Denton County ALR Hearing Guide

How to request your Administrative License Revocation hearing and protect your driving privileges.

Last verified: January 6, 2026

15-Day Deadline

You have exactly 15 days from your arrest to request an ALR 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 40 days after arrest

How to Request Your Hearing

Fastest Method

Online Request

Fee: $125 (credit card)

Available: 24/7

Instant confirmation

Go to DPS ALR Portal
Alternative

Phone Request

Phone: (512) 424-2600

Fee: $125 (credit card)

Hours: Mon-Fri 8AM - 5PM

Expect long hold times

Information You'll Need

From Your DIC-25 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 to Austin. 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), DPS attorney, administrative law judge

What They Review

Probable cause for stop, proper arrest procedure, chemical 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

For the rare in-person hearings:

State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), 300 W. 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701 • (512) 475-4993

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

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

If You Lose Your Hearing

Losing the ALR 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

DPS Denton County Office

For license reinstatement after suspension ends, or to get an occupational license:

Address
1624 N Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208
Get Directions
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

FAQ

Related Guides

Court Process
Criminal case timeline
Bail & Bond
Getting released

The prosecution of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses in Denton County, Texas, operates not merely as a legal proceeding but as a complex logistical ecosystem. If you've been arrested for DWI in Denton County, understanding the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing process is critical to protecting your driving privileges. Texas DPS requires ALR hearing requests within 15 days of your arrest. Missing this deadline results in an automatic license suspension.

Understanding the ALR Hearing in Denton County

When you are arrested for DWI and either refuse a breath or blood test, or fail one, the arresting officer will confiscate your Texas driver's license and issue a "Notice of Suspension" (form DIC-25). This paper serves as a temporary driving permit valid for 40 days. However, to potentially avoid a longer suspension, you MUST request an ALR hearing within 15 days of receiving this notice.

The 15-Day Hard Deadline: Don't Miss It!

Many believe they have 10 days to request a hearing, but the correct statutory period in Texas is 15 days. Requesting a hearing pauses the license suspension until after the hearing takes place. Missing this deadline, even by one hour, results in an automatic license suspension (typically 90 days for failure, 180 days for refusal) starting on the 40th day. There is no appeal for missing the deadline.

How to Request an ALR Hearing

While specific methods (online, phone, mail) are generally available from the DPS, ensure any mailed request is received, not postmarked, within the 15-day window. Given Denton County's operational environment, confirming receipt is crucial.

ALR Hearing Logistics: Virtual is the Norm

Post-2020, most ALR hearings are conducted virtually via Zoom or telephone. This shifts the burden of technology onto the defendant. You'll need a stable internet connection, a device capable of video conferencing, and the ability to manage digital exhibits. Representing yourself pro se can be dangerous, as you must understand the rules for introducing evidence in a Zoom setting.

Hearing Location: Denton and Carrollton DPS Offices

While virtual hearings are standard, if an in-person hearing is granted (rare), it would likely occur at a regional State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) office or a designated space in a DPS facility. These may include:

  • Denton DPS: 820 N. Loop 288.
  • Carrollton DPS: 4600 SH 121.

The "Secure Mail" Trap

After requesting a hearing, DPS communicates through a "Secure Email" system. These emails often end up in "Spam" or "Junk" folders and contain a link to the hearing notice that expires. Missing your hearing date because you didn't see the secure email leads to a default judgment and license suspension.

License Reinstatement

If your license is suspended, reinstatement isn't automatic. You'll need to pay a $125 reinstatement fee and file an SR-22 insurance certificate. SR-22 insurance flags you as high-risk, often increasing premiums or causing policy cancellations.

For expedited processing of compliance documents, insiders often use the direct fax line to the License and Record Service in Austin: 512-424-2848.

Sources

Last updated: January 6, 2026

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