Houston Administrative License Suspension Lawyer

What causes a DWI license suspension?

In our state, a DWI arrest causes two types of legal cases to be filed against the accused. The first is a criminal case in a court of law. The second is a civil action taken by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The purpose of the civil action is to suspend your driver's license. At Stradley, Chernoff & Alford, we know that the inability to drive can greatly affect your daily life, including your ability to be employed. At our firm, experience has shown us that a trained and experienced Houston DWI attorney gives you the best chance for a successful outcome in both cases.

When a law enforcement officer suspects that you are driving while impaired, field sobriety tests can be administered. If a person demonstrates inadequate performance during these tests, they are arrested for DWI. A breath test or blood test is then offered. This begins the license suspension procedure. You will have just 15 days from the point you are notified of your driver's license suspension to request a hearing on the matter.

ALR Hearings

In order to fail a test, your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) must be .08% or higher. Exceptions to this are when the person who fails the test is a minor, or a commercial vehicle operator. These two types of individuals can have a BAC lower than .08% but still have the ALR process go into effect. If you do not request a hearing, the suspension will go into effect quickly.

This administrative suspension of your driving privileges can last from 90 days to one year. Refusal to take a breath or blood test, or prior DWI convictions, can result in longer license suspensions. If a hearing is properly requested, no action regarding the suspension of your license will be taken until the hearing takes place.

With proper research and preparation, an ALR hearing may result in a favorable outcome. If DPS cannot prove their case, they must return your license. This hearing can be doubly important as it can affect the DWI criminal case with which you will be ultimately involved. As former prosecutors, we are well-versed in the effective defenses needed in fighting your charges.

Contact a Houston license suspension lawyer when you or a loved one has been arrested for DWI and require swift, competent legal help.