An Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing may take up to 120 days to schedule, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS). There is no way to know how long an ALR hearing takes, as every individual’s specific hearing may take a different amount of time and TxDPS does not provide a general time frame.
If you are facing an ALR hearing, then you could also be facing a pending charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI). A lawyer may be able to assist you by:
- Requesting your ALR hearing
- Representing you in your ALR hearing
- Assisting you in preparing for any DWI case that you are facing
- Representing you in your DWI case
The ALR hearing may only be one aspect of the legal hurdles in front of you. Though your ALR hearing could be important to retaining a temporary license while your legal proceedings occur, defending yourself from a charge of driving while intoxicated may be even more pivotal.
An ALR Hearing May Determine the Status of Your License
ALR hearings generally become necessary when:
- You refuse to take a breathalyzer test or provide a blood sample at the prompting of a law enforcement officer who suspects you of DWI
- You provide a breath sample that registers your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at .08 or higher
- You provide a blood sample that registers your BAC at .08 or higher
According to the TxDPS, you will be given a temporary permit to drive your vehicle while the clock begins ticking towards your license suspension.You then have 15 days to request a hearing, and if you do not request a hearing, your license will be suspended at the end of a 40-day period. If you are granted a hearing, which you can request on the TxDPS website, then:
- You will be assigned a hearing date, which may take up to 120 days—there is no more specific time frame for how long obtaining an ALR hearing date may take
- An Administrative Law Judge will hear your argument for why your license should not be suspended (as well as the prosecution’s argument for why your license should be suspended), then will make a determination.
You have the right to appeal the judge’s decision to uphold your suspension. A lawyer may be able to assist you throughout the course of your ALR hearing, and then may be able to defend you from any charge related to your suspended license, including a DWI.
A DWI Charge Is a Serious Matter
If you have reason to fight the suspension of your license through an ALR hearing, then you could be facing a charge of driving while intoxicated. Under Texas Statutes 49.04, a first-time DWI offense is generally categorized as a Class B misdemeanor.
According to The Texas Politics Project, a conviction for a Class B misdemeanor may result in:
- Up to 180 days (6 months) in jail
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years, according to TxDPS
- A fine of up to $2,000
If you provide a breath or blood sample that registers a BAC of .15 or greater at the time of your arrest, then your DWI charge may be elevated to a Class A misdemeanor. For a conviction on a DWI charge categorized as a Class A misdemeanor, you may face:
- Up to 1 year in jail
- Suspension of your license for up to 2 years
- A fine of up to $4,000
Other circumstances may enhance your charge even further. If you have a child passenger in your vehicle at the time of your arrest, for example, you could be facing a DWI charge that is a state jail felony. A conviction for a crime that is a state jail felony may lead to:
- You serving up to 2 years in a state correctional facility
- You paying a fine of up to $10,000
- You having your license suspended for up to 2 years
If you are in an accident that causes serious bodily injury or death, then you may face a felony charge. A felony DWI conviction, or a charge related to DWI such as intoxication assault may:
- Be on your record permanently
- Result in significant challenges in your personal life, such as difficulty obtaining employment, housing, and certain rights
- Result in significant prison time
- Permanently alter the course of your life
If you are facing any form of alcohol-related driving offense, then consider how a lawyer may be able to assist you.
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg Will Defend You
If you are facing a DWI charge, then our team may:
- Collect and organize evidence in your defense
- Seek any plea agreement that could help you avoid trial
- Argue your case at trial, if this is the route your case takes
- Defend your rights
A DWI charge can have major consequences, and there is no need for you to fight such a significant charge on your own.
Call Our Team at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg Today
Call our team at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg today at (214) 696-9253 for a free consultation. We want to help you fight any charges levied against you. There might be time limits for the next steps you must take, so you should act now. While we cannot tell you how long an ALR hearing takes, we can tell you what we can do for you before, during, and after the said hearing.
