- You have exactly 15 calendar days from arrest to request your ALR hearing — weekends and holidays count toward the deadline.
- Miss the deadline → automatic suspension: 90 days (failed test) or 180 days (refusal).
- Requesting the hearing delays the suspension — you keep your license while the ALR case is pending.
- The ALR hearing also locks in the officer’s testimony under oath — valuable early discovery for your criminal case.
If you were arrested last night, the clock started then. Count 15 calendar days forward. That is your deadline. If your attorney is not retained before that day, the hearing cannot be requested and suspension is automatic starting on day 40.
What the ALR Hearing Is — and Why It Matters
ALR stands for Administrative License Revocation. It is a civil proceeding run by the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) — completely separate from your criminal DWI case in Williamson County court. Your attorney pursues two outcomes at this hearing:
- Delay the suspension — while the ALR case is pending (often months), your license is not suspended. You continue driving legally.
- Lock in the officer’s sworn testimony — the arresting officer must appear and testify under oath. This early testimony can expose inconsistencies useful in the criminal trial.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
If no hearing is requested, DPS moves forward with suspension automatically on day 40:
- Breath/blood test failure: 90-day suspension (first offense)
- Test refusal: 180-day suspension (first offense)
An Occupational Driver’s License may be available during suspension but requires a separate court proceeding with its own restrictions. Prevention is far better than remedy.
How the Hearing Request Is Filed
Your attorney files directly with Texas DPS within the 15-day window. The filing requires your DIC-25 form (the officer’s suspension notice given to you at arrest), a $125 hearing fee, and proper procedural documentation. A DIY filing error can result in rejection — treated as if no request was made, and suspension proceeds automatically.
Give your attorney the DIC-25 form at first contact. This is one of the first actions a DWI attorney takes on retention.