The Illinois Secretary of State is authorized to suspend or revoke a person’s driver’s license as punishment for several different offenses. You may have lost your license after you were arrested or convicted for driving under the influence (DUI), leaving the scene of an accident, street racing, or for many other reasons. Continuing to drive after your license has been suspended or on a revoked license is a criminal offense in Illinois. In order to regain your driving privileges after a license suspension or revocation, you may need to attend an informal or formal Secretary of State hearing.

Informal Hearings

If you lost your license after a first-time DUI, a lesser moving violation, or an offense not involving a fatality, you may only need to attend an informal hearing. Informal hearings are conducted on a walk-in basis, so no appointment is necessary. You will meet with a Secretary of State hearing officer at a Driver Services facility. The hearing office will likely ask you questions about:

• Your driving record and criminal history

• The circumstances that led to the suspension or revocation

• The reasons you are requesting driver’s license reinstatement

• How you will avoid driving under the influence or otherwise violating Illinois law in the future

You may need to provide evidence of any drug and alcohol programs you have attended, character references, and other information. The hearing officer will use this evidence and your statements to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State about restoring your driving privileges. A license reinstatement attorney can help you prepare for your informal hearing or even attend the hearing with you.  

Formal Hearings

If your license was revoked because of a second or subsequent DUI or a traffic offense resulting in death, you will need to attend a formal hearing. Formal hearings are similar to court trials and must be scheduled in advance. They take place at one of four Secretary of State facilities in Illinois. A hearing officer as well as an attorney for the Secretary of State will attend the hearing. You will be placed under oath and asked a series of questions about the circumstances of your license revocation, your drug and alcohol use, and what you have done to avoid unsafe driving in the future. You will need to demonstrate that you have met the conditions of license reinstatement and will not re-offend. Depending on your risk classification, you may need to complete a DUI Risk Education Course, participate in an Early Intervention Program, and/or attend a substance abuse treatment program in order to qualify for license reinstatement. Your attorney can help you understand the steps you must take to qualify for license reinstatement and represent you throughout the license reinstatement process.

Contact a Plainfield, IL Driver’s License Reinstatement Attorney

Losing your driver’s license can make it difficult to get to and from work, transport children, or complete everyday responsibilities. For help reinstating your license, contact The Law Offices of Tedone & Morton, P.C. We will assist you during the informal or formal hearing process. Schedule a free consultation with our accomplished Will County criminal defense lawyers by calling us today at 815-733-5350.

Source:
https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dah_ih22.pdf

If your Illinois driver’s license was suspended or revoked, you will have to attend some form of Secretary of State hearing to have it reinstated. How you prepare for that hearing and whether it will be formal or informal depends on the reason you lost your license, all of which we will explain below. If you are worried about the reinstatement process, do not panic: With the help of an attorney skilled in Secretary of State representation, you can move through the hearing process smoothly.

Formal and Informal Driver’s License Reinstatement Hearings

To reinstate your license, you will need to schedule a Secretary of State hearing. There are two types of reinstatement hearings: formal and informal. You will need a formal hearing if your license was suspended or revoked because of a traffic offense involving a fatality or multiple DUIs on your record. If your revocation did not involve a fatality, if you do not have sanctions related to lesser moving violations on your record, and if you do not have any DUIs, you can schedule an informal hearing.

To request a formal hearing, you must first submit a Formal Hearing Request form with a non-refundable $50 fee. You can be represented by your attorney and will need to answer between 80 and 100 questions before receiving a verdict. If you fail to appear for your scheduled court date, you will have to wait at least 90 days before scheduling another hearing. However, if you cancel a hearing at least five days in advance, you will not be issued a waiting period.

Informal hearings are much more lenient. They are held on a walk-in basis. Depending on the outcome, you may be issued either a restricted driving permit or full driving privileges. 

Contact a Joliet, IL Driver’s License Reinstatement Attorney

Losing your primary means of transportation when your license is suspended or revoked is stressful and painful, but if you approach your reinstatement hearing calmly and are thoroughly prepared, you can hopefully be back on the road in no time. To make the reinstatement process proceed smoothly, seek the guidance of a Will County Secretary of State representation lawyer. At The Law Offices of Tedone & Morton, P.C., we strive to provide exceptional representation for our clients in all manner of Illinois law. To schedule a free consultation, call either our Joliet office at 815-666-1285 or our Plainfield office today at 815-733-5350. 

Source:

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/administrative_hearings/hearings.html#formal