Quick answer: You have 15 days from your Travis County DWI arrest to request an ALR hearing, or your license is automatically suspended on day 40. The hearing is a civil case before the State Office of Administrative Hearings — your attorney handles it, and you do not attend.
The Administrative License Revocation (ALR) case is separate from your criminal case. It starts the moment the officer takes your license and hands you a temporary driving permit (form DIC-25). From that date, you have 15 days to request a hearing under Transportation Code ch. 524 (test failure) or ch. 724 (refusal). Miss the window and the suspension begins automatically on the 40th day — 90 days for a first test failure, 180 days for a first refusal.
Requesting the hearing does two things. First, it delays any suspension until the hearing is decided — you keep driving in the meantime on the temporary permit. Second, it creates a discovery opportunity: the hearing is a sworn, recorded proceeding where the arresting officer can be subpoenaed and cross-examined before the criminal case gets anywhere near trial. Locked-in testimony about the stop and the arrest is often the most valuable early asset in the entire defense.
Travis County ALR hearings are conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings, typically by telephone or video. You do not attend — your attorney does. If the ALR is lost and a suspension takes effect, most drivers qualify for an occupational license that keeps them driving to work, school, and essential household duties while the criminal case proceeds.
Related questions
What happens if I miss the 15-day deadline?
The suspension takes effect on day 40 automatically. You can still pursue an occupational license, but the hearing — and its cross-examination value — is gone. Call a lawyer before the window closes.
Does winning the ALR hearing help my criminal case?
A win keeps your license, and even a loss can help: the officer’s sworn ALR testimony frequently produces inconsistencies the defense uses in the criminal case.
More: Texas ALR hearing guide · Travis County DWI defense
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General legal information for Texas — not legal advice about your specific case. Last reviewed September 2026.