Full Reinstatement Hearing Update

As a driver's license lawyer in Illinois, I have taken more than 20 people to a license reinstatement hearing in the past three months. Almost every hearing that I have attended has been in Joliet with the Secretary of State. The process for a full reinstatement hearing with the Secretary of State has been one where we would typically stipulate to the previous restricted driving permit order granting relief from my clients past hearing. This was a very easy process as the client would simply have to agree that their testimony at the previous hearing was accurate and the full reinstatement hearing was very short and simple for the client. Recently, however, the process has changed. I always prepared my clients for a full hearing just in case the Secretary of State would not stipulate to the previous restricted driving permit order. This is exactly what happened. When bringing my clients to the full reinstatement hearing, the Secretary of State through their attorneys would not stipulate to the previous order which meant that we had to go through all of the same questions as if it was the client's first hearing. 
 
 So if you have already been granted a restricted driving permit and you are trying to get fully reinstated after your license was revoked for a DUI, you need to be prepared. Make sure that you review all of the questions and testimony from your first hearing otherwise you may be denied when trying to get your license clear in Illinois.
 
 
 – Posted by license reinstatement lawyer John W. Callahan