Kregelka Law Firm, PLLC 
Attorneys, Counselors and Strategic Planners 
   517-256-9537 
KregelkaLaw@gmail.com
Serving mid-Michigan since 2002

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Driver License Restoration

 

NEED TO GET YOUR LICENSE BACK?

WE CAN HELP!

        If you’ve lost your driving privileges, call driver license lawyer Garry Kregelka at The Kregelka Law Firm for legal advice or legal representation when it’s time to get your driver license back in Michigan, or if you need a Michigan clearance to obtain a driver license in your home state.  Call 517-256-9537 or email kregelkalaw@gmail.com

FAQ's


Q.     How do I get my driver license back in Michigan after multiple drunk driving convictions?

A.      
If you have lost your driver license in Michigan as a result of multiple drunk driving convictions and you are ready to seek reinstatement from the Michigan Driver Assessment Appeal Division (DAAD), the experienced driver license attorneys at the Kregelka Law Firm can help. You will be required to attend a formal administrative hearing, and if you attend this hearing without an attorney who specializes in driver license law, you will be taking a very big risk. Because if you loose at the Driver License Appeal hearing, you may not be able to reapply for your license for at least 6 months to a year. So don't wait until it's too late! It’s important to do it right the first time! Call attorney Garry Kregelka, an experienced driver license attorney, to assist you in restoring your Michigan driving privileges or to obtain a Michigan clearance so you can get your license back in your home state.  

                                Driver License Clearance

Q.     How do I get my driver license back in my home state when the State of Michigan refuses to grant a clearance because of prior drunk driving convictions in Michigan?

A.         If the state of Michigan will not grant you a clearance, you may lose driving privileges in your home state also. You may have had a driver license in your home state, but your privilege to drive there may be suspended or revoked based on the Michigan suspension or revocation. You may find that the state of Michigan is preventing you from renewing your driver license in your home state because of a "hold" on your license. So you will need a Michigan clearance before your state will give you a license. And again, if you apply for this clearance and are denied, you may not be able to reapply for 6 months to a year from the date of the DAAD decision. Although you are entitled to a Circuit Court appeal of this decision, the court looks only to procedural errors and will not substitute its judgment for that of the DAAD hearing officer. 

                    We Can Help You Prepare the Way

        There are many things that must be done to lay a proper foundation to convince the DAAD hearing officer that your driving privileges should be reinstated. And you can’t start too soon! Attorney Garry Kregelka has successfully handled a variety of driver license cases. They know what needs to be done for you to get your license back. They can help you lay the proper foundation and present your case in a light most favorable to you. The odds are often stacked against you at your first hearing.  It takes an attorney with experience in this area to change the odds and give you a fighting chance.

The Substance Abuse Evaluation

         A recent Substance Abuse Evaluation from an approved services provider will be required and used as evidence at the DAAD Hearing. This evaluation can cause problems for you, and it is important to have an attorney that understands the process and the science. For example, many evaluators use an instrument called the SASSI-3, which contains a defensiveness (DEF) scale, a component that assesses whether or not you are being open and honest with the evaluator. We have had the circumstance where the DAAD Hearing Officer refused to accept a client’s evaluation that showed he did not have a substance abuse problem solely because the applicant’s DEF score was higher than normal. It was important to point out to the Hearing Officer that, according to the literature, although elevated DEF scores may increase the possibility of the SASSI missing substance dependent individuals, elevated DEF alone should not be taken as evidence of substance-related problems. And we presented the following as part of our argument:

        The Accuracy of the SASSI-3 Among Respondents With an Elevated DEF Score

        The defensiveness (DEF) scale of the SASSI-3 was designed to identify individuals who respond to the questionnaire in a defensive manner. The items on the DEF scale were selected because they were found to discriminate between people who completed the instrument under standard instructions and substance-dependent people who were given instructions to try to hide any sign of substance misuse. The DEF scale is used in conjunction with other scales on the SASSI-3 as part of the decision rules that classify individuals as having a high or low probability of being diagnosed as substance dependent.

        Although the SASSI-3 is designed to identify some people who respond to the questionnaire in a less than candid manner, defensive responding would nonetheless be expected to reduce the accuracy of the SASSI-3 (as would be expected with any assessment tool). The table below presents the accuracy rates of SASSI-3 classifications as a function of scores on the DEF scale. 

DEF Score

Accuracy Rate

n*

 

0-4

96%

465

5

97%

101

6

92%

74

7

87%

71

8

91%

44

9

83%

30

10-11

71%

14

        * n refers to the number of individuals included in the analysis who obtained a DEF score corresponding to the score or scores indicated in the far left column of the table. The demographics of these subjects and the criteria used for their inclusion are described in Lazowski, Miller, Boye and Miller (1998).

        The SASSI-3 is reasonably accurate (i.e., from 83% to 91%) even when DEF scores are somewhat elevated (i.e., 8 or 9) and somewhat less accurate only at extremely high levels of DEF (i.e., 10 or 11). Although elevated DEF scores may increase the possibility of the SASSI missing substance dependent individuals, elevated DEF alone should not be taken as evidence of substance-related problems.

        These results should be interpreted with caution, due to the small numbers of respondents at the higher DEF levels. Results obtained in different settings may vary substantially.

Reference: Lazowski, L. E., Miller, F. G., Boye, M. W., & Miller, G. A. (1998). Efficacy of the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory-3 (SASSI-3) in Identifying Substance Dependence Disorders in Clinical Settings. Journal of Personality Assessment, 71(1), 114-128.

        This is the type of thorough preparation that you can expect from the Driver License Appeal Attorneys at The Kregelka Law Firm, PLLC.

        You should accept nothing less!  You can't afford less than the best!

CALL Kregelka Law at 517-256-9537 (Lansing) or 517-917-0345 (Jackson)
or
EMAIL
KregelkaLaw@gmail.com

    
"Dedicated to Justice, Equity, and Excellence"