Every year, upwards of six hundred motorists in Lansing, Michigan are cited for driving on a suspended license. This was the case for 28 year-old Jaime Raul Lugo, who was pulled over on a quiet night in Lansing. However, once his car stopped, Jaime took off on foot before officers could leave their cars. After chasing him down, a scuffle occurred. Jaime was driving on a suspended license in addition to a litany of other charges. Jaime went to court for driving without a license in addition to drug and assault charges.
Obviously, Jaime has more problems than just a suspended license to worry about. However, your license can be suspended for multiple speeding infractions, reckless driving, driving without insurance, and an OWI citation, among other things.
If your license has been suspended, your life can feel like it is on hold. It can be difficult to maintain a job, go to school, or live as an adult without the ability to drive.
Luckily, if your license has been suspended in Lansing it is possible to receive a restricted license. It is not a full license, but it can help you get your life back in order.
A restricted license will allow you to drive legally, but not for long periods of time. It allows you to drive to and from necessary destinations, which can include your home, school, work, court-ordered counseling or rehabilitation classes, and probation meetings.
Making sure that you get this restricted license as soon as possible is crucial. Do not try to go around the legal system by driving with a suspended license. Driving with a suspended license in Lansing while possessing no restricted license privileges can result in even larger penalties. You can receive a fine of up to five hundred dollars and could spend up to 93 days in jail.
Moreover, this can be used as evidence to increase the duration of your license suspension or to revoke your license altogether. A revoked license means you will be denied a license for years, and getting back your full license privileges after that period is difficult.
While driving to and from the permitted locations, you must carry proof of your destination and your reason for being there. For example, if you are driving to class, you must have a class schedule on your person. If you are driving to work, you have to have a copy of your schedule showing that you are needed on that day during that time. An officer has the right to ask for these materials at any time. Refusing or being unable to provide them can result in fines, losing your restricted license, and possibly jail time.
An Administrative Hearing Section (AHS) hearing in Lansing is the big event – this is the hearing that will determine whether you can get a restricted license. The first step is to get in touch with a legal team. Grabel & Associates has a skilled, veteran driver’s license attorney in Lansing that can help you get your restricted license.
Your legal advisor will go over your case, the factors included, and begin preparing for the hearing. You will also have to submit a request for a hearing. This request form can be found at the State Court Administrative Office. Take care while filling it out. This lengthy document will require details: your drinking history, conviction history, residence history, and many other things. It will also request your general information and your attorney’s contact information.
Keep every detail of your case that you can. From the moment you are pulled over to the day before your hearing, there is a possibility that errors occurred in the process of suspending your license or in the arrest itself. Your attorney will help you determine if any abuses occurred on the part of the legal system. Anything that violated federal or state constitutional rights, actions that were vindictive or biased against you, or other errors on the legal system’s end could turn your case around in a heartbeat.
If your petition for a hearing is accepted you will be informed of the date, time, and location of the hearing, which you are required to attend. Your driver’s license attorney may be present as well, which is strongly advised. If you represent yourself, even with plenty of legal preparation, it can lead to errors in your hearing presentation. After your hearing, you will be notified of the decision on your case by mail.
Grabel & Associates is ready and willing to represent you as you pursue a restricted license. We help clients in Lansing and the greater Michigan area with all manner of legal issues. We bring 100 years of combined legal experience between our associates, all at your disposal. We will work to guide you through every step of your restricted license appeal. We know how to win your case and will do everything in our power get you back on the road. Call us 24/7 at 1-800-342-7896 or contact us online so we can start preparing your case.