Van Zandt County ALR Hearing Guide
How to request your Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Hearing and protect your driving privileges after a DWI arrest.
Last verified: September 12, 2026
15-Day Deadline
You have exactly 15 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
In most of Texas, a suspended license is an inconvenience. In Van Zandt County, outside the pockets of Canton, Wills Point, and Grand Saline, it can cut someone off almost entirely — there's no meaningful public transit to fall back on. That's what makes the 15-day window to contest a DWI license suspension matter more here than it might in Dallas or Houston.
The 15-day deadline
When someone fails or refuses a breath or blood test, the officer takes the physical license and hands over a DIC-25, which works as a temporary, unrestricted permit. From the arrest date, there are exactly 15 calendar days to request a hearing with the Texas Department of Public Safety contesting the suspension. Miss it, and the suspension activates automatically on day 40. Filing through the DPS online portal or by fax generates a timestamp proving it went in on time; regular mail doesn't offer that same protection.
Requesting the hearing buys time
A timely request pauses the suspension until the hearing itself concludes. Since 2020, the State Office of Administrative Hearings has run most of these by Zoom, so a defendant doesn't need to travel to a regional hearing office unless a judge specifically orders an in-person appearance.
The DPS office that won't take walk-ins
If the license does end up suspended and a defendant needs an occupational license to get to work, they'll eventually need the DPS driver license office on State Highway 64 in Canton. It's appointment-only, statewide policy, with same-day slots opening only on rare cancellations. The scheduling portal fills up weeks ahead, so anyone anticipating a suspension should book that appointment as soon as possible rather than waiting until the license is actually gone.
Last updated: September 12, 2026
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