents who atttended the clinic.
Clinic partner Linkedin helped participants with resume and job-search questions.
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