817-831-3100

FW Principal Office. 8:30AM-5:30PM M-F

214-219-6464

Dallas Office. 8:30AM-5:30PM M-F

Facebook

Twitter

Menu

Texas ALR: License Hearing

Mimi Coffey DWI Lawyer, Texas DWI, Texas ALR, Texas License Suspension

In Texas, when arrested for a DWI, there is also automatically an ALR (administrative license hearing) concern. What is an ALR? What is an occupational driver’s license? Getting a DWI is very stressful and scary. What is very important to understand is that unlike other criminal cases, a DWI involves two actual cases: a civil case, known as the administrative license hearing (“ALR”) and a criminal case, the DWI charge. The Coffey Firm handles all aspects of the DWI as well as the ALR/license process.

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT TEXAS ALR:

  1. They took my driver’s license during my arrest for DWI. Does this mean I can’t drive?  The answer depends on time of arrest. If there was a proper request for an ALR hearing, was the result of a consent blood draw mailed….? With timely and proper steps (we handle this), the plan is to get you a legal license in case of a license suspension.
  2. What is an ALR hearing? Do I have to have one? Texas courts consider a driver’s license as a privilege and not a right. Yet, this privilege still requires due process. The ALR hearing is Texas DPS’s process to legally take away your Texas driver’s license. A separate court from the criminal court handles ALR hearings. The State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) handles these hearings. Our office handles all aspects of these hearings including the requests, subpoeanas, discovery and actual hearings. There is no need for the citizen accused to show up to these hearings unless advised to (on rare occasions we will have a need for our client to show up). More details on each section of the ALR process can be found in SOAH’s ALR manual here.
  3. If I lose my driver’s license in the ALR hearing, or have missed my right to have a hearing, can I get a driver’s license? Having a driver’s license is critical to most people. The law understands this and there are ways to get an “occupational driver’s license” if your actual Texas driver’s license is suspended. We will advise you of the many complex options. There are restrictions and requirements for an occupational license, including an interlock restriction. This is a civil process suspension (not a criminal conviction, as this type of occupational license is completely different).

More about Mimi Coffey

When people look for a Top DWI Attorney or Best DWI Attorney, they look for experience, certification, and respect in the legal community. Mimi Coffey is a nationally-renowned trial attorney, board-certified in DWI by the NCDD. She has been practicing for over 24 years and is an author of multiple DWI Defense textbooks. She is also a national and state-wide lecturer on the law.

The Coffey Firm handles a wide variety of cases, including Unlawful Carrying Weapon (UCW), Assault (including family violence), and Possession charges. We can also help you try to seal your record or avoid probation revocation.

Mimi is also listed on several “top criminal lawyer near me” directory listings such as DWI Lawyers for Wise County, DWI Lawyer Tarrant CountyDWI attorney Dallas County, DWI attorneys Collin County and DWI attorneys Parker County. Mimi is a caring DWI Lawyer in DFW, She is also involved in the Texas Tech School of Law foundation and enjoys using the skills she has developed to give back to the community.