Schaumburg License Reinstatement Assistance if you Were Denied a Restricted Driver’s Permit

Illinois takes driving seriously. A small series of driving mistakes can quickly lead to a suspended driver’s license.

A DUI arrest, moving violation convictions, and even failure to pay your child support all can systematically lead to you surrendering your privilege to drive.

Once you’ve had a temporary license suspension, you can apply with the Illinois Secretary of State for a restricted driver’s permit. This is your next step to attaining full-fledged license reinstatement

So, what happens when you jump through all the hoops, and the Secretary of State office still denies you a restricted permit? What did you do wrong? What is your next move? 

Learn the reasons the state might have denied you a license, and the steps you can take to earn back your driving privileges in the Schaumburg area. 

Restricted Driver’s Permit Denial

Illinois driver’s license reinstatement takes time and a lot of ink. Once the state puts a hold on your license, you have to work hard to earn it back. Even then, failure to follow some basic guidelines will prevent license reinstatement. 

Most often, the reasons for denial stem from drug and alcohol abuse. Here are the top five reasons why the Secretary of State might deny your license reinstatement: 

1 – Documents Do Not Meet the Standards

The Secretary of State’s office requires alcohol and drug evaluation from an accredited entity and the appropriate treatment documents if you’ve lost your license due to a DUI or substance abuse issue. Often the documents that individuals file do not meet the state’s requirements. 

2 – Wrong Classification Level

When you lose your license, you do so according to one of five classification levels. Factors like arrest history, drinking/drug use history, BAC levels, and abuse and dependency symptoms all affect these levels. Often the Secretary of State will deny a petitioner because their reported symptoms do not support the classification level originally assigned to them. 

3 – Inconsistent Testimony

If your testimony does not sync with the information on your evaluation, the state will deny your petition. Your testimony may not match up with the facts and circumstances of the previous DUI cases or arrests. Any discrepancy can lead to the state denying you a license or permit 

4 – Failure to Acknowledge a Problem

Petitioners need to acknowledge and explain the reasons and nature of their behavior when they go in for a hearing. If they cannot explain the nature of the problem, and how it relates to a DUI arrest on their record, the state will question their treatment program. The state may even recommend further treatment. 

5 – High-Risk Classification

The state may classify you as alcohol or drug dependent. This makes you a high risk, and thus they require more of you than average petitioners. They want letters from support groups or other requirements. 

If you cannot meet the state’s stated requirements, they will deny your license. You need verification that a support group will help hold you accountable and keep you sober. 

How to Respond

When the state denies you a restricted driving permit, you can apply again. You will have to prove that you have a hardship that requires you to drive if you are not past the projected eligibility date. Driving to and from work, driving to and from school, and caring for the medical needs of a dependent near your Schaumburg home can all qualify you for a hardship. 

To apply for a hardship license, you will need to do the following tasks: 

  • Gather proof of treatment and medical evaluation
  • Attend a hearing in front of a public officer
  • Prove that you can drive safely and are not a danger to other drivers or the public
  • Prove the circumstances of your hardship

You will also have to pay a $50 filing fee to apply for the hardship license at a Formal Hearing. The fee does not guarantee that you will receive your license. 

To request a formal hearing, you need to submit a formal hearing request. At the hearing, one of three things will happen. You will receive a full license back, the state will deny your license reinstatement, or the state will give you a restricted driving permit. 

You may not know the results of the hearing immediately. In fact, you may have to wait up to 90 days to hear the results of your hearing. 

Seek Legal Help

If all of this sounds confusing, you can always seek an attorney’s help. Experienced law professionals understand the laws and the legal process. They can help you earn your license back quicker than if you work on the process on your own. 

Make sure you find an Illinois attorney who understands the laws and process in Illinois. They can help you with your license reinstatement better than anyone else. Each state has different rules about driver’s license reinstatement, so find an attorney with experience and knowledge specifically about Illinois law. 

Get Your License Back in Schaumburg Today

If you’ve lost your license, you can still earn back a restricted driver’s permit and eventually your driver’s license. A few basic steps will lead you to legal driving once again and the freedom that comes with it. Do not let a few past mistakes keep you from driving. 

Have you lost your license? Do you need legal help with license reinstatement? Contact us today for a free consultation. 

We have been helping clients earn back their licenses for over 22 years. Our extensive knowledge of Illinois law has allowed us to help thousands of people in the Schaumburg area drive once again. We have developed an efficient and thorough process of preparing people for their hearings in front of the Secretary of State thanks to our years of experience. 

We will help your file your paperwork correctly the first time, so you do not get caught up in the red legal tape of the state government. We can help you avoid the five top reasons listed above that lead individuals to waiting even longer for a driver’s license. Our thorough process leads to you receiving your license much more quickly than if you filed paperwork on your own. 

If you’ve lost your license in Illinois, give us a call today. We’d love to help you get back on the road and behind the wheel again. 

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