Nearly 300 Saginaw residents with suspended licenses attended the Road to Restoration driver’s license clinic held on March 8 at SVRC. United Way of Saginaw County, the Saginaw County Bar Association, and the 70th District Court partnered with the Michigan Department of State to help bring the free clinic to the indoor marketplace.
In 2021, Michigan changed the laws so drivers who failed to pay tickets or court fines, or failed to appear in court for certain non-moving and other violations could have their suspended license reinstated. The new law removed suspensions for more than 150,000 people but for many, further action is required to fully restore their license.
Last year, Road to Restoration helped over 4,000 Michigan residents at 18 clinics in 11 Michigan cities, including a clinic that was held in Saginaw last September. Residents who attend the clinics meet one-on-one with Michigan Department of State staff and talk with volunteer experts to determine the necessary steps to reinstate their driver’s license.
In a press release from the Michigan Department of State, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Audra Davis, president and CEO of United Way of Saginaw County speak on the importance of collaborating with local partners to provide license restoration clinics.
“Thanks to our vital partnerships with private and public entities statewide and locally, we are able to return to Saginaw with this innovative approach to government service for a second year,” said Jocelyn Benson. “A valid driver’s license is essential for many residents who need to be able to drive to work, to school, to medical appointments, and to meet their basic needs. The opportunity to work with our volunteers and staff is truly life changing for people who attend these clinics to restore their driving privileges. The Road to Restoration program is a model of accessible state government that helps those who need our services the most and meets them where they are in their communities.”
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with MDOS, DTE, and our local volunteer attorneys to bring the Road to Restoration back to Saginaw,” said Audra Davis. “We’ve seen the incredible help residents here receive at the clinics in charting their path to restoring their driving license and we recognize transportation is a major hurdle for those struggling to maintain stable employment. We are grateful to be part of the solution by providing a path of opening doors and helping to create an enjoyable life.”
Chantelle Davis was one of the 300 to attend the free clinic. She left the event with her driving permit after being without a license for four years.
“It’s not good at all to not have a license,” Davis said. “I basically had to have chauffeurs and people take me around – my kids, my sister. But now it’s good because I can go on my own. It feels good.”
To learn more about Road to Restoration and to find a clinic near you, visit Michigan.gov/RoadtoRestoration or dial 2-1-1.
