Brazos County ALR Hearing Guide

The DIC-25, the Notice of Suspension you receive after a DWI arrest in Brazos County, acts as your temporary driving permit for only 40 days. This flimsy piece of paper is crucial. Losing it creates significant problems, especially accessing your impounded vehicle. More importantly, you MUST request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to challenge your license suspension within 15 days of your arrest. Missing this deadline means your license will automatically be suspended.

What is an ALR Hearing?

An ALR hearing is a civil proceeding, separate from your criminal DWI case, where you can contest the suspension of your driver's license. This suspension is triggered by either failing or refusing a breath or blood test.

Requesting an ALR Hearing in Brazos County

You must request an ALR hearing within 15 days of the date you received the DIC-25. It is crucial to act quickly! While specific local instructions aren't available, here's the general process for requesting a hearing in Texas:

• Online: The Texas DPS website may offer an online option, but check for the most up-to-date information.
• Mail: Send your request via certified mail, return receipt requested, to ensure proof of delivery.
• Phone: Calling DPS directly to inquire about the process is an option.

Brazos County "No Refusal" Policy

Brazos County operates under what is effectively a permanent "No Refusal" policy. While traditionally associated with holiday enforcement, officers routinely obtain blood search warrants if you refuse a breath test. This means refusing a breath test will likely lead to a blood draw performed at a medical facility like St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital or a contract phlebotomy site, adding 90-120 minutes to your pre-booking timeline.

The Arrest Process

Following a DWI arrest, your vehicle is seized via a "non-consent tow." Critical items like keys, wallet, and phone are often bagged separately. However, larger items, such as laptops or textbooks, remain in the car, creating a "split recovery" problem. This separation can be problematic if your ID is inside your wallet at the jail, preventing you from accessing the impound lot without ID.

Vehicle Impound in Brazos County

Unlike some areas with centralized impound lots, Brazos County utilizes a "Non-Consent Rotation List." This means your vehicle could be at any one of numerous private lots scattered throughout Bryan and College Station, such as J.D.'s Wrecker Service, College Station Wrecker, Precision Towing, or Texas Ave Towing. To locate your car, you must contact the non-emergency number of the arresting agency (Bryan Police Department or College Station Police Department) to obtain the name and number of the tow company.

Be aware that vehicle storage fees accrue quickly. The standard non-consent tow fee for a light-duty vehicle ranges from $255 - $272. Daily storage fees can reach up to $22.85 per day, accruing daily.

Brazos County Detention Center (BCDC)

The Brazos County Detention Center (BCDC), also known locally as "Sandy Point," is located at 1835 Sandy Point Road, Bryan, Texas 77807. It's in a semi-industrial/rural area north of Bryan, about 5 miles from the courthouse. Because of its remote location, be aware that public transportation options are limited, especially during night and weekend hours.