Apr 9 – Royal Oak Hosting Driver’s License Restoration Clinic
Royal Oak, MI – Question: If a not-yet-licensed Michigan driver receives two moving violation infractions—such as speeding or running a stop sign—what must they do to receive a driver’s license?
Answer: It’s complicated. And that’s the problem.
Driver’s License Clinic Coming to Royal Oak
Next week, Royal Oak’s 44th District Court will partner with the Michigan Department of State to host a driver’s license clinic at the Metro Detroit Youth Clubs Salter Community Center. It’s part of the State’s Road to Restoration Program, which provides free assistance to Michigan residents seeking to get their driving privileges restored.
The clinics are essentially mobile State Department offices, visiting cities and providing residents with free appointments to meet with staff and volunteer attorneys. Participants are encouraged to bring documentation to aid discussions, while experts are prepared to ask questions and start the process of clearing through the legal complexities to find a path forward.
The event offers critical assistance to local drivers attempting to regain their independence, says Hon. Derek Meinecke, Royal Oak District Court Judge.
“People come in with traffic misdemeanors and the root issue is being unlicensed or having a suspended license,” Meinecke says. “Through the support and structure of programs like Road to Restoration, people are able to regain their licenses legally and get back on the road safely.”
Operation Drive
Judge Meinecke knows better than most what it takes for a person to earn a driver’s license—and how challenging it can be to navigate the complexities of the system.
In 2016, he worked to launch the District Court’s own program, Operation Drive, which—like the State’s Road to Restoration—seeks to help residents work through the process of restoring their licenses. Judge Meinecke now works alongside fellow 44th District Court Judge Hon. Andrew Kowalkowski to oversee and deliver the program; they use a three-pronged approach of information, structure, and encouragement to keep participants informed, motivated, and moving forward through the often-laborious process.
Why do they do it?
“The ability to drive legally is essential for work, family, and daily life,” says Judge Kowalkowski.
Indeed, the metro Detroit region can be especially challenging for people struggling to obtain or re-earn a driver’s license: public transit options are limited and ride-shares can be pricey. The judges often see people who report having to juggle two bad options—paying for a ride-share they can’t afford or driving on a suspended license to take their kids to school, for example.
“We are committed to helping individuals regain their independence and improve their opportunities,” says Judge Meinecke.
Legal Reform
For the Operation Drive team, their program and others like it, including Road to Restoration, are central to their mission of helping people restore their licenses. However, there’s another critical piece to the puzzle: reforming outdated laws that create unnecessary obstacles.
One of these such laws is Section 257.303 of the Michigan Vehicle Code, which for decades has included a subrule that people responsible for two or more moving violations before receiving a license must wait three years before they again become eligible.
“It didn’t just make it difficult for a person in these circumstances to receive a license; it was basically impossible,” says Judge Meinecke.
For years, he and others have fought to reform this law. In 2023, he testified before the Michigan State House of Representatives Transportation Committee in support of HB 5103—a bill that sought to remove the harsh multi-year ban on issuing a driver’s license to those cited for driving without one.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson shared Judge Meinecke’s perspective, pledging her support of HB 5103 as well.
“As we have discovered from visitors to our Road to Restoration clinics, this penalty disproportionately affects young people who have limited access to driver’s education,” Benson said in a prepared statement. “Mistakes they made in driving without a license, perhaps without understanding the gravity of the situation or out of necessity, have kept them ineligible to drive for years, trapping them in a cycle that was hard to break.”
A New Day
Today, April 2, Judges Meinecke and Kowalkowski, Benson, and other supporters are reaping the rewards of their efforts: HB 5103 was passed and officially went into effect as of this morning, removing a key barrier towards license restoration for so many.
“This really fits what we’re about here in Royal Oak,” says Meinecke. “So many of the reasons for not having a license are financial; we’re now better empowered to help people who would otherwise be safe on the roadway to earn their licenses, get to work, take their kids to school, and contribute to their communities.”
The Clinic takes place Tuesday April 9 from 10am to 4pm at Metro Detroit Youth Clubs at 1545 E. Lincoln Ave
If you or someone you know is interested in attending the upcoming driver’s license clinic, pre-registration is recommended; visit the informational brochure to get started. Check out the Road to Restoration clinic explainer for more information about the process.
