If you’ve had your Illinois driver’s license suspended or revoked, you’ll need to attend a Secretary of State hearing in Chicago to pursue license reinstatement. Formal hearings can also take place in Springfield, Joliet, and Mt. Vernon, while informal hearings are conducted at select Illinois Driver Services facilities.
Before attending a hearing, you should secure legal representation to make sure you are adequately prepared. Our driver’s license lawyers at Johnson & Goldrich have successfully represented thousands of Illinois drivers seeking to regain their driving privileges.
We understand losing your license can have a devastating impact on your life. It can make it difficult to get to work or school, fulfill normal family obligations, and travel. Fortunately, we’re here to help you get back on the road.
The Secretary of State’s hearing program for driver’s license reinstatement gives people a chance to make their case. The goal is to prove you are responsible enough to hold a license and are no longer a threat to public safety.
Informal vs Formal Administrative Hearings
There are two types of hearings drivers can attend if they want to receive a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) or full license reinstatement. These include informal and formal hearings.
Informal hearings are for drivers who have lost their license for any of the following:
- An offense(s) not involving a fatality
- A single DUI disposition
- Sanctions related to other moving violations that result in a revoked driver’s license
- Issues regarding fraud
An informal hearing officer will conduct the hearing and no appointment is necessary. Your lawyer will attend the hearing with you. Your success will hinge on convincing the hearing officer you’re no longer at risk of committing the same offense(s) that led to your license suspension or revocation.
After the hearing, you may receive an RDP or full reinstatement of your driving privileges. The Secretary of State will communicate their decision in a short letter.
Formal hearings are held for drivers who have lost their driving privileges due to the following:
- An offense(s) involving a fatality or serious injury
- Multiple DUI dispositions
You must make a formal hearing request in writing through the mail to schedule a formal hearing. Your request must include a non-refundable $50 filing fee. After the Secretary of State receives the request, you’ll receive a notice in the mail with the date of your hearing.
Formal hearings include yourself, your attorney, a hearing officer, and an attorney representing the Illinois Secretary of State. At formal hearings, the officer can rule on all motions and subpoena witnesses or documents at the request of any party. They can also examine witnesses, administer oaths, and decide whether or not evidence is admissible.
After your hearing, you will not receive a decision on the same day. It may take up to 90 days to receive the Secretary of State’s report.
As a result of your formal hearing, you may receive an RDP or have your license reinstated. If you have any concerns before your hearing, we encourage you to review our guide on Secretary of State hearings questions and myths.
Why Hire an Attorney for Your Hearing?
To properly prepare for a Secretary of State Chicago administrative hearing, you should seek legal representation. At Johnson & Goldrich, our attorneys have the knowledge, skill, and experience to represent you. We know what the Secretary of State expects to see from drivers petitioning for license reinstatement and driving relief.
Our law firm will use all of our resources to help you get your driving privileges back as quickly as possible. We tackle informal and formal Illinois Secretary of State Administrative hearings in Chicago and other locations.
Contact Us
Contact us at Johnson & Goldrich and let us put our over 25 years of legal experience to work for you.
