The Michigan Secretary of State’s office will work to help Southwest Michigan residents who have lost their driver’s licenses get back on the road legally with a special clinic planned in Benton Harbor next week.

The Road to Restoration clinic will be held Wednesday, March 18 at the Michigan Works of Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties office on West Main Street.

Road to Restoration program manager Abigayl Venman tells us being allowed to drive is pretty important in a state like Michigan, but many people who’ve lost their licenses don’t know what to do to get them back. The Secretary of State’s office will have the necessary resources available at Wednesday’s event.

“That includes gathering experts from the Michigan Department of State, the Mobile Secretary of State, which is exactly what it sounds like — a Secretary of State on wheels — and a lot of community partners to really help residents know what they  need to do,” Venman said.

Venman says there are a wide variety of reasons someone may have lost their license. That’s why taking the time to work with each person can be helpful.

“What’s really special about the clinics is that by providing that one-on-one help and information, we can make sure that every resident that joins us has that information that pertains exactly to their circumstances.”

The clinic will be mostly appointment-based, meaning if someone’s looking for help, it’s best to make an appointment. The appointments will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day. You can sign up right here.

Venman says those who attend the clinic should bring an ID and a copy of their driving record, which can be obtained through the Michigan Secretary of State’s website. She notes since the Road to Restoration program started in 2022, about 14,000 people have attended its clinics.