DETROIT, Mich. – Today, over 350 people attended a free Road to Restoration clinic in Southwest Detroit, run by Michigan Department of State (MDOS) and partners, to learn the steps to have their driving privileges restored. Now in its third year, more than 8,000 Michiganders have attended a Road to Restoration clinic in communities across the state.
LA SED Senior and Youth Center hosted today’s clinic, where expert MDOS staff and volunteer attorneys met one-on-one with attendees to check their current license status, answer questions on how they can safely return to the road, and provide services like vision testing and the written driver’s exam on site.
“The incredible turnout today at LA SED in Detroit proves the need for these services in our community,” said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who visited the clinic to greet attendees and volunteers. “Thanks to our strong community partnerships, we’ve helped put hundreds of Detroit residents on a path to restoring their driving privileges. Helping people get safely back behind the wheel can be lifechanging – making it possible to pursue better opportunities, transport their children to school and activities, and independently meet their basic needs.”
"I've been Ubering and getting dropped off because I do work, but I want to be able to drive,” said Detroit resident Teresa York, who obtained her driver’s permit at today's clinic. “I got grandkids... they want to go to the park, and I want to take them to the park, but not without a license, you can't do that. Anybody who needs their license needs to come on down here, pay off their tickets, whatever they have to do to make it happen. It happened for me."
The Road to Restoration program is a public-private partnership created after state laws that took effect in 2021 lifted license suspensions for drivers who failed to pay tickets and court fines or who failed to appear in court for certain non-moving violations. MDOS canceled infractions on the driving records of more than 350,000 Michiganders under the law, but many people still need to take additional steps before their driving privilege can be restored. The clinics are free of charge but some participants may be required to pay past fines.
Today’s clinic was operated in partnership with LA SED, City of Detroit, the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Michigan 2-1-1, Michigan WORKS!, Detroit Justice Center, DTE Energy, Michigan Association of United Ways, and Miller Canfield.
Tuesday’s clinic was the eighth Road to Restoration clinic in the state this year. Upcoming clinics currently scheduled for 2024 include:
- July 16 – Petoskey
- July 18 – Gaylord
- Aug. 13 – Houghton
- Aug. 14 – Kingsford
- Aug. 16 – Marquette
- Aug. 28 – Dearborn Heights
- Sept. 13 – Kalamazoo
For more information about the program, to find a clinic near you, or to sign up for an upcoming clinic, visit Michigan.gov/R2R or dial 2-1-1. Space for clinics may be limited and pre-registration is strongly recommended. The clinics do not provide DUI expungement services and license reinstatement is not guaranteed.
# # #
