Forsyth County DDS ALS Hearing Guide
How to appeal your Administrative License Suspension (ALS) and protect your driving privileges after a DUI arrest.
Last verified: January 6, 2026
10-Day Deadline
You have exactly 10 business days from your arrest to appeal your Administrative License Suspension (ALS). Miss this deadline and your license is automatically suspended. No exceptions.
Enter your arrest date to see your deadline:
If You Appeal in Time
- * Hearing scheduled before OSAH
- * Chance to keep your license
- * May get limited permit faster
If You Miss the Deadline
- * Automatic 1-year suspension
- * No hearing, no appeal
- * Starts on 46th day after arrest
How to Appeal Your ALS
In Georgia, you appeal your Administrative License Suspension by requesting a hearing with the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH). You must also pay a $150 filing fee and install an ignition interlock device to get a limited permit during the appeal.
File Through Attorney
Why: Must be filed properly with OSAH
Deadline: Within 10 business days of arrest
Handles both ALS appeal and criminal case
File Pro Se (Self)
Where: DDS or online at dds.georgia.gov
What to File: DS-1205 form + $150 fee
Deadline: 10 business days
Not recommended - legal complexity
What OSAH Will Consider
Grounds for Appeal:
- * Officer lacked reasonable suspicion for stop
- * Improper administration of chemical test
- * Officer failed to advise of implied consent
- * Testing equipment not properly calibrated
Documents to Gather:
- * DDS-1205 form (from arresting officer)
- * Citation and ticket copies
- * Any police reports available
- * Witness information
Georgia ALS Suspension Periods
Failed Chemical Test (0.08+ BAC)
- 1st:1-year suspension (limited permit available after 30 days with IID)
- 2nd:3-year suspension (limited permit after 120 days with IID)
- 3rd+:5-year revocation (no limited permit for 2 years)
Refused Chemical Test
- 1st:1-year hard suspension (no limited permit)
- 2nd:3-year hard suspension (no limited permit)
- 3rd+:5-year revocation (no limited permit)
Important: 10-Year Lookback
Georgia looks back 10 years for prior DUI offenses. A second offense within 10 years carries significantly harsher penalties per O.C.G.A. 40-5-67.1.
What to Expect at the Hearing
ALS appeals are heard by OSAH
Georgia ALS appeals go through the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH). This is separate from your criminal case in Forsyth County courts.
Duration
30-60 minutes typically
Who's There
You, your attorney, Administrative Law Judge, state representative
What They Review
Probable cause for stop, proper test procedures, implied consent warnings
Evidence That Can Help
- Dashcam or bodycam showing procedural errors
- Breathalyzer calibration records (if not current)
- Witness statements about your sobriety
- Medical conditions affecting field sobriety tests
Should You Hire an Attorney?
With an Attorney
- Can challenge stop legality
- Knows how to challenge test procedures
- Can negotiate limited permit faster
- Handles both ALS appeal and criminal case
Without an Attorney
- State has experience against you
- May not know proper legal arguments
- Harder to get limited permit
- Lower success rate statistically
If You Lose Your Appeal
Losing the ALS appeal isn't the end. You still have options to maintain limited driving privileges:
Ignition Interlock
Drive with device installed
Limited Permit
Work, school, medical, treatment
Georgia DDS Cumming Office
For license reinstatement after suspension ends, or questions about your driving record:
FAQ
Related Guides
Following a DUI arrest in Forsyth County, Georgia, you face two separate legal battles: a criminal case in either the Cumming Municipal Court or the State Court of Forsyth County, and an administrative license suspension (ALS) action managed by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). Missing the deadlines in the ALS process can result in license loss, regardless of the outcome of your criminal case.
The 30-Day Rule: Requesting an ALS Hearing
Upon a DUI arrest in Forsyth County, if you refused to take a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) or if your test result was over the legal limit (0.08 for adults, 0.02 for minors, or 0.04 for commercial drivers), the arresting officer likely confiscated your physical driver's license and issued you a Form DDS-1205. This form serves as a temporary driving permit, but more importantly, it initiates the ALS process.
Crucially, you have only 30 calendar days from the date of your arrest to request an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing, or to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle for a limited driving permit. This is a hard deadline. If you fail to act within this 30-day window, your driver's license will be suspended.
How to Request an ALS Hearing
While specific methods are not detailed in the provided data, it's crucial to contact DDS immediately upon receiving the DDS-1205 form to understand their preferred method for requesting a hearing. You may be able to find relevant information on the DDS website. Requesting the hearing stops the suspension while you wait for the hearing date.
DDS Customer Service Center
For all license reinstatement matters, Forsyth County residents should utilize the Cumming Customer Service Center:
Address: 400 Aquatic Circle, Cumming, GA 30040 Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Saturday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Closed Mondays.
Note that this center handles permit issuance and license reinstatement, but it does not adjudicate the ALS hearings themselves. Contact DDS directly for hearing specifics.
Ignition Interlock Device (IID) as an Alternative
As an alternative to license suspension, you might be eligible to install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on your vehicle, allowing you to drive with a limited permit. This is also tied to the 30-day deadline. Consider these local IID providers:
- LifeSafer: Offers a local presence at 1246 Buford Highway, Cumming, GA 30041. Having a local installation center reduces the travel burden for monthly calibration visits.
If you have questions about your license, visit the DDS Cumming Customer Service Center at 400 Aquatic Circle, Cumming, GA 30040.
Sources
Last updated: January 6, 2026
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