More than 50 people signed up to attend a free Road to Restoration clinic in Gladwin on Friday, where state officials and volunteer attorneys helped residents begin the process of getting their driver’s licenses back. Within the first hour, 34 people had already arrived seeking help.
Hosted by the Michigan Department of State and held at Michigan Works! Gladwin, the clinic offered one-on-one consultations with experts to check license status, answer legal questions and guide participants through next steps. On-site services also included vision testing and written driving exams, provided through the department’s mobile Secretary of State unit.
Abigayl Venman, director of the Road to Restoration program, said the clinic’s mission is rooted in accessibility and mobility.
“Driving in Michigan is really important. Michigan is a driving state,” she said. “Folks need to get to work. They need to be able to take their kiddos to school, go to the doctor’s office, the grocery store, you name it, and not being able to drive really can impede on that.”
One of those people was Matthew Ashton, who drove nearly an hour to attend the clinic after years without a valid driver’s license.
“When I was younger, I got myself in some trouble and lost my driver’s license,” he said. “It’s been about 16 years, and it’s time to get it back.”
Without a license, Ashton said it’s been difficult to do everyday tasks, especially as a parent.
“It’s harder to get to work. It’s harder to do stuff with the kids,” he said.
At the clinic, he received a printed packet listing step-by-step instructions for the administrative hearing process, including required documentation.
“It’s been over 16 years since I drank. Now my lifestyle has completely changed,” he said. “I believe I’m in a place, mentally, financially everything, to go back after it again and try and get back so I’m legal.”
The Road to Restoration program was launched in 2022 to help the more than 150,000 Michiganders who became newly eligible for license reinstatement after changes to state law. Public Act 42 of 2024 repealed a three-year waiting period for people previously cited for driving without a license, making another 3,000 residents eligible.
Venman said that since the program began, over 10,000 residents across Michigan have received help. The Gladwin event was the first of its kind in the area, made possible after the city’s mayor, Sarah Kile, attended a previous clinic and advocated to bring the program to town.
“Some folks might not be able to get to clinics we’ve held in nearby communities because they don’t have a license or access to reliable transportation,” Venman said. “By coming to Gladwin, we’re hoping to meet people where they are and provide that information for them.”
While some attendees may be able to restore their licenses immediately, others, like Ashton, must complete additional steps, including submitting paperwork and attending hearings. Clinics are designed to demystify the process.
“These laws change all the time,” Ashton said. “It’s intimidating. I’ve tried before and probably messed up the paperwork. But this time, I know what I’m doing.”
The program is a collaboration between the Michigan Secretary of State and several partners, including the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, Detroit Justice Center, United Way and Michigan Works!. Most team members on site volunteer for the program in addition to their regular full-time jobs.
For residents facing more complex legal paths, clinics also offer small group sessions like the OHAO (Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight) class, where staff walk participants through forms and questions needed to request a hearing for reinstatement.
Ashton said that for him, getting a license would mean more than convenience; it would mean independence.
“More freedom, more time,” he said. “Being able to do more things with my kids and work.”
Upcoming Road to Restoration clinics include stops in Battle Creek on June 17, Detroit on June 24, Adrian on July 31 and Bay City on Aug. 12. More details, including registration information, can be found on the Road to Restoration website.
