Illinois Restricted Driving Permit & Illinois Driver's License Reinstatement hearings are administrative hearings conducted by the Illinois Secretary of State Department of Administrative Hearings.  Illinois Driver's License Reinstatement Attorney, Erin Birt, prepares and represents clients seeking an Illinois Restricted Driving Permit or full reinstatement of Illinois driving privileges.  This post will focus on the Illinois Restricted Driving Permit & Driver's License Reinstatement.

Formal vs. Informal Hearings:

A formal Illinois Secretary of State hearing is required for a driver whose Illinois driving privileges have been suspended or revoked for an offense(s) involving a fatality or multiple DUI dispositions.

A request for a formal hearing must be made in writing and sent via regular mail to the Illinois Secretary of State's office. Upon receipt of the request for a formal hearing and the non-refundable filing fee of $50.00, a hearing will be scheduled and notice will be sent to the Petitioner via regular mail.  If you have been denied relief at a formal hearing, a subsequent hearing can be set 90 days after the most recent hearing.

At a formal Illinois Secretary of State hearing, a hearing officer presides and both testimony and documentary evidence is heard. At the formal hearing, the formal hearing officer is authorized to rule on all motions, administer oaths, subpoena witnesses or documents at the request of any party, examine witnesses and rule upon the admissibility of evidence. At the conclusion of the hearing, the formal hearing officer will take the matter under advisement and issue an order reflecting the hearing officer's recommendation and the decision of the Secretary of State's office via mail.

Formal hearings are available at the following locations:

Springfield:

Howlett Bldg., Rm. 212
Springfield, IL 62756

Chicago:

17 N. State St., Ste. 1200
Chicago, IL 60602

Joliet:

54 N. Ottawa St., 4th Fl.
Joliet, IL 60432

Mt. Vernon:

218 S. 12th St.
Mt. Vernon, IL 62864

An informal Illinois Secretary of State hearing is required for a driver whose privileges have been suspended or revoked for an offense(s) not involving a fatality, one DUI disposition or for sanctions related to lesser moving violations. Decisions by an informal hearing officer and the Secretary of State will be mailed to the Petitioner via regular mail.

The informal hearings are conducted at various locations throughout Illinois and no appointment is necessary.

Illinois Restricted Driving Permit & Illinois Driver's License Reinstatement hearings that involve a DUI focus certain key topics.  Please view our video below about the key areas of interest at an Illinois Restricted Driving Permit & Illinois Driver's License Reinstatement hearing.

To schedule an appointment with Illinois Restricted Driving Permit & Illinois Driver's License Reinstatement attorney, Erin Birt, please contact The Law Firm of Erin Birt at 630-891-2478.

Schedule a Consultation with Attorney Erin Birt