Hidalgo 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 Hidalgo 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

Texas DPS Office

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

Address
4000 Jackson Ave, Austin, TX 78731
Get Directions
Phone
(281) 219-4500
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

FAQ

Related Guides

Court Process
Criminal case timeline
Bail & Bond
Getting released

The McAllen Police Department Protocol dictates that after a DUI arrest, they request a tow truck from a rotation list of private vendors. Your vehicle is then taken to that specific company's Vehicle Storage Facility (VSF).

Hidalgo County ALR Hearing Guide: Protecting Your Driver's License After a DWI Arrest

If you've been arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in Hidalgo County, Texas, you face not only criminal charges but also a potential driver's license suspension. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will attempt to suspend your license through an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) proceeding, separate from your criminal case. You have only 15 days from the date of your arrest to request an ALR hearing to challenge this suspension. Missing this deadline means your license will automatically be suspended.

Requesting an ALR Hearing in Hidalgo County

You must request an ALR hearing within 15 calendar days of your DWI arrest. Friction: The request protocol is unforgiving. While online requests are possible, seasoned attorneys often send the request via certified mail to create a physical paper trail. The DPS system is large and bureaucratic; lost online submissions are not uncommon, and without a certified receipt, the defendant has no proof of the request.

ALR Hearing Format: Zoom is the New Normal

The vast majority of ALR hearings in Hidalgo County are now conducted via Zoom videoconference or telephone.

Logistical Risk: This shifts the burden of logistics from "transportation" to "connectivity." Defendants must ensure they have a stable internet connection, the Zoom app installed, and a quiet environment. Technical difficulties are rarely accepted as a valid excuse for non-appearance. A dropped connection can be interpreted as a failure to appear, resulting in a default judgment of suspension.

Occupational Driver's License (ODL) and the Edinburg DPS Mega Center

If your license is suspended after an ALR hearing (or if you fail to request one), you may be eligible for an Occupational Driver's License (ODL). This allows you to drive legally for essential purposes, such as work, school, or medical appointments. To apply for an ODL, you will likely need to visit the Edinburg Mega Center to reinstate your license or obtain necessary documentation.

Location: 2525 N. International Blvd, Weslaco (serving the wider area) or the Edinburg office.

Appointment Only Policy: The "walk-in" era is effectively over. Services are by "scheduled appointment only".

Insider Friction: Appointment slots are booked months in advance.

The "Hack": DPS releases a limited number of "same-day" appointments each morning around 7:00 AM - 7:30 AM on their website. Defendants desperate for service must log in during this narrow window to snag a cancellation or new slot. Failing this, they face weeks of waiting, during which they cannot legally drive even if they have a court order for an ODL.

Key Takeaway: Act Fast and Be Prepared

The 15-day deadline to request an ALR hearing is critical. Given the potential for immediate license suspension and the challenges of navigating the Hidalgo County DWI landscape, seeking legal counsel as soon as possible after your arrest is highly recommended.

Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center, located at 701 E. El Cibolo Road, Edinburg, TX 78541, serves as the central processing hub for the county.

Sources

Last updated: January 6, 2026

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