Dallas 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
Texas DPS requires ALR hearing requests within 15 calendar days from the date of your DWI arrest in Dallas County. This is a critical deadline, and missing it results in an automatic license suspension taking effect on the 40th day after your arrest. It is separate from your criminal case; even if you win your criminal DWI case, your license will still be suspended if you miss the ALR hearing request deadline.
What is an ALR Hearing?
ALR stands for Administrative License Revocation. It's a civil proceeding, handled by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), that determines whether your driver's license should be suspended following a DWI arrest. This is entirely separate from the criminal DWI case and requires independent action on your part.
Why Request an ALR Hearing in Dallas County?
Requesting a hearing allows you to challenge the suspension of your license. At the hearing, DPS must prove that:
- You were lawfully arrested for DWI.
- You had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, OR you refused to take a breath or blood test.
If DPS fails to prove these elements, your license suspension can be overturned. Even if DPS does prove its case, the ALR hearing provides an opportunity for your attorney to gather valuable information about the State's case against you.
How to Request an ALR Hearing for a Dallas County DWI
While the specific process isn't detailed in the provided documentation, the request must be submitted to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Missing this 15-day window results in an automatic suspension taking effect on the 40th day after arrest.
The 15-Day Deadline: Act Fast!
The most urgent deadline in a Dallas County DWI case is the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing request. You have only 15 days from the date of your arrest to request this hearing to contest your license suspension.
Occupational License in Dallas County
If your license is suspended, you may be eligible for an Occupational Driver's License (ODL), which allows you to drive for essential purposes like work, school, or medical appointments. The process for obtaining an ODL involves filing a petition with the court and providing evidence of your need to drive.
Post-Release Bureaucracy: Compliance and Restoration
Release from jail is the beginning of a complex administrative journey. Before driving again, defendants must verify their status to avoid "Driving While License Invalid" (DWLI) charges. The (https://txapps.texas.gov/txapp/txdps/dleligibility) site allows users to pay reinstatement fees and check for active surcharges.
Sources
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles / Public Safety
- Texas Administrative Code - License Suspension Procedures
Last updated: January 6, 2026
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