Wake County License Hearing Guide

How to request your Administrative License Hearing and protect your driving privileges after a DUI arrest.

Last verified: January 6, 2026

15-Day Deadline

You have exactly 15 days from your arrest to request a hearing. Miss this deadline and your license is automatically suspended. No exceptions.

Enter your arrest date to see your deadline:

Select arrest date

If You Request in Time

  • • Temporary permit until hearing
  • • Chance to keep your license
  • • Gather evidence for defense

If You Miss the Deadline

  • • Automatic 90-180 day suspension
  • • No hearing, no appeal
  • • Starts after waiting period

How to Request Your Hearing

Fastest Method

Online Request

Fee: Typically $50-$125

Available: 24/7

Instant confirmation

Alternative

Phone Request

Fee: Same as online

Hours: Business hours only

Expect hold times

Information You'll Need

From Your Notice:

  • • Driver License Number
  • • Date of Arrest
  • • Arresting Agency
  • • Arresting Officer Name

Personal Information:

  • • Full Legal Name
  • • Current Address
  • • Date of Birth
  • • Phone Number & Email

After You Request

1

Temporary Permit

Immediate

Drive legally until your hearing

2

Hearing Notice

20-40 days

Date, time, and format mailed to you

3

Prepare Defense

Before hearing

Gather evidence, hire attorney

4

Attend Hearing

Scheduled date

Usually phone or video

5

Decision

Same day

Win: keep license. Lose: suspension starts

What to Expect at the Hearing

Most hearings are by phone or video

You usually don't need to travel. When you receive your hearing notice, it will specify whether it's phone, video, or in-person.

Duration

30-60 minutes typically

Who's There

You, your attorney (optional), state attorney, hearing officer

What They Review

Probable cause for stop, proper arrest procedure, test validity

Evidence That Can Help

  • Dashcam or bodycam footage 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 subpoena arresting officer
  • Knows how to challenge evidence
  • Uses hearing to strengthen criminal defense
  • Higher success rate at hearings

Without an Attorney

  • State has experienced attorney present
  • May not know proper objections
  • Can't effectively cross-examine officers
  • Lower win rate statistically
Find DUI Attorneys in Wake County

If You Lose Your Hearing

Losing the hearing isn't the end. You still have options to maintain limited driving privileges:

Ignition Interlock

Drive with device installed

Occupational License

Limited driving for work/essentials

FAQ

Related Guides

Navigating Your ALR Hearing in Wake County: Protecting Your License After a DWI

The administration of criminal and civil justice in Wake County, North Carolina (the 10th Judicial District), operates under a sophisticated, data-driven framework regarding alcohol supervision. If you've been arrested for DWI in Wake County, you face not only criminal charges but also the potential suspension of your driver's license. This suspension is handled through a separate administrative process with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), requiring you to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing. You only have 15 days from the date of your arrest to request this hearing, so immediate action is crucial to protect your driving privileges.

Understanding the ALR Hearing Process in Wake County

An ALR hearing is your opportunity to challenge the suspension of your license. It's separate from your criminal DWI case and focuses on whether the police had legal grounds to arrest you for DWI. You can potentially prevent your license from being suspended by challenging the evidence against you at this hearing.

Requesting Your ALR Hearing: The 15-Day Deadline

You MUST request an ALR hearing within 15 calendar days of your DWI arrest. Failure to do so will result in automatic suspension of your license. While the specific methods for requesting a hearing in Wake County aren't detailed in our research, contacting the North Carolina DMV immediately after your arrest is vital to determine the correct procedure for your case. It is highly recommended to contact a qualified DWI attorney to assist you with this request to ensure it is done correctly and on time.

Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM) and License Restoration

For drivers with permanently revoked licenses due to multiple DWIs in Wake County, Continuous Alcohol Monitoring (CAM), often using a SCRAM bracelet, is often a key to license restoration. Under N.C.G.S. 20-19(e), you may apply for a conditional license restoration hearing. The DMV hearing officer will almost invariably require 120 continuous days of clean SCRAM data prior to the hearing to prove that you are "not currently an excessive user of alcohol". This often means proactively obtaining and using a SCRAM device through one of the local vendors.

Local Alcohol Monitoring Providers: A Key to Compliance and Mitigation

Wake County utilizes a network of private vendors authorized to provide alcohol monitoring services. These vendors play a crucial role, especially if the court orders you to abstain from alcohol as a condition of pretrial release or probation. Some of the primary providers in the Wake County area include:

  • Continuous Alcohol Monitoring LLC (CAM LLC): This provider acts as a "Preferred Provider" and maintains a significant operational footprint directly in Raleigh. They are located at 4441 Six Forks Road, Suite 106, Raleigh, NC 27609. As an "all-in" distributor for SCRAM Systems, they provide the full suite of hardware: SCRAM CAM (ankle), Remote Breath (handheld), and GPS.
  • Reliant Monitoring Services: Based in neighboring Cary, Reliant serves as a major hub for the western portion of the county and the Research Triangle Park area. Their Cary office is located at 116 New Edition Court, Cary, NC 27511.
  • Tarheel Monitoring (A+ Monitoring Solutions): Operating under the local brand "A+ Monitoring Solutions," this vendor provides a critical alternative location in Eastern Raleigh. Their Raleigh Office is at 1731 Trawick Road, Suite 109, Raleigh, NC 27604.

Contact one of these monitoring services to discuss available options.

Sources
  • North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles / Public Safety
  • North Carolina Administrative Code - License Suspension Procedures

Last updated: January 6, 2026

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