Sobriety Court
FAQ
A Sobriety Court determines whether you are eligible and accepts you into their Sobriety Court program. You may be eligible if you were arrested for an alcohol-related offense on or after Jan 1, 2011, have a prior alcohol conviction(s), and are approved by a Sobriety Court.
Only certain courts within the State of Michigan meet the requirements for a Sobriety (DWI) Court. Please visit the State Court Administrative Office website for specific information.
The Sobriety Court will notify the Secretary of State directly. If you are eligible and your license has not expired, the Secretary of State will mail the Sobriety Court restricted license to you. You will not need to provide an additional documentation to the Secretary of State.
However, if your license is expired, you will receive a letter authorizing your renewal at a Secretary of State office. After you have completed the renewal process, the Secretary of State will mail the Sobriety Court restricted license to you.
You may not drive until the beginning date shown on the Sobriety Court restricted license that you will receive in the mail. The law requires you to serve a minimum of 45 days without a license. The 45-day minimum waiting period starts on the beginning date of the suspension or denial/revocation shown on your Order of Action and driving record.
The law requires you to have an ignition interlock device installed on each vehicle you own or operate. You may request your vehicle records by fax, phone or mail. For more information, please see the Requesting Your Own Driving or Vehicle Record web page.
Only if your license is not currently suspended, revoked or denied. The Sobriety Court law does not have any special provisions for driving to have the ignition interlock installed.
The Sobriety Court will provide you with a list of currently approved ignition interlock providers.
You are not permitted to drive until the new suspension, revocation, or denial is cleared.
After the suspension, revocation or denial is cleared or terminated, you may resume driving with your Sobriety Court restricted license unless the Sobriety Court has ordered your removal from the Sobriety Court program.
After successful completion of the Sobriety Court program, you will continue with the Sobriety Court restricted license until the Administrative Hearings Section of the Michigan Department of State grants full driving privileges.
The law does not permit a Sobriety Court to reinstate a Sobriety Court restricted license for the same alcohol offense.
If you do not successfully complete the Sobriety Court program, you are subject to all suspensions, revocations, or denials that were in effect before your entrance into the Sobriety Court program.
You will also be responsible for any unpaid Driver Responsibility Fees that were not collected while you were in the program.
Your driving record will still show your driving history, including all your tickets, points, suspensions, revocations, and denials. You may request your driving record by fax, phone or mail. For more information, please see the Requesting Your Own Driving or Vehicle Record web page.
The Sobriety Court will inform the Secretary of State that the ignition interlock device(s) have been installed in the vehicles you own and operate. You do not have to provide any documentation of ignition interlock installation to the Secretary of State.