Preparing for Your Driver License Appeal Hearing

If you are appealing to the Administrative Hearings Section (AHS), please send a completed Request for Hearing form and a Substance Abuse Evaluation form to AHS at the address below.

Please submit your request for a hearing with a current substance abuse evaluation, dated not more than 3 months before the date it will be received by the Department. If you do not already have a substance abuse counselor, please check your local yellow page listings for a counselor in your area. The substance abuse counselor will prepare the evaluation and provide you with the completed form for your appeal hearing. Your substance abuse evaluation should be current.

You may be represented by legal counsel if you wish. Please advise the Department of your attorney's name, address, and telephone number. A recorded message regarding the appeal/reinstatement process in AHS is available by calling our Information Center at 1-888-SOS-MICH (1-888-767-6424).

Michigan Department of State
Administrative Hearings Section
P.O. Box 30196
Lansing, MI 48909-7696

Additional Documentation of Petitioner's Past and Current Substance Abuse History:

You must obtain documentation of your drinking and drug use habits in the form of notarized letters from people in your community who have frequent contact with you and may know something about your drinking habits and/or use of controlled substances. These would include immediate family members, other relatives, employers, friends, pastors, local police, a recognized support group such as 12 step meetings or Women for Sobriety, neighbors or others with whom you associate. It is required you submit at least 3 letters, but not more than six. These letters should be signed, notarized and dated and include the complete mailing address and daytime telephone number of the writer, and contain at least the following information about you. Please do not use form letters.

• What their relationship is to you.
• How long they have known you.
• How often they see you.
• Have them describe their knowledge of your past and current use of alcohol and/or drugs including frequency of use, amount used, beverage and/or drug of choice, etc.
• When the last time was they saw or had knowledge that you had used any alcohol and/or drugs.
• What their knowledge is of your past and current involvement in treatment and/or a support group.
• Have them include other information they believe is important.

Note: Please keep copies of your letters documenting your substance abuse history and evaluation and submit the originals. Copies will not be made for you at the hearing or reexamination.

If you were issued restrictions which included an ignition interlock requirement you should submit the ignition interlock Final Report along with your other documentation.

Unprepared petitioners should request the hearing be adjourned rather than fail to appear, as they are not eligible for another hearing for up to one year from the date of the scheduled hearing.