ALR Hearings

The Cochran Firm

In Texas, once a person has been stopped by police for suspected DWI, he/she will be asked to take a breath alcohol test.  This test is consensual, which means that people have the right to refuse.  However, it is important for people to know that if they refuse to take the breath test, their driver’s licenses will automatically be suspended.  Additionally, people who consent to the breath test and have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% will also have their driver’s licenses suspended.  Law enforcement will serve these individuals with a notice and they will have to schedule an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing in order to fight their suspensions.

Only 15 Days to Schedule ALR Hearing

From the time people are served with their notices of suspension, they will have 15 days to schedule an ALR hearing with their local department of motor vehicles.  When a person fails to schedule his/her ALR hearing, his/her driving privileges will remain revoked for a set period of time. 

About the ALR Hearing

People who schedule their ALR hearing within 15 days will be provided with a day and time in which they must show up at their local DMV.  At an ALR hearing, a DMV administrator will act as a prosecutor and a judge.  The administrator will serve as a prosecutor by arguing why the person’s license should remain suspended.  His/her argument will be based largely on the arresting officer’s police report.  The administrator will then act as a judge by making a ruling of “guilty” or “not guilty” after carefully reviewing the case and listening to the offender’s side of the story.  If the offender is found “guilty”, his/her driving privileges will remain revoked for a set period of time.  However, if the administrator finds that the person is “not guilty”, the DWI offender’s driving privileges will be reinstated.

Dallas ALR Hearing Lawyers

The Cochran Firm has immense experience helping people remain in possession of their driver’s licenses.  If you have been charged with driving while intoxicated, contact our Dallas DWI defense lawyers today!