Below is a brief and very general description of the types of hearings conducted by the Illinois Secretary of State.  This information is not intended to be legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.  The resolution of each case is dictated by its particular facts and each case is different.  Because of these particularities, each client deserves and should expect to receive personal and straightforward guidance from their attorney.  It is this type of assistance I seek to provide my clients when they are faced with a driver's license suspension or revocation.

Informal hearings are conducted with informal hearing officers at various Secretary of State Driver's Services facilities located throughout Illinois.  Informal hearings are held without appointment, on a first come, first served basis and according to the hearing officer's availability.  At an informal hearing, the hearing officer conducts an interview of the individual seeking reinstatement of driving privileges, the Petitioner.  The hearing officer asks questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the violation(s) resulting in suspension, reasons for requesting reinstatement of privileges and changes in the Petitioner's lifestyle and driving habits since the suspension occurred.

After the interview is concluded, the hearing officer sends the results of the interview and any evidence submitted by the petitioner to the Secretary of State's Office in Springfield, Illinois.  The Petitioner is contacted by mail regarding reinstatement of his driving privileges.  This process generally takes between 3-6 weeks.  In the event driving relief is not granted, the individual may request a rehearing no less than 30 days from the date of his initial informal hearing however, the individual's driving privileges will remain suspended/revoked.