Drivers' License Hearings

Austin DWI Defense: The Drivers' License Hearing

Tell us about your case.

After a DWI arrest, one of the most important things you can do is to request a drivers' license hearing. This can not only prevent the suspension of your license and save you hundreds of dollars in insurance and fees—it also gives your attorney the opportunity to cross-examine the arresting officers under oath.

Having the officers' sworn testimony early on helps us impeach their credibility should they later testify differently or attempt to add previously-unmentioned damaging information at your trial. Either way, you can only come out ahead by requesting a drivers' license hearing.

You have 15 days from your arrest date to request this hearing. Do not delay and contact Bristol Myers & Associates, P.C. for a free consultation.

At Bristol Myers & Associates, P.C., we know that the proper defense against any DWI charge starts with making sure you request a drivers' license hearing within 15 days of your arrest. Known officially as the administrative license revocation (ALR) hearing, the ALR is a civil hearing and it is completely separate from your DWI case.

However, by requesting this hearing, we can buy time that allows you to work out alternative transportation arrangements before losing your privileges. We may even be able to prevent your license from being suspended altogether. The major benefit is that we get to cross-examine the police officers under oath and force them to commit to a particular version of events long before you come to court on the DWI charge itself.

One of the main issues in your DWI case is something we develop at the ALR hearing: Did the officers have a lawful reason to stop you in the first place? If not, the law requires that all evidence obtained from the stop be excluded from use at your DWI trial. This means that your video, your field sobriety tests and any admissions you made could not be used against you, leaving the State nothing with which to prosecute you. When this issue comes up, we file what is known as a "motion to suppress," and the judge in your DWI case will hold a pretrial hearing to determine if the police stopped you unlawfully. If the judge rules in your favor, our motion will be granted, and the State will usually dismiss your case.

Contacting Our Law Firm

For answers to your questions about ALR hearings, occupational licenses, or ignition interlock devices—call or contact us in Austin, Texas, and talk to a lawyer.