Driving under the influence is a massive problem across the United States, and every state has its own measures in place to combat the issue. In Texas, you will have to endure the administrative license revocation process if you refuse or fail blood alcohol tests. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, you could spend as much as two years with a suspended license.
Charges for driving under the influence are serious. If you are wondering about your options after refusing a blood or breath test, call the Law Offices of Robert Gregg at (214) 891-7536 to discuss your case. Mr. Gregg is an experienced DUI attorney in Dallas who can guide you through the legal process.
Read on to learn what to expect during the administrative license revocation process:
- The ALR Process
If a law enforcement official believes you are driving under the influence, he or she will pull you over and walk you through a variety of field sobriety tests. If you fail these tests, refuse them or make your drunken state even more obvious, the officer will likely arrest you and charge you for DWI.
At this stage, it is likely the officer will ask you to take a breath or blood test to determine the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream. If you fail the test or refuse to participate, you will receive a notice of your license suspension.
Once you receive this notice, you have to respond to it within 15 days, and you have the right to request a hearing; however, if you do not ask for a hearing, your license suspension will become official and active 40 days after you received the notice. At this point, an officer will take your license from you.
- The ALR Hearing
If you choose to request a hearing, you have the opportunity to contest the suspension of your driving license, provided you request the hearing within the stipulated 15 days. If you are late in filing your request, you will receive an email informing you that law enforcement officials denied your application for a hearing. If you file the application on time, the hearing will occur within the following 120 days.
Statistics suggest that drunk drivers endanger the lives of others 80 times before police catch them, which is why Texas penalizes offenders so harshly. Law enforcement agents specifically target people who drive while intoxicated.
If a judge finds you guilty, you will have to pay exorbitant fines and possibly serve time in jail. You may also have a blight on your criminal record and will have to walk to work or use public transportation.
If you are facing criminal charges for drunk driving, it is vital to understand the process so that you can structure your case. Call the Law Offices of Robert Gregg for answers to any questions you may have about your suspended license. An experienced DUI lawyer with a history of successful cases is available at (214) 891-7536 to provide legal advice.