Cherokee County DDS ALS Hearing Guide
How to appeal your Administrative License Suspension (ALS) and protect your driving privileges after a DUI arrest.
Last verified: January 6, 2026
10-Day Deadline
You have exactly 10 business days from your arrest to appeal your Administrative License Suspension (ALS). Miss this deadline and your license is automatically suspended. No exceptions.
Enter your arrest date to see your deadline:
If You Appeal in Time
- * Hearing scheduled before OSAH
- * Chance to keep your license
- * May get limited permit faster
If You Miss the Deadline
- * Automatic 1-year suspension
- * No hearing, no appeal
- * Starts on 46th day after arrest
How to Appeal Your ALS
In Georgia, you appeal your Administrative License Suspension by filing a request with the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). The hearing is conducted by the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH). You must file within 10 business days and pay a $150 filing fee.
File Through Attorney
Why: Complex procedures and strict deadlines
Deadline: Within 10 business days of arrest
Handles both ALS appeal and criminal case
File Pro Se (Self)
Where: Georgia DDS online or by mail
What to File: ALS appeal request
Cost: $150 filing fee
Not recommended - legal complexity
What the Hearing Officer Will Consider
Grounds for Appeal:
- * Officer lacked reasonable suspicion for stop
- * Improper administration of chemical test
- * Officer failed to advise of implied consent
- * Testing equipment not properly maintained
Documents to Gather:
- * Citation and ticket copies
- * DDS Form 1205 (if received)
- * Any police reports available
- * Witness information
Georgia ALS Suspension Periods
Failed Chemical Test (0.08+ BAC)
- 1st:1-year suspension (limited permit after 30 days with IID)
- 2nd:3-year suspension (limited permit after 120 days)
- 3rd+:5-year suspension (habitual violator status)
Refused Chemical Test
- 1st:1-year hard suspension (no limited permit)
- 2nd:3-year hard suspension
- 3rd+:5-year hard suspension
Important: 10-Year Lookback
Georgia looks back 10 years for prior DUI offenses. A second offense within 10 years carries significantly harsher penalties under O.C.G.A. 40-6-391.
What to Expect at the Hearing
ALS hearings are conducted by OSAH
The Office of State Administrative Hearings handles Georgia ALS appeals. These are administrative hearings, separate from your criminal court case. They're typically held by phone or video conference.
Duration
30-60 minutes typically
Who's There
You, your attorney, hearing officer, arresting officer
What They Review
Probable cause for stop, implied consent warnings, test procedures
Evidence That Can Help
- Dashcam or bodycam showing procedural errors
- Intoxilyzer calibration records (if not current)
- Witness statements about your sobriety
- Medical conditions affecting field sobriety tests
Should You Hire an Attorney?
With an Attorney
- Can challenge stop legality
- Knows how to challenge test procedures
- Can negotiate limited driving permit faster
- Handles both ALS appeal and criminal case
Without an Attorney
- State has trained prosecutors against you
- May not know proper legal arguments
- Harder to get limited permit
- Lower success rate statistically
If You Lose Your Appeal
Losing the ALS appeal isn't the end. You still have options to maintain limited driving privileges:
Ignition Interlock Device
Required for limited permit
Limited Driving Permit
Work, school, medical, treatment
Georgia DDS - Cumming Office
For license reinstatement after suspension ends, or questions about your driving record. This is the nearest DDS Customer Service Center to Cherokee County:
FAQ
Related Guides
The Canton Police Department (CPD) utilizes Ingram Towing & Impound Services Inc. as a primary custodian for vehicles seized within the city limits. Their lot is located at 2025 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock, GA 30189.
Cherokee County DUI: Navigating the DDS License Suspension
If you've been arrested for DUI in Cherokee County, Georgia, you face not only criminal charges but also a separate administrative process that can lead to the suspension of your driver's license. This process is handled by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). Crucially, you only have 30 days from the date of your arrest to request an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing to challenge this suspension.
The DDS 1205 Form and the 30-Day Deadline
When you're arrested for DUI and either refuse to take a chemical test or register a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, the arresting officer will confiscate your physical license and issue you a DDS-1205 Form (a yellow sheet). This form acts as a temporary driving permit for 45 days. However, a hard license suspension automatically kicks in after 30 days unless you request an ALS hearing. Missing this deadline means your license will be suspended.
Requesting an ALS Hearing
To protect your driving privileges, you must request an ALS hearing. It is crucial to understand that this appeal cannot be filed at the local Canton DDS branch.
The appeal, along with a $150 filing fee, must be mailed to a specific centralized processing unit:
Georgia Department of Driver Services P.O. Box 80447 Conyers, GA 30013
Failure to include the $150 payment will result in automatic rejection of your request, leading to license suspension.
Local DDS Services in Canton
For reinstatement fees, ID cards, and other general services, you will need to visit the local DDS Customer Service Center:
220 Brown Industrial Parkway, Suite 200, Canton, GA 30114.
Important Note: This DDS location is closed on Mondays. Their operating hours are:
- Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
This closure means you cannot reinstate your license immediately following a weekend arrest until Tuesday.
Navigating Ignition Interlock Device Installation in Canton
For those opting for the Ignition Interlock Limited Driving Permit (IILDP) to avoid a hard suspension, installation of an interlock device is often mandatory. Smart Start has a local center located at 3753 Marietta Hwy, Suite 150, Canton, GA 30114.
Smart Start is strategically co-located with "Canton DUI & Defensive Driving," creating a one-stop shop for DUI industry services.
Sources
Last updated: January 6, 2026
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