If you’ve been arrested for driving while intoxicated, these are the top five things you need to know about requesting an Administrative License Revocation hearing. My name is Justin Wilson. I’m the owner and founding attorney at My Dallas Criminal Lawyer, a criminal defense firm based in Frisco, Texas. Before starting the firm, I served as a prosecutor in the Collin County District Attorney’s Office.
Every Texas DWI Arrest Triggers an ALR
Every DWI arrest in Texas triggers an Administrative License Revocation. In the ALR process, the Department of Public Safety will seek to suspend your driver’s license for a period of time. You can challenge this license suspension, but you have to know how to request a hearing.
1. There Is a Deadline to Request an ALR Hearing
If you miss the deadline, your license will be suspended. The ALR process runs on strict timelines, and they start running immediately after your arrest.
2. Blood Warrant Cases: You Have 15 Days
If police get a search warrant to take your blood, you have 15 days to request an ALR hearing. The date of your arrest is day number one.
3. If You Consented to a Breath or Blood Test, Watch the Mail
If you consent to provide a specimen of your breath or blood, DPS will mail a notice of suspension to you if your alcohol concentration is 0.08 or greater.
4. You Have 20 Days From the Notice of Suspension
Once that notice arrives, you have 20 days from the date on the notice of suspension to request a hearing.
5. How to Request the Hearing
You can request a hearing online, or your attorney can request a hearing by fax.
We Can Handle the ALR So You Don’t Have To
If you’ve been arrested for driving while intoxicated, call My Dallas Criminal Lawyer. We can challenge the Administrative License Revocation so you don’t have to. From our office in Frisco, we defend DWI cases across Collin, Denton, and Dallas Counties. Call (214) 764-5535 to book your consultation today.
For a deeper written breakdown of the ALR process, see our guide: What Is an Administrative License Revocation?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to request an ALR hearing after a Texas DWI arrest?
It depends on how your specimen was taken. If police used a blood search warrant, you have 15 days from arrest, and the arrest date counts as day one. If you consented to a breath or blood test and DPS mails you a notice of suspension, you have 20 days from the date on that notice.
What happens if I miss the ALR deadline?
Your driver’s license will be suspended. The ALR deadline is one of the most urgent dates after any Texas DWI arrest, which is why we recommend contacting a DWI attorney immediately.
Is the ALR the same as my criminal DWI case?
No. The ALR is a separate administrative process in which the Department of Public Safety seeks to suspend your license. It runs alongside your criminal case and has its own deadlines and hearing.
How do I request an ALR hearing?
You can request the hearing online yourself, or your attorney can request it by fax. At My Dallas Criminal Lawyer we handle the request and the hearing as part of your DWI defense.
