Illinois license reinstatement after out-of-state OWI conviction

As an Illinois license reinstatement lawyer I am meeting with clients all of the time who have had their Illinois drivers license revoked after being convicted of a DUI outside of Illinois. Often, the attorneys from Wisconsin will tell their clients that they are getting a great deal when they are able to reduce the charges from a high blood alcohol level two and operating while intoxicated. They make this a big deal and without knowing, the client accepts the offer as it helps them in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, the reduced charge in Wisconsin will translate into a DUI conviction in Illinois and will revoke the driving privileges of that person in Illinois.

What happens next is that the client who lives in Illinois must now get an informal hearing with the Illinois Secretary of State due to the fact that their license is revoked from a DUI conviction. I often advise the clients to ask their lawyers in Wisconsin if they can do their alcohol and valuation and treatment inside the state of Illinois so that this treatment is in more compliance with what the Secretary of State requires. This simplifies the process and can streamline it as far as time and efficiency in performing the informal hearing.

Once the alcohol evaluation is complete the client must perform the recommended treatment hours as well as a DUI risk education course before they are eligible to have their informal hearing to contest the license revocation. Once the documentation shows that the client has obtained and completed all alcohol treatment, he is eligible for the hearing and that is all we take him into it.

The best way to ensure success on a license reinstatement matter is to prepare, prepare, prepare. While the client is doing his DUI treatment, my office is writing up the license reinstatement worksheet which has the proper answers for the questions the client will face based on his personal facts. This is why we have such a high success rate on our first time hearings.

If you're looking to clear your license in Illinois or your license has recently been revoked due to a Wisconsin operating while intoxicated charge, feel free to contact license reinstatement lawyer John W Callahan to discuss your case at any time.

Posted by John W Callahan, license reinstatement lawyer