Alexandra Black, representing the 52nd District Court in Novi, asked the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to approve a grant application to the State Court Administrative Office for the fiscal-year 2026 Operation Drive program, requesting $501,000 to support the program across the 52nd District Court divisions.

Black described Operation Drive as a program started in the 44th District Court in Royal Oak to help people who repeatedly appear in court for driving with suspended licenses obtain legal driving status. “This program is only 11 months, so we have to make sure that we're taking in people. We don't want to set people up for failure,” Black said, adding that some participants need help with bus passes, Uber cards, substance-abuse assessments and legal assistance for appeals through the Secretary of State. Black said the requested $501,000 would support multiple courts and would fund part-time clerks in each participating division plus transportation and legal-assistance costs, and that, if awarded, the grant period would run from Jan. 1 to Sept. 29, 2027 (about 21 months under the program schedule).

Commissioners voiced support for the program. Commissioner Spears said Judge Meineke, who started the model in Royal Oak, “pushed through” statutory and administrative barriers and that the program prevents a cycle of people being jailed for trying to get to work. Commissioners also discussed coordinating transportation supports with the county’s SMART bus service to reduce program costs.

A motion to authorize submission of the grant application was made by Commissioner Spitz and seconded by Commissioner Erin Erickson Cope. The board recorded five votes in favor and none opposed; the motion carried.

The presentation noted the court is coordinating with prosecutors and the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) to provide an attorney required by the grant in the program's early months and said two other 52nd-division judges had begun similar efforts. Black estimated the program could reach roughly 300 participants in the grant period though she said about 500 per year could be eligible across the divisions; she emphasized the court would not enroll people unlikely to obtain legal status within the program term.

The board’s approval authorized staff to proceed with filing the application; a final award decision will come from the State Court Administrative Office.