The Metro Detroit Youth Club will be the setting on Wednesday, April 9 for a free clinic for those wanting to get their Michigan Driver’s License Restored. This historic event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is the first of its kind. District 44 Judge Derek Meinecke has been a champion of the new Michigan Law, House Bill 5103 was officially passed on Wednesday, April 2 and now allows those who not-yet-licensed in Michigan who have had two minor moving violation points with a path to restore or receive their Michigan Driver License removing the three-year hard ban on applying.

“This really fits what we’re about here in Royal Oak,” Meinecke said. “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.”

Judge Meinecke explained the problem created by the former law.

“The purpose of the former Michigan Statute 257.303G was for certain groups of individuals are not allowed to obtain a valid driver’s license in Michigan. Those who couldn’t pass the written or road exam, a non-resident, those who have a revoked or suspended license due to multiple drinking and driving offenses. Sub section G creates another unique group.”

Basically, those who without a license and have traffic misdemeanors with two points are barred for three years.

Judge Meinecke noted that his court district has seen thousands of individuals fall into this category. And now they have hope.

“There are 520 people in our program and and since March of 2016 we have restored 1,480 Driver Licenses (in 2023). We take individuals who are qualified to be drivers, educate them and get them on the road legally. But we continued to run into this brick wall even after paying off tickets.”

Judge Meinecke explained how unfair the former law was.

“Let’s say they’re pulled over and ticketed. And they’re ticketed for speeding 1 to 5 over and no proof of insurance. That’s a total of two points. If you’re unlicensed in the state of Michigan, this law made it so that because of those two offenses, that totaled two points, you were barred from getting a license for three years. It’s stunning when I tell that to people because I think we can all agree that we want people to be licensed. We can all agree we want people who drive without a license for there to be a consequence. I don’t think any of us believe in any way, shape, or form they should be barred for three years. But that’s what has been happening for decades, and it ended today.”

But he noted that someone who has a valid license and “They go out and drink and drive, which I would argue is a far more dangerous behavior on the roadways than someone who’s unlicensed picking up a minor speeding ticket. That drunk driver, they lose their license for 30 days. Now, let’s say that same licensed person goes out and picks up a second drunk driver. Their license is revoked, but only for a year.”

He further explained, “That unlicensed person with two minor infractions, they were absolutely barred for three years. Now, I want to make sure it’s fully understood. When I say they’re barred, there isn’t a court they could appeal to. There isn’t a process that they could go through. There isn’t a traffic class they could take. There isn’t any sort of alternate path. There’s no restricted license for them to go back and forth to work.”

But now there is hope and a shorter path and the free clinic is the first step. The free clinic has an online sign-up but walk ins are welcome from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. but are limited due to space.

To sign up, visit Michigan.gov/R2R