The clock is ticking. If you’ve been arrested for DUI, time is not on your side.
In Texas, you only have 15 days to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing to fight your license suspension. Miss that deadline, and your license will be suspended. No exceptions.
If you fail to request a hearing within those 15 days, you waive your right to contest the suspension and your license will be automatically suspended for either a minimum of 180 days, if you refused a blood or breath test (BAC), or a minimum of 90 days, if you failed the test.
In addition, you will have to pay a $125 reinstatement fee to restore your driving privileges following the suspension.
Let’s break down why hiring a skilled attorney can make all the difference. From the time of your arrest the prosecution is building its case against you. Their goal is to gather evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and test results, all aimed at reducing your chances of beating the charges.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), states that if the ALJ determines that DPS has met the burden of proof in its case, your license will be suspended. Hiring an experienced DUI attorney in the ALR process greatly improves your chances of avoiding suspension. In addition to contesting the license suspension, the ALR hearing will provide your attorney with the opportunity to learn more about the types of evidence the prosecution plans to use in your criminal case.
At the conclusion of a driver’s license hearing, the administrative law judge’s decision is final but can be appealed. Either party has the right to file an appeal. According to DPS.TX.gov “if the judge’s decision is reversed on appeal, the enforcement action will be lifted once DPS verifies the judgment.
Your driver record will be updated and your driver eligibility status will change from “not eligible” to “eligible” on the License Eligibility website”.
The longer you wait to hire an attorney, the more difficult your case becomes. To learn more about the steps that can be taken to challenge DUI charges, contact our office today to schedule a free case review.
