Department of State, partners hold clinic in Detroit to help residents regain driving privileges

Volunteer attorneys assist a participant at the Road to Restoration clinic in Detroit on Oct. 4, 2023.
(Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of State)


The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) joined partners in Detroit last Wednesday for a Road to Restoration driver’s license clinic hosted by the Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development, Inc. (LA SED). Expert staff and volunteer attorneys met one-on-one with more than 240 visitors to the clinic, reviewed their driving record, and advised on their next steps to get back behind the wheel.

"Our Road to Restoration clinics give Michiganders the support they need to get safely back in the driver’s seat,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.  “We are grateful for the partners and volunteers who join us to bring government closer to underserved communities.”

The Road to Restoration program was created after changes to state law in 2021 lifted suspensions for drivers who failed to pay tickets or court fines or failed to appear in court for certain non-moving and other violations. While new laws removed suspensions for more than 150,000 Michiganders, many must still take further action to get their driver’s license restored.

"This is our third Road to Restoration Clinic with the Secretary of State, and we have seen just such a tremendous amount of success with this," said Mary Carmen Muños, executive director of LA SED. "There's so many people that were in need of this type of assistance and Secretary Benson just did a tremendous job putting these clinics together. Her team is phenomenal, and they serve these people that need help to change their lives. These are people who didn't have their license, that didn't have the opportunity to go to the grocery store, to take their mom to the doctor, to take their kids to school or after school events without worrying about being pulled over by the police. So now they have their licenses back. I know today was a very significant impact and we're very excited to host our fourth clinic next year."

"I'm looking forward to getting my license in the mail and seeing my face on that thing that says 'license,'" said clinic participant Stephanie Anderson of Detroit. "It's been a long time coming, so I'm just excited to put it in my wallet. I'm getting older and things started happening where I needed a license to apply for a home, rent a car, and I just said that I'm too old for this—let's get this taken care of." Anderson said she plans to complete the rest of the requirements for her driver's license and then work on getting a Commercial Driver's License.

Road to Restoration clinics are a successful public-private partnership that includes the Department of Attorney General, DTE Energy, Miller Canfield, Detroit Justice Center, the Michigan Association of United Ways, and Michigan 2-1-1.  

The clinics do not provide DUI/OWI expungement services and license reinstatement is not guaranteed.

The next Road to Restoration clinic will be held in Battle Creek on Oct. 18 at Second Missionary Baptist Church.

Residents can learn more about the Road to Restoration program and sign up for future clinics at Michigan.gov/R2R.