“He who represents himself has a fool for a client”  Abraham Lincoln

Don’t go it alone at a Secretary of State hearing, call me Adam Grosch, 708-233-0758

My name is Adam Grosch and I am an attorney with over 30 years’ experience as a lawyer and over 20 years’ experience representing individuals who are trying to get their driver’s license re-instated.  Whether you require a hearing with the Secretary of State or resolution of traffic matters in court, I will advocate for you and work with you to give you have the best chance possible to get your license back so that you can get back on the road to get work, take care of yourself and your family, and move forward with your life. I will draw on my decades of legal experience and skill to help you achieve your goal.  Below you will find a brief discussion on license suspensions and revocations and how I can help you get your license re-instated.  I invite you review this information and then call me, Adam Grosch 708-233-0758, so that we can discuss your particular circumstances.

DUI Based Revocation -- License Re-instatement

If your drivers’ license is revoked because of DUI violations, you may be eligible for reinstatement or for a restricted driving permit (RDP).  In order for reinstatement to occur or for an RDP to be approved, you will need to go through a Secretary of State hearing.  The Secretary of State hearing process is not easy, it is time consuming, it can be confusing but I have helped many people get their driving privileges re-instated.

If you have a DUI based revocation, you will be required to have either a formal or informal hearing depending on the number of DUI convictions you have had.  Whether a formal or informal hearing is required, the Secretary of State will require that you provide documentation from a treatment provider discussing the alcohol or drug use that led to the revocation.  Also, you will be required to give testimony discussing the alcohol or drug use that led to your arrest for DUI and the circumstances of your DUI.  Finally, you will be required to establish, through documentation and testimony, that you have resolved the issues that caused the suspension or revocation.

Long before your hearing, I will ensure that your documentation is in order and I will ensure that you are prepared to answer the questions that the Secretary of State is likely to ask.  Before your hearing, you and I will discuss your circumstances so that you know the information the Secretary will require and questions that Secretary of State will ask so that when you have your hearing, you are not surprised, but instead you are prepared.  By preparing you, I will give you the best chance at success.  Call me, Adam Grosch, 708-233-0758, and we will discuss your case.

License Revocation For Non-DUI Violations -- License Re-instatement

If you have a revocation for other non-DUI traffic violations or for other situations such as providing false information to the Secretary of State, you will require, most likely, an informal hearing.  But make no mistake, don’t let the label, “informal hearing”, deceive you.  An “informal” hearing is anything but informal.  You will be required to provide proof and testimony establishing that the issue that led to the revocation has been resolved.  And you will have to be prepared to answer the questions of the Secretary of State.

This is where I come in.  I will ensure that your documentation is in order and that you are prepared to answer the questions that the Secretary of State is likely to ask.  Before your hearing, you and I will discuss your circumstances so that you know the information the Secretary will require and questions that Secretary of State will ask you so that when you have your hearing, you are not surprised, but instead you are prepared.  By preparing you, I will give you the best chance at success.  Call me, Adam Grosch, 708-233-0758, and we will discuss your case and how we will proceed.

License Suspension -- License Re-instatement Through Court

If your license is suspended, it may be as a result of too many tickets in one year.  If this is your situation I can help you get your license reinstated and I might be able to do it without a hearing before the Secretary of State.  I have successfully helped many clients remove the suspension on their license by going to court and vacating convictions on one or more tickets and I may be able to help you in this way too.  Call me, Adam Grosch 708-233-0758, and we will discuss your circumstances and I will let you know if your suspension can be removed by having a court hearing.

Informal Hearing vs. Formal Hearing

Below is a very brief summary of the difference between an informal hearing and a formal hearing.  For more information and to see which type of hearing you require, please call me, Adam Grosch at 708-233-0758

Informal Hearings

• No appointment is required;
• They are conducted by informal hearing officers at Secretary of State facilities;
• Generally speaking, though there are exceptions, individuals are eligible for this type of hearing if their license was revoked for a first-time DUI where there was no fatality or for a violation that did not involve a fatality or other lesser violations;

Formal Hearings

• Formal hearings are required when, as a result of multiple DUI arrests, the driver has lost his driving privileges or has been involved in an accident involving a fatality;

• They are conducted at a Secretary of State facility, either downtown Chicago or Joliet;
• The hearing officer conducts the hearing and is a lawyer and his or her role is similar to that of a judge in judicial proceeding;
• The Secretary of State is represented by a lawyer who represents the interest of the Secretary of State;
• A formal hearing must be scheduled ahead of time by mail;
• A formal hearing requires a $50 filing fee;

Secretary of State Hearings -- 1st Steps

Whether it is a formal or informal hearing that is required of you, you will have to address some basic issues at the reinstatement hearing. Although the following are some general topics, it is not exhaustive and it is by no means sufficient as a “primer” or a substitute for experienced legal counsel and I strongly suggest that, prior to the hearing with the Secretary of State, you consult me, Adam Grosch 708-233-0758, or another attorney who can help you understand the requirements and determine how best to address the circumstances of your case:

Your Driving Record Will Be Reviewed

• The Secretary of State will question you regarding the reason for the suspension or revocation of your license;
• If you have prior DUIs, you will be questioned and alcohol / drug abuse related offenses (whether those occurred in Illinois or in other states) that appear on your driving record;
• If you were arrested for driving during a suspension or revocation you will be required to explain those arrests;

Substance Abuse Documentation

• If your driving record reflects a DUI arrest or other offense involving alcohol or drug use while driving, or if there is other evidence of alcohol or drug abuse, you will be required to have a drug / alcohol evaluation completed no more than 6 months prior to the hearing;
• You will be required to provide documentation showing that alcohol / drug abuse treatment has been completed;
• You will be required to explain what you learned during treatment;
• You will be required to explain why and how you changed your drinking patterns and went from an abuser of alcohol to responsible drinking, or if you were found to be dependent on alcohol, you will be required to show that you are now abstinent you will be required to explain the circumstances of becoming abstinence;
• You will be required to establish, through testimony and documentation, you are unlikely to relapse.

Bottom line, if your driver’s license is suspended or revoked and you are trying to get your license reinstated then contact me, Adam Grosch, 708-233-0758.  Not being prepared for or not knowing what to expect at a Secretary of State hearing does not increase your chances of success.  Instead, not being prepared for your Secretary of State hearing can result in wasted time, confusion, and delays in reinstatement. If you choose me to represent you before the Secretary of State, I will use all my skill, knowledge and experience to get you back on the road so you can get to work, take care of your children, and move forward with your life.