Nueces 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 Nueces 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

Texas DPS requires ALR hearing requests within 15 days from the date of your DWI arrest in Nueces County. This is a HARD deadline. Miss it, and your license will be automatically suspended on the 40th day after your arrest, regardless of the criminal case outcome.

What is an ALR Hearing?

An Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing is a civil proceeding separate from your criminal DWI case. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) initiates it to determine if your driver's license should be suspended due to a DWI arrest.

Why Request an ALR Hearing in Nueces County?

Requesting a hearing "stays" (pauses) the suspension. You can continue to drive legally with your temporary permit until the hearing, which may take 3-6 months to schedule. Requesting the hearing also gives your attorney an opportunity to potentially have the license suspension dismissed if the arresting officer fails to appear. This happens frequently due to scheduling conflicts.

How to Request an ALR Hearing for a Nueces County DWI

You have a few options for requesting your ALR hearing:

  • Online Portal: The TxDPS offers an online request form. Be aware that the site explicitly states it "unable to support the Firefox browser". Use Chrome or Edge to avoid submission errors.
  • Fax: Fax your request to 512-424-2650. Faxing provides a transmission receipt, crucial if DPS claims the request was lost.

Your request must include:

  • Your Driver's License Number
  • Date of Arrest
  • County of Arrest (Nueces)
  • Arresting Agency

Where Will My ALR Hearing Be Held?

While hearings were once held in person, the majority of ALR hearings are now conducted remotely via Zoom videoconference or by telephone. If it is an in-person hearing, it would be at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) which is located at 5151 Flynn Parkway, Suite 303, Corpus Christi, TX 78411.

What Happens at the ALR Hearing?

The hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge from the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), not a criminal court judge. The officer will present evidence, and you (or your attorney) can present a defense.

Request your ALR hearing online using Chrome or Edge browser, or by faxing the request to 512-424-2650.

Sources

Last updated: January 6, 2026

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