ADRIAN, Mich. – Over 100 local residents received expert advice from staff with the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) and volunteer attorneys on how they can safely return to the road and reinstate their driving privileges while attending a Road to Restoration clinic in Adrian on July 31.

 

“The Road to Restoration program is celebrating a milestone of serving over 11,000 residents since the program first began in 2021,” said Abigayl Venman, director of the Road to Restoration program. “Thank you to all our generous supporters, sponsors and partners who made it all possible. We are determined to help thousands more by meeting them where they are and setting them off on the right path to living a successful life, safely behind the wheel.” 

 

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 free information sessions held at the clinic.   

 

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.  Local partners for the Adrian clinic were Michigan WORKS! Southeast Michigan, United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties, ProMedica Ebeid Neighborhood Promise, Lenawee Community Foundation, and Stubnitz Foundation. 

  

"I am learning all the time, really how important the Road to Restoration program is,” said Lynne Punnett, ProMedica’s manager of community resilience who oversees the Adrian Ebeid Center. “Having the clinic last year, which was the first time, it was new to us and new to our community. And seeing the tremendous outpour this year, taking calls from people who want to make appointments and hearing their stories has been really impactful to me. I talked to a man today who thought he had issues with his record and was afraid. He came here, walked here, and he learned that all he needs is a stronger pair of glasses to pass the test. We know that driving privileges allow people to go to work. That is huge but a lot of the work that we do, we hope that over years and years and years that you can move the needle and make a change. This is a rare opportunity that today, impact is made, it is immediate. We don't always get those opportunities.”

 

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 11,000 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 when Public Act 42 of 2024, repealed the state’s three-year ban for people cited for driving without a license.

 

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.

 

Upcoming clinics will be held in Bay City on Aug. 12, Ypsilanti on Aug. 20, Mount Pleasant on Aug. 27, Detroit on Sept. 25, Flint on Oct. 8, and Dearborn Heights on Oct. 15. For more information about the Road to Restoration program, to find a clinic near you, or to register for an upcoming clinic, visit Michigan.gov/R2R or dial 2-1-1.