LANSING, Mich. – Experts with Michigan Department of State (MDOS) and volunteer attorneys provided guidance to Gladwin-area residents on restoring their driving privileges at the first-ever Road to Restoration clinic in Gladwin on June 6.

 

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to serve the residents of Gladwin and surrounding communities at our first local clinic,” said Abigayl Venman, director of the Road to Restoration program. “Transportation can serve as a barrier for everyone, but especially for those living in rural communities. Driving is essential, and not having a valid driver’s license poses a great barrier for people in all areas of their daily lives.” 

 

Volunteer attorneys and MDOS staff met one-on-one with clinic attendees to check their current license status, answer questions about their next steps, and provide services like vision testing and the written driver’s exam on site. Participants also learned about the administrative hearings process at information sessions held at the clinic.   

 

Matthew Ashton has been without a driver’s license for almost 20 years. At the Gladwin clinic, he received a step-by-step packet on how to regain his driving privileges and said he is ready to turn his life around and return to the road.  

 

“It does affect me daily. It's harder to get to work. It's harder to do stuff with the kids. Obviously, you have to find rides for everything,” Ashton said. “I've quit drinking. It's been over 16 years since I drank. Now, my lifestyle completely changed, and I believe I'm in a place, mentally, financially, everything to go back after it again. And now that I have a way better picture of what I got to do, I'm more at ease.” 

 

The clinic was held at Michigan Works! Gladwin. Road to Restoration partners include the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Michigan WORKS!, Michigan Association of United Ways, the Detroit Justice Center, DTE Energy, Miller Canfield, and Michigan 2-1-1.  

 

“The Road to Restoration is in beautiful Gladwin. Serving the people who live here and around here, bringing a service that is so essential,” said Sarah Kile, mayor of Gladwin and the director of community and partner engagement at Michigan 2-1-1, a sponsor of the clinic. “Gladwin is just what it sounds like: glad and winning, all the time. So, we are marketed as Michigan's backyard. It's a place to come and enjoy. Our nature is undeniably Michigan. It's gorgeous. But one of the biggest barriers we face is transportation. We have great services in our community, but if people can't get there, that becomes a problem. We have great public transit. We have beautiful services. But when someone loses their license and the mountain of tasks and paperwork and legal stuff they have to go through, it can be difficult. So, putting everything in one place to serve people who need that, I think is beautiful.”

 

Now in its fourth year, the Road to Restoration program has hosted over 65 clinics across the state and provided one-on-one assistance to over 10,000 Michiganders. This innovative program was created to help more than 150,000 people newly eligible to regain their driving privileges after changes to state law in 2021. About 3,000 more Michiganders were made eligible to apply for a driver’s license on April 2 under Public Act 42 of 2024. The new law repealed the state’s three-year ban on individuals cited for driving without a license to apply for license reinstatement.

 

Road to Restoration clinics are free of charge, but some participants may be required to pay past fines. The clinics do not provide DUI expungement services and license reinstatement is not guaranteed.

 

The program will return to mid-Michigan with a clinic scheduled in Bay City on Aug. 12. Other upcoming clinics are in Battle Creek on June 17, Detroit on June 24, and Adrian on July 31. For more information about the Road to Restoration program, to find a clinic near you, or to sign up for an upcoming clinic, visit Michigan.gov/R2R or dial 2-1-1.