Road to Restoration clinic in Lansing connects over 115 Michigan residents with legal guidance and resources to restore driving privileges

LANSING, Mich. –  The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) and partners hosted a Road to Restoration clinic in Lansing on March 13, where volunteer attorneys, community partners, and MDOS experts helped more than 115 local attendees understand the steps needed to restore their driver’s license. Participants received individualized advice on resolving issues such as unpaid tickets, reinstatement fees, and other barriers they are facing in restoring their license.  
 
“We’ve been hosting Road to Restoration clinics since 2022, and a lot of work has been done to get folks back on the road. But the need continues.” said Abigayl Venman, MDOS Road to Restoration director. “We work with residents who just need some help and need to know what they can do. The process to restore a driver’s license can be layered with many steps. We bring in as many resources as possible to help people take that pathway by providing that one-on-one support, that one-on-one information to answer questions and help folks understand the paperwork or the steps that they need to take to get back on the road.” 
 
The clinic was held at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Lansing, and it was the third Road to Restoration clinic hosted at the site. Representatives with the 30th Circuit Court, 54-B District Court, Lansing Office of Financial Empowerment, and the NAACP Lansing Branch were also on site to help attendees. Volunteer attorneys and MDOS staff met one-on-one with clinic participants 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. Attendees also learned about the administrative hearings process at information sessions held at the clinic.    
 
“We're here to offer our free financial counseling to individuals who are coming to get their license restored, whether they have owed debts or needs to make a payment plan. We can help them navigate that so that they can get their licenses back,” said Charles Roltsch, program manager of the Office of Financial Empowerment in the City of Lansing. “Road to Restoration really provides a great service by partnering with all the local agencies in the area so that we can better serve the citizens in the Lansing area. Partnerships are really the key. We have a lot of different partnerships with organizations and the Secretary of State, and we do find a lot of benefits to working with them and making sure that people drive safe and are licensed correctly.” 
 
“The 30th Circuit Court handles a lot of different cases, varied cases that may ultimately impact somebody's ability to operate a vehicle through some type of a driver's license suspension," said Russ McKenzie with the 30th Circuit Court. “It is important that the court continues to work with individuals who are affected with driver's license issues. One of the key aspects is being able to get back and forth to work and income. The ability to provide for our families is very important. The judges take this seriously. The court staff recognizes how court actions, court decisions, even though the decisions comply with Michigan law; they still have an ultimate impact on members of the community. The court works pretty hard to help with these events so that we can get folks back driving and be able to provide for themselves and their loved ones.” 
 
“We're here because we recognize the impact that restoration of driver's licenses will have on our community,” said Natasha Atkinson, political action chair for the Lansing branch of the NAACP. “The NAACP has always been for empowering the community, and this is exactly what it does, empowering folks to, one, drive safely, but also give them the ability to gain employment, to be able to have ease of access, to be able to pick up their children from school without the fear of being caught driving without a driver's license.  
 
“Having my daughter, I feel like that's what pushes me to grow and to work harder," said clinic participant Gregory Fox.” I have two jobs, two full-time jobs. I am trying to better my life. For people that don't really know about the laws and driving laws, I would definitely suggest that you come out to a Road to Restoration clinic and get the resources that you need, especially if they're free. You can't beat that. You get free resources and you get the chance to be heard. Not only by the judge, but by people that work for the state and people that understand the law.” 
 
“It's been horrible without a license, especially with my kids both being in sports," said Savanna Lara, who attended the Lansing clinic. “The Uber rides cost money. Paying people and actually waiting for people to come pick me up. I work three jobs. It's hard to wait for people if some people have different schedules than me. I either have to wait or take the bus sometimes and that's another struggle because it’s a long process. It takes me longer to get to work than it does to do anything. I got everything situated today. All I’ve got to do is one more step and everything should be good to go." 
 
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.  
 
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.    

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