Collin 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
DPS Collin County Office
For license reinstatement after suspension ends, or to get an occupational license:
FAQ
Related Guides
Texas DPS requires ALR hearing requests within 15 calendar days of receiving the Notice of Suspension. This deadline is crucial for Collin County drivers arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), as failing to request a hearing within this timeframe results in an automatic driver's license suspension, starting on the 40th day after your arrest.
Understanding the ALR Process in Collin County
Following a DWI arrest in Collin County, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) initiates an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process, separate from the criminal DWI case. This process determines whether your driving privileges will be suspended. The Implied Consent law states that by driving on Texas roads, you've implicitly agreed to provide a breath or blood specimen if suspected of DWI. Refusal to provide a specimen, or providing one with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, triggers the ALR process.
Requesting Your ALR Hearing
To challenge the potential suspension, you must request an ALR hearing within 15 days of receiving the Notice of Suspension (DIC-25). The count begins the day after the notice is served.
You can request a hearing via:
- Online Portal: This is the recommended method for immediate confirmation.
- Fax: Send your request to 512-424-2650, and keep the transmission confirmation page.
- Mail: Send via Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested to P.O. Box 4040, Austin, TX 78765.
Important: There is no local drop box for ALR hearing requests in Collin County. Do not attempt to submit your request to a local DPS office or the Collin County Courthouse. These entities do not process ALR requests.
What Happens After You Request a Hearing?
Requesting a hearing "stays" (pauses) the suspension. This allows you to continue driving legally until the hearing takes place and a decision is issued. Due to backlogs in the SOAH Dallas region, expect a wait of 3 to 6 months for your hearing. The temporary driving permit (DIC-25) given to you at the time of your arrest is valid immediately and lasts for 40 days, which is bridged by the "stay" if a hearing is requested.
The ALR Hearing Location
ALR hearings for Collin County arrests are currently conducted virtually via Zoom, through the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). You will receive a "Scheduling Order" or "Notice of Hearing" by mail containing the Zoom link. Join the Zoom waiting room at least 15 minutes before the scheduled docket call.
Occupational Driver's License (ODL) in Collin County
If your license is suspended, you may be eligible for an Occupational Driver's License (ODL) to drive for essential needs. Collin County courts are known for their flexible "logbook" provisions for ODLs. Instead of rigid time-of-day restrictions, you can track your essential driving in a logbook, offering more flexibility for work and errands. Be sure to request the "logbook" restriction when petitioning for an ODL, citing the precedent of Collin County Court at Law No. 1. Meticulously carry your paper documentation (DIC-25 or Certified Court Order) and your SR-22 insurance proof at all times. In Collin County, police officers are well-versed in checking the "logbook."
Notice Arriving Late from DPS
In blood test cases, DPS mails the Notice of Suspension weeks or months after the arrest. The 15-day clock starts from the mailing date, not when you receive the notice. Therefore, it is crucial to keep your address updated with DPS.
For submitting your ALR hearing request via mail, send it to: P.O. Box 4040, Austin, TX 78765.
Sources
Last updated: January 6, 2026
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