Bastrop County ALR Hearing Guide
How to request your Administrative License Revocation hearing and protect your driving privileges.
Last verified: January 6, 2026
15-Day Deadline
You have exactly 15 days from your arrest to request an ALR 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 40 days after arrest
How to Request Your Hearing
Online Request
Fee: $125 (credit card)
Available: 24/7
Instant confirmation
Phone Request
Expect long hold times
Information You'll Need
From Your DIC-25 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 to Austin. 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), DPS attorney, administrative law judge
What They Review
Probable cause for stop, proper arrest procedure, chemical 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
For the rare in-person hearings:
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
- DPS 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 ALR 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
Texas DPS Office
For license reinstatement after suspension ends, or to get an occupational license:
FAQ
Related Guides
All DUI defendants in Bastrop County, regardless of the arresting agency, are processed at the Bastrop County Jail located at 200 Jackson Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602. Understanding the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process is crucial to protecting your driving privileges. In Texas, the ALR is a civil matter handled by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and is entirely separate from your criminal DWI case. This means your license can be suspended even if you are not convicted of DWI in criminal court.
The 15-Day Deadline: Act Fast!
You have only 15 days from the date of your DWI arrest to request an ALR hearing. This is a critical deadline. If you fail to request a hearing within this timeframe, your Texas driver's license will be automatically suspended, typically starting 40 days after your arrest. This suspension occurs automatically, even if you are unaware.
What is an ALR Hearing?
An ALR hearing is your opportunity to challenge the suspension of your driver's license. DPS must prove certain facts to suspend your license, such as:
- You were lawfully arrested for DWI.
- You had a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more, or you refused to submit to a breath or blood test.
At the hearing, you can present evidence and arguments to challenge the DPS's case.
SOAH Hearing Logistics for Bastrop County
If you request an ALR hearing, it will be conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). Bastrop County falls under the service area of the Austin SOAH regional office. Most ALR hearings are conducted remotely via videoconference (Zoom) or telephone. This eliminates the need to travel to Austin. You (or your attorney) must request discovery, including police reports and videos, from DPS separately before the hearing. It is crucial to have reliable internet access, a device with a camera, and the technical proficiency to navigate the Zoom platform for a video hearing.
Occupational Driver's License (ODL)
If your license is suspended following an ALR hearing, you may be eligible for an Occupational Driver's License (ODL). This allows you to drive legally for essential purposes such as work, school, or household duties. To obtain an ODL, you must:
- File a petition with the County or District Court.
- Obtain SR-22 insurance (proof of financial responsibility).
- Pay filing fees to the County Clerk.
- Obtain a judge's order.
The ODL process adds hundreds of dollars in filing fees and insurance premiums.
DPS and SOAH Information
Remember the 15-day deadline! Failing to request a hearing within 15 days of your arrest will result in the automatic suspension of your driver's license.
The Bastrop County Jail is located at 200 Jackson Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602.
Sources
Last updated: January 6, 2026
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