Fayette County License Hearing Guide
How to request your Administrative License Hearing and protect your driving privileges after a DUI arrest.
Last verified: September 4, 2026
20-Day Deadline
You have exactly 20 days from your arrest to request a hearing. Miss this deadline and your license is automatically suspended. No exceptions.
Enter your arrest date to see your deadline:
If You Request in Time
- • Temporary permit until hearing
- • Chance to keep your license
- • Gather evidence for defense
If You Miss the Deadline
- • Automatic 90-180 day suspension
- • No hearing, no appeal
- • Starts after waiting period
How to Request Your Hearing
Online Request
Fee: Typically $50-$125
Available: 24/7
Instant confirmation
Phone Request
Fee: Same as online
Hours: Business hours only
Expect hold times
Information You'll Need
From Your Notice:
- • Driver License Number
- • Date of Arrest
- • Arresting Agency
- • Arresting Officer Name
Personal Information:
- • Full Legal Name
- • Current Address
- • Date of Birth
- • Phone Number & Email
After You Request
Temporary Permit
ImmediateDrive legally until your hearing
Hearing Notice
20-40 daysDate, time, and format mailed to you
Prepare Defense
Before hearingGather evidence, hire attorney
Attend Hearing
Scheduled dateUsually phone or video
Decision
Same dayWin: keep license. Lose: suspension starts
Temporary Permit
Immediate
Drive until hearing
Hearing Notice
20-40 days
Date mailed to you
Prepare
Before hearing
Gather evidence
Attend Hearing
Scheduled
Phone or video
Decision
Same day
Win or suspension
What to Expect at the Hearing
Most hearings are by phone or video
You usually don't need to travel. When you receive your hearing notice, it will specify whether it's phone, video, or in-person.
Duration
30-60 minutes typically
Who's There
You, your attorney (optional), state attorney, hearing officer
What They Review
Probable cause for stop, proper arrest procedure, test validity
Evidence That Can Help
- Dashcam or bodycam footage 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 subpoena arresting officer
- Knows how to challenge evidence
- Uses hearing to strengthen criminal defense
- Higher success rate at hearings
Without an Attorney
- State has experienced attorney present
- May not know proper objections
- Can't effectively cross-examine officers
- Lower win rate statistically
If You Lose Your Hearing
Losing the hearing isn't the end. You still have options to maintain limited driving privileges:
Ignition Interlock
Drive with device installed
Occupational License
Limited driving for work/essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Guides
The license case runs on its own clock. A DUI arrest, whether you failed the chemical test or refused it, starts an automatic suspension by the Department of Safety, and beating the criminal charge does not stop it. You have exactly 10 business days from the arrest, or from the date on the notice of suspension, to request an administrative hearing in writing. This is not the 30-day window that applies to point suspensions and failure-to-appear cases, and people who confuse the two lose the right to contest entirely. A phone call to the local office does nothing. Fax the written request to the Department of Safety in Nashville at (615) 401-2523 and keep the timestamped confirmation.
Fayette County splits its services between two towns. The courts and jail are in Somerville, but the Driver Services Center is the Oakland Driver Services Center at 160 Beau Tisdale Drive, open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., phone (901) 465-6576. It was remodeled in late 2024 and handles reinstatements, testing, and restricted licenses.
A restricted license, which only lets you drive for work, school, or court-ordered treatment, takes an Order for Restricted Driver License signed by the General Sessions judge, then an SR-22 policy from a high-risk insurer, and then a trip to the Oakland center within 10 days of the judge's signature. There you pay a $50 SR-22 filing fee, plus a $75 penalty if you did not surrender your original license on time.
Every interlock in Tennessee has a camera and GPS. The primary installer in the county is Get Gone at 7540 Hwy 64 in Oakland, (901) 203-0585, right by the DMV. Birch's Auto at 8223 Hwy 70 in Arlington is a second option for the western end of the county. The technicians can only install, calibrate, and remove the hardware. If the device logs a violation that threatens your restricted license, you dispute that with the manufacturer's compliance division or your probation officer, not the garage. You can also find a licensed installer through this site's directory.
If the court orders continuous alcohol monitoring, usually for a repeat offense or through the Recovery Court, that runs through a court-approved regional monitoring provider serving West Tennessee.
Last updated: September 4, 2026
Top Rated Fayette County DUI Attorneys
When facing a DUI charge in Fayette County, finding local, experienced representation is critical. Below is our curated list of verified DUI defense attorneys serving Fayette County, TN.