Lewisville License Suspension Hearings Lawyer | Denton County DWI Attorney
When a person is pulled over for suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Denton County, he or she may have his or her driver’s license automatically suspended for refusing to submit to a chemical alcohol concentration test. The alleged offender can also be subject to driver’s license suspension if he or she does submit to the taking of a specimen but fails the chemical test.
The administrative license suspension is a civil penalty that is completely separate from any criminal penalties that may result from DWI charges. In fact, a driver may have his or license suspended even if he or she is not charged with DWI.
If you have had your license suspended for refusing to submit to chemical testing or failing a DWI test, then you will want to immediately contact an experienced Denton County criminal defense attorney. Regardless of whether you refused to submit to a test or you failed one, you only have 15 days to request an administrative license suspension hearing to get your driver’s license back.
Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy assists clients all over Lewisville with the following types of DWI matters:
We also serve surrounding areas like Grapevine, Denton, Argyle and Westlake, and surrounding counties, including Parker, Wise, and Cooke. Call 940-222-8004 right now to schedule a free consultation that will let our firm review your case.
The amount of time that your driver’s license will be suspended after refusing to submit to a chemical test or failing a chemical test after submitting to one can vary depending on certain factors.
If an alleged offender submits to chemical testing and has an alcohol concentration—most frequently measured by blood alcohol concentration (BAC)—that exceeds the legal limit, then he or she may have his or her license suspended under Texas Transportation Code § 524.022 for one of the following periods:
Texas Transportation Code § 524.022 states that an alleged offender who possesses a commercial driver’s license (CDL) can be subject to the following penalties:
If an alleged offender refuses to submit to chemical testing, then Texas Transportation Code § 724.035 lists the following periods of suspension:
If an alleged offender who possesses a commercial driver’s license (CDL) refuses to submit to chemical testing after allegedly operating any motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Texas Transportation Code § 522.081(b)(3) states that he or she will be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for one year.
If the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) receives a request for a hearing not later than 15 days after the alleged offender was notified of his or her license suspension or denial, then the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) will hold an administrative hearing. Under Texas Transportation Code § 724.041, this hearing is held not earlier than the 11th day after the alleged offender was notified of his or her license suspension or denial (unless the parties agree to waive this requirement), and the request for a hearing stays the suspension or denial until the date of a final decision.
The hearing is held by an administrative law judge employed by SOAH at a location designated by this office in the county of arrest if the county has a population of 300,000 or more or in the county in which the person was alleged to have committed the offense for which the person was arrested or not more than 75 miles from the county seat of the county of arrest if the population of the county of arrest is less than 300,000.
Texas Transportation Code § 724.042 states that the issues addressed at these hearings include whether:
According to Texas Transportation Code § 524.035, the suspension will be sustained if the administrative law judge finds that that reasonable suspicion to stop or probable cause to arrest the alleged offender existed and he or she was an adult who had an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher or a minor who had any detectable amount of alcohol in his or her system while operating a motor vehicle in a public place. However, if the administrative law judge does not find in the affirmative on each of these issues, then DPS will return the alleged offender's driver's license to him or her, reinstate the license and rescind an order prohibiting the issuance of a driver's license to the person.
An administrative law judge’s decision is final when it is issued and signed.
Denton County Courts — This website contains links to both County Courts at Law, the five County Criminal Courts, Probate Court, and County Court Administration. Certain pages contain links to forms, answers to frequently asked questions, and staff listings.
1450 East McKinney Street
Suite 1333
1st Floor
Denton, TX 76209-4524
(940) 349-2100
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Program — This page provides an overview of the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Program. You can find links to office locations, hearing requests, and periods of suspension.
820 North Loop 288
Denton, TX 76209
(940) 484-6661
400 Bolivar
Suite 101
Sanger, TX 76266
(940) 458-5164
State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) — You can find office locations, scheduled hearings, and procedural rules on this website. There are also publications, reports, and Appraisal Review Board (ARB) forms.
Has your license been suspended after you failed a DWI chemical test or refused to submit to testing? Denton County criminal defense attorneys Richard C. McConathy and Brian A. Bolton have more than two decades of experience helping clients all over North Texas with all aspects of drunk driving cases.
Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy represents clients in and around Lewisville, including Flower Mound, Highland Village, The Colony, and Little Elm. We can review your case when you call 940-222-8004 to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
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The information provided on this site is for general information purposes only. The information you obtain at this website is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your own individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Use of this website or submission of an online form, does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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