Carter County License Hearing Guide

You have 10 business days from your arrest or the notice of revocation to request an administrative hearing in writing, or your license is suspended automatically. This civil action by the Department of Safety runs separately from the criminal case. If the hearing is not requested in time, the suspension stands even if the DUI charge is later dismissed or knocked down to reckless driving.

Do not count on the local office to handle this. The Elizabethton Driver Services Center at 1741 Highway 19 E Bypass took serious damage in Hurricane Helene, shut down completely, and only reopened in April 2025. It is at (423) 547-5886, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but its physical operations are fragile. File your hearing request by certified mail with return receipt, or by fax to (615) 253-3104, directly to the Driver Improvement Section at 1150 Foster Avenue, Nashville, TN 37243. You can also email Driver.Improvement@tn.gov. The point is a verifiable paper trail that does not depend on the Elizabethton building being open.

The administrative hearing is civil. The hearing officer only looks at whether the stop, the arrest, and the implied-consent warning were proper. Winning the criminal case later does not restore your license if you lost or skipped this hearing.

For a first-offense DUI, Tennessee lets you apply for a restricted license right away, with no waiting period. You need an Order for Restricted Driver License signed by the judge, an SR-22 filed by your insurer, and an ignition interlock installed. Processing the restricted license at the Elizabethton center runs on an appointment system, and walk-in waits can eat a full business day. The SR-22 is filed electronically by the insurer, not by you, and it flags you as high-risk, so expect the premium to jump. If the policy lapses, the state re-suspends the license immediately.

Interlock installation is available in Elizabethton. Jason's Auto Sales on W Elk Ave, (423) 497-1882, installs Intoxalock and advertises same-day. Ellison Auto Sales at 3663 US-19E, (423) 805-9277, installs both Intoxalock and LifeSafer and is positioned for drivers coming in from the Roan Mountain direction; its hours run 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closing at 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. Every device needs a calibration and data download about once a month at the same shop, so pick one you can keep getting back to. You can also find a licensed installer through this site's directory.

If the court orders continuous alcohol monitoring, usually for repeat offenders or as a Recovery Court condition, that runs through a court-approved monitoring provider, with regional oversight handled by the First Tennessee Human Resource Agency. A SCRAM ankle unit samples perspiration around the clock and reacts to household alcohols like mouthwash and hand sanitizer, so daily habits have to change.