To reinstate a license in Chicago, you’ll have to follow the same steps as anyone that has had their license revoked in the state of Illinois. Contrary to what some people think, Chicago is not a separate state. While more than 9 million of the 13 million people that call Illinois home are in the Chicagoland area, there is no magic button for Chicago residents to get their license reinstated. As a matter of fact, thanks to overloaded courts and parking tickets, Chicagoland residents may have to jump through some extra hoops before they are ready to apply for driving relief through a Secretary of State Hearing.
First things first, spend $12 to get a copy of your Court Purposes Driving Abstract. The abstract can be very confusing to a lay person, but will be required by your lawyer and evaluator. The abstract contains all kinds of important information, including “stops” that are in place that will need to be cleared up before you can be granted driving relief. Some of the “stops” will include failures to pay and failures to appear in court. The abstract will also have information about your various arrests that have caused your license to be revoked.
The road to reinstate a license in Chicago is no different than it is for people in other parts of Illinois, but don’t be surprised if you encounter some bumps and potholes along the way.
When can I apply for Reinstatement?
Thanks to fairly recent changes in the law, you can apply for driving relief, in some cases, the day that your license is revoked. However, if you are looking to reinstate a license in Chicago, you may have a more difficult time getting a Restricted Driving Permit during a period which is often referred to as “hard time”. Any time prior to your eligibility date from revocation or suspension, you must prove an “undue hardship” which is often defined as an inability to either maintain or obtain employment. In the Chicagoland area, millions of people get to and from work using public transportation, taxis, Uber, etc. While this may be an inconvenience, it is not necessarily an “undue hardship”. The abstract that you will be buying will provide us with the information that we need to help you best describe your “undue hardship” and need to be able to drive.
Getting your license reinstated is a very important step in moving on with your life after making the mistake of drinking and driving. Johnson & Goldrich are here to help you accomplish that goal.