A DWI conviction in Texas can lead to fines, jail time, and a permanent criminal record. You also face the possibility of losing your driver’s license. If you refused to take a blood or breath test, you could have your license suspended even if you are ultimately cleared of DWI. An Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing provides a venue to present your case for keeping your license.
An ALR hearings lawyer in Frisco, TX, can help you prepare for your hearing and can advocate on your behalf at the hearing itself. At The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, we help clients accused of DWI keep their license and move forward with their lives with minimal disruption. Our lead attorney has 30 years of experience in the Texas court system and has worked for many years as a prosecutor and judge. He knows how the system works and will fight hard to protect your rights.
Call us today at 214-696-9253 to schedule a free consultation.
The Purpose of an ALR Hearing
An ALR hearing is a separate legal proceeding from your DWI trial. It is a civil matter and not part of the criminal court process. Its purpose is to determine whether your license gets suspended following a violation of the Texas implied consent law.
When you get behind the wheel in Texas, you have an implied duty to consent to blood-alcohol testing when a police officer stops you on reasonable suspicion of DWI. This means you are required to submit to a breathalyzer or blood test in Texas if asked to do so. If you refuse to submit to a blood or breath test, you are in violation of this duty — whether you are ultimately guilty of DWI or not.
Violation of implied consent results in an automatic and immediate driver’s license suspension, usually for a period of 180 days. You will receive a notice letting you know of the impending suspension of your license. You then have 15 days to request an ALR hearing.
What Happens at an ALR Hearing
At your ALR hearing, you will appear before an administrative law judge to present your case for keeping your license. You may have an attorney at the hearing to speak for you and answer questions on your behalf. The officer who arrested you will typically be at the hearing, as will other parties with relevant evidence to present to the court.
You may receive questions from the judge during the hearing, and you or your attorney will have the opportunity to question the arresting officer in front of the judge. You may also ask questions of anyone else at the hearing who presented evidence either for or against you.
After the Hearing
At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge will decide the fate of your license. You will receive a letter in the mail informing you of the judge’s decision. If it is not a favorable decision, you have the right to appeal it. An ALR hearings lawyer in Frisco can help. Call 214-696-9253 for a free consultation.
The Advantages of Having a Lawyer at Your ALR Hearing
Texas law does not require you to have legal representation for an ALR hearing. But hiring a lawyer to help you prepare for and argue your case at the hearing offers a number of benefits. The team at The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg has helped many clients avoid license suspension for violating the implied consent law during a DWI arrest.
Scheduling and Preparation
An ALR hearing lawyer can help you schedule and prepare for the proceedings. Scheduling is critical — if you miss the 15-day window to request a hearing, the suspension of your license will be entered into the court record, making it very difficult to reverse the decision at that point.
To avoid any missteps, your lawyer can roleplay with you and help you prepare for the kinds of questions you will receive. Randall B. Isenberg has worked on both sides of DWI cases and knows what to expect from the opposition.
Presenting Your Case
Your lawyer can ask the right questions of the arresting officer and anyone else who presents evidence against you. They will know how strong the opposition’s case is and plan your defense accordingly.
If the evidence against you is overwhelming, making it unlikely that the judge will let you keep your license, a lawyer can make a case for a provisional license that will allow you to retain the right to drive to and from work and for essential household errands.
Helping You Avoid a Criminal Conviction for DWI
By listening to the arresting officer testify in your ALR hearing, your attorney can gain insight on the type and strength of evidence that will be used against you in criminal court. They can use this information to craft a winning defense strategy.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a DWI Defense Lawyer in Frisco, TX
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg in Frisco, TX, is a DWI defense firm committed to protecting your rights. An ALR hearings lawyer fights to help you move past your charges with minimal disruption to your life. To speak with a member of our staff today, call us at 214-696-9253.