Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyers
Under Michigan law, traffic violations fall into two general categories - civil infractions and criminal offenses. The crimes specified in the motor vehicle code include misdemeanors and felonies.
Civil infractions can result in financial penalties and points against your license, so they must be taken seriously. Moreover, multiple infractions can result in the accumulation of points against your license, which can have dramatic effects. Criminal traffic offenses often have serious consequences beyond the criminal penalties of incarceration. Upon conviction of a criminal offense, the Secretary of State may take action against your driver's license, resulting in the assessment of points, suspension or revocation. Even without a conviction, the Secretary of State's Driver Assessment Division has authority to re-examine a driver when, for example, a driver has accumulated too many points or is involved in certain types of accidents. Such hearings include an on-the-road performance test and may result in a restriction, suspension, or revocation of driving privileges.
Drivers aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary may request a hearing before the Driver License Appeal Division (DLAD). Appeals are typically from branch office application denials, driver assessment determinations, and implied-consent hearings and they include appeals for license reinstatement following revocation for various circumstances.
Moreover, driver license sanctions may result from criminal convictions that have nothing to do with the operation of a motor vehicle. For example, convictions for certain drug offenses, possession of alcohol by minors in some instances and forging certain Secretary of State documents all may result in license sanctions.
We, at Willey & Chamberlain, have significant experience handling criminal cases with licensing implications and representing clients in licensing actions before the Secretary of State, including driver assessment and DLAD hearings. We are well-suited to provide you with the valuable advice you need to minimize the impact of these sanctions on your ability to drive and to regain your driving privileges.
