By Jeffrey J. Randa
DWLS and DWLR: Suspended & Revoked License Charges in Michigan
Driving on a suspended or revoked license in Michigan is more serious than most people realize — and the consequences can follow you long after your case is resolved. Whether your license was suspended for unpaid tickets or revoked after multiple DUI convictions, a DWLS or DWLR charge carries real penalties: potential jail time, extended suspension or revocation periods, points on your driving record, and complications that can affect your job and your insurance. Below, we explain what these charges mean, what you are actually facing, and how our firm approaches these cases.
What Is the Difference Between DWLS and DWLR in Michigan?
Michigan law treats Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) and Driving While License Revoked (DWLR) under the same statute, but the underlying reasons differ in ways that matter for your case.
DWLS typically involves a license that was suspended for a fixable reason — unpaid tickets, a missed court date, a single DUI conviction, or some other administrative issue. A suspension has a defined end date, and driving on a suspended license in Michigan is treated as a separate criminal offense the moment you get behind the wheel. DWLR is different. Revocation usually stems from multiple drunk or drugged driving convictions, and there is no automatic end date. The Secretary of State revokes the license, and getting it back requires a formal driver’s license restoration appeal — a separate process entirely.
Even though the charges differ in origin, both carry identical potential penalties under Michigan law.
Driving on a Suspended License in Michigan — Penalties
A judge handling a DWLS or DWLR case has wide discretion. Depending on your history and the circumstances, the court can impose jail time, significant fines, vehicle immobilization, and probation. These are the criminal penalties — and under MCL 257.904, a conviction goes on both your criminal record and your driving record.
Beyond what the judge can impose, Michigan law requires the Secretary of State to act automatically upon conviction. That means a mandatory additional period of suspension or revocation, plus points added to your driving record — regardless of what the judge decides to do on the criminal side.
If you have prior DWLS or DWLR convictions, the stakes go up. Repeat offenses make jail a realistic outcome, and courts take driving history seriously when deciding what sentence to impose.
Does a Conviction Automatically Extend Your Suspension or Revocation?
Yes — and this is the part that catches people off guard. Michigan law requires the Secretary of State to add additional sanctions whenever you are convicted of DWLS, DWLR, or any moving violation committed during a period of suspension or revocation. That means a new suspension period on top of the existing one for DWLS, or a longer revocation for DWLR — with no way to shorten it once it is imposed.
This is one of the most important reasons to fight these charges rather than simply accept a plea. A conviction does not just resolve the case — it resets the clock on your ability to drive legally.
How Does Your Court Location Affect Your Case?
Where your case is filed matters — not because one court is harsher than another, but because judges, prosecutors, and local practices vary from courthouse to courthouse across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and the surrounding counties. Knowing how a particular court and prosecutor’s office typically handles these cases can meaningfully affect how yours gets resolved.
That kind of insight only comes from regularly appearing in these courts, which our firm does. Judges have wide discretion in DWLS and DWLR cases, and having a lawyer who already knows the local landscape puts you in a stronger position from the start.
Can You Avoid Jail for a DWLS or DWLR Charge?
In most cases, yes — particularly on a first offense and with the right approach. Jail becomes a more realistic outcome when someone has multiple prior DWLS or DWLR convictions, when the charge involves additional offenses, or when the person continued driving after a mandatory revocation period began. Outside of those situations, keeping someone out of jail is a realistic goal, and it is one our firm focuses on from the start.
How We Approach DWLS and DWLR Defense
Most of the meaningful work in these cases happens during plea negotiations, not at trial. The goal is to reach an outcome that minimizes the criminal penalty while also protecting your driving record — ideally through a reduced charge, a non-moving violation, or a plea agreement structured to avoid triggering new sanctions from the Secretary of State.
We work to give the court reasons to show leniency and to present your situation in the strongest possible light. That means understanding what brought you to this point and addressing it directly — not just showing up and hoping for the best.
For clients who are revoked due to multiple DUI convictions, the DWLR charge is often just one part of a larger picture. Getting driving privileges back long-term will require a separate license restoration appeal through the Michigan Secretary of State — something our firm handles regularly alongside the criminal defense side.
Driving on a Suspended License in Michigan — Talk to Our Firm
A charge for driving on a suspended or revoked license can create long-term problems if it is not handled carefully. Our firm represents clients facing DWLS and DWLR charges throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and the surrounding counties. We step in early, identify the best path forward given your specific history and court, and work to protect your record and your ability to drive again.
We offer free, confidential phone consultations Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call us at 586-465-1980. An after-hours answering service is available when the office is closed, and you can also reach us through the contact form or chat box on our website. If you have questions about your situation, we are glad to help you understand where things stand and what your options are.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my license be suspended after a DWLS conviction?
The Secretary of State is required to impose an additional suspension period on top of whatever suspension you were already serving when you were caught driving. The exact length depends on your prior record and the circumstances of the offense, but the key point is that a conviction adds time — it does not simply resolve things and let you move forward.
Will a DWLS or DWLR conviction affect my insurance rates?
Almost certainly. Insurance companies treat these convictions as high-risk indicators, and your premiums are likely to increase. Some insurers may decline to renew your policy altogether. Reducing the charge to a non-moving violation — or avoiding a conviction entirely — is one of the most practical ways to limit the insurance fallout from a DWLS or DWLR case.
Can I get a hardship license after a DWLS or DWLR in Michigan?
It depends on why your license was suspended or revoked, and there are more possibilities here than many people assume. Some suspensions do allow for limited driving privileges in certain circumstances, and drivers whose licenses have been revoked have options too once they become eligible to pursue them. The specifics vary enough from case to case that this is best discussed directly with our office rather than answered in general terms.
About the Author
Jeff has been a practicing Michigan criminal lawyer, DUI attorney and driver’s license restoration lawyer for more than 30 years. He is passionate about winning and doing whatever it takes to accomplish that. He understands that a pending criminal or DUI charge is stressful and that being unable to legally drive is a huge problem.
