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:
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
Online Request
Fee: Typically $50-$125
Available: 24/7
Instant confirmation
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
Temporary Permit
ImmediateDrive legally until your hearing
Hearing Notice
20-40 daysDate, time, and format mailed to you
Prepare Defense
Before hearingGather evidence, hire attorney
Attend Hearing
Scheduled dateUsually phone or video
Decision
Same dayWin: keep license. Lose: suspension starts
Temporary Permit
Immediate
Drive until hearing
Hearing Notice
20-40 days
Date mailed to you
Prepare
Before hearing
Gather evidence
Attend Hearing
Scheduled
Phone or video
Decision
Same day
Win or suspension
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
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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