DeKalb County DDS Administrative Hearing Guide
How to appeal your Administrative License Suspension (ALS) and protect your driving privileges after a DUI arrest in Georgia.
Last verified: January 6, 2026
10-Day Deadline
You have exactly 10 business days from your arrest to request an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) hearing with DDS. Miss this deadline and your license is automatically suspended on day 46. 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 day 46
How to Request Your DDS Hearing
In Georgia, you request your Administrative License Suspension hearing through the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). The hearing is conducted by the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH), not criminal court.
File Through Attorney
Why: Must be filed properly with DDS
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: DDS Form DS-1205
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 read implied consent notice
- * Testing equipment not properly calibrated
Documents to Gather:
- * DDS Form 1205 (permit/suspension notice)
- * Citation and ticket copies
- * 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)
- 2nd:3-year suspension (limited permit after 120 days)
- 3rd+:5-year revocation (no limited permit for 2 years)
Refused Chemical Test
- 1st:1-year suspension (limited permit after 30 days with IID)
- 2nd:3-year suspension (limited permit after 18 months)
- 3rd+:5-year revocation (no limited permit)
Important: 10-Year Lookback
Georgia looks back 10 years for prior DUI offenses. A fourth offense within 10 years is a felony 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 (OSAH) conducts these hearings, not the criminal court. This is a civil proceeding separate from your criminal DUI case.
Duration
30-60 minutes typically
Who's There
You, your attorney, hearing officer, possibly arresting officer
What They Review
Probable cause for stop, implied consent procedures, test validity
Evidence That Can Help
- Dashcam or bodycam showing procedural errors
- Breathalyzer 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 permit faster
- Handles both ALS appeal and criminal case
Without an Attorney
- State has experienced prosecutors
- 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
Drive with IID installed
Limited Driving Permit
Work, school, medical, treatment
Georgia DDS Customer Service Center
For license reinstatement after suspension ends, or questions about your driving record:
FAQ
Related Guides
The DeKalb County Juridical Infrastructure separates criminal adjudication from civil licensure sanctions after a DUI arrest. The criminal case is managed by the State Court of DeKalb County, while the administrative license suspension (ALS) is handled by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).
The 30-Day Rule: Act Fast to Protect Your License
Upon arrest for DUI (refusal or BAC above 0.08), the officer will seize your physical license and issue a yellow DDS 1205 form. This form acts as a temporary driving permit for 45 days. Critically, you have only 30 calendar days from the date of arrest to file a response with the DDS to protect your driving privileges. Fail to act within this timeframe, and your license will be automatically suspended on the 46th day. For a refusal to take the breathalyzer or blood test, this results in a "hard" suspension for one year, meaning no work permit or limited driving privileges.
Your Two Options to Respond
Within the 30-day window, you must choose one of two options:
-
Request an ALS Hearing: Send a request letter and a $150 filing fee to the DDS (P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013). This pauses the suspension until a hearing is held, allowing your attorney to negotiate with the arresting officer.
-
Apply for an Ignition Interlock Limited Driving Permit (IILDP): Waive your right to a hearing, install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) immediately, and apply for a permit within the 30 days. This guarantees your ability to drive (with the device) and avoids the risk of a "hard" suspension at a hearing. This option is available for first-time DUI offenders in the past 5 years.
DDS Reinstatement in DeKalb County
For license reinstatement services (e.g., paying fees, presenting DUI school certificates), DeKalb County residents can visit the Decatur Customer Service Center:
2801 Candler Road, Suite 82, Decatur, GA 30034.
Hours are Tuesday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., and Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Note that the office is closed on Sundays and Mondays. While reinstatement services are typically handled on a walk-in basis, expect potentially substantial wait times.
Sources
Last updated: January 6, 2026
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