We get calls almost every day from people telling us, “I need my license back. I need to be able to drive.” And we’re treated to explanations about why that’s the case — whether it’s to get to work, take care of the kids, care for a sick spouse, a parent, or whatever else. We get it. People need a license.
In fact, one of the hearing officers with the Michigan Secretary of State is well known for saying, “Everybody needs a license.” And that’s all well and fine.
But the point of this video is that needing a license really has nothing to do with being able to actually get one back.
In order to get your license back, you must prove to the Michigan Secretary of State that you are sober.
Think about it. When a person’s license has been revoked for multiple DUI convictions, the primary concern of the Secretary of State is whether that person has quit drinking.
Legally speaking, that person must show two things:
Number one, that their alcohol problem is under control, meaning they can prove they have not had a drink for a legally sufficient period of time.
And number two, that their alcohol problem is likely to remain under control, meaning they can demonstrate they are a safe bet to never drink again.
The Secretary of State has drawn a line in the sand and said, “We’re not going to bother with people who think they can still drink, who say they only drink once in a while, or who claim it’s different now.”
Their line in the sand is this: the only people who will be given a license back are those who can show they have quit drinking for good.
Because if there’s one thing the Secretary of State knows, it’s that people who do not drink are zero-risk to ever drink and drive again.
So needing a license is not even a criterion for getting it back.
What matters is being able to prove that you have quit drinking for good.
And that’s our job.