Oakland County, MI - Paul J. Tafelski of Michigan Defense Law (https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/blog/substance-abuse-evaluation/) announces comprehensive guidance for drivers seeking to regain privileges through the substance abuse evaluation process central to Michigan’s license restoration system. As a leading Michigan license restoration attorney, Tafelski provides structured support for individuals in Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Novi, Royal Oak, and surrounding communities as they prepare Form SOS-258, obtain a 12-panel laboratory drug screen, organize community support letters, and present clear, consistent documentation for Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight proceedings conducted via Microsoft Teams.
Under Michigan’s framework, hearing officers rely on the Substance Use Evaluation and corroborating materials to assess history, current sobriety, and relapse risk. The Michigan license restoration attorney team at Michigan Defense Law helps applicants assemble a clean record that aligns with OHAO expectations: a completed SOS-257 hearing request, SOS-258 evaluation by a qualified evaluator, verified 12-panel urinalysis with integrity variables, and letters attesting to sustained abstinence and lifestyle changes. This structured approach supports a finding that driving poses no unreasonable risk and that the applicant pursues lasting recovery.
The process demands careful preparation from the outset. A Michigan license restoration attorney reviews treatment and relapse history, charges and convictions tied to substance use, results from standardized tools such as AUDIT, MAST, and DAST, and evidence of participation in AA, SMART Recovery, or comparable programs. Evaluators document diagnosis and prognosis, outline ongoing support plans, and discuss living and work circumstances, as well as prescribed medications. Consistency across the evaluation, drug screen, and community letters is critical, since inconsistencies can undermine credibility during DAIS submissions or virtual hearings.
Because there is no official state-approved list of evaluators, selection matters. The firm regularly works with credentialed professionals whose reports address the legal standards and provide clear, persuasive findings. If an initial evaluation trends unfavorably or is incomplete, the team can seek supplemental testing, additional letters, or a second opinion, then refine the presentation for a stronger record. For many applicants, targeted steps over 90 to 180 days, documented meeting attendance, negative follow-up tests, and verification of counseling can materially improve prospects at a subsequent hearing. Throughout, a Michigan license restoration attorney coordinates timelines, organizes exhibits, and prepares witnesses so that the record reflects current sobriety and practical safeguards against relapse.
Michigan Defense Law also addresses filing logistics that often slow applicants. The team confirms that test panels meet cutoff and integrity requirements, that all dates and signatures align across forms, and that exhibits upload cleanly through DAIS. For residents along Telegraph Road, Woodward Avenue, and the I-75 corridor, remote appearance capability reduces travel while preserving access to hearings. With attention to dates, numbers, and corroboration, applicants present the sustained change that OHAO evaluates when considering reinstatement.
About Michigan Defense Law:
Michigan Defense Law, led by attorney Paul J. Tafelski, represents individuals in criminal defense and driver’s license restoration matters across Oakland County and throughout Michigan. Core practice areas include OWI and traffic-related offenses, probation violations, and license restoration advocacy grounded in documented sobriety and public safety. The firm serves clients in Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Novi, Royal Oak, and nearby communities. For consultations, call (248) 451-2200 or visit the firm’s website to schedule a case review.
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Email: paul@michigandefenselaw.com
Website: https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/
Media Contact
Company Name: Michigan Defense Law
Contact Person: Paul J. Tafelski
Email: Send Email
Phone: (248) 451-2200
Address:2525 S Telegraph Rd suite 100
City: Bloomfield Hills
State: Michigan 48302
Country: United States
Website: https://www.michigandefenselaw.com/