The 15-day clock nobody tells you about after a Texas DWI arrest

A Texas DWI arrest starts two cases at once. The criminal charge moves at the courthouse’s pace. The civil case against your driver’s license — the Administrative License Revocation, or ALR — moves at the State’s pace, and it starts the night you’re arrested.

Fifteen days

From the date you’re served notice of suspension (usually the night of arrest), you have 15 days to request an ALR hearing. Request it in time and your license generally stays valid until the hearing is decided — and the hearing itself becomes an early look at the State’s evidence, under oath. Miss the window, and the suspension simply begins.

Why we treat the ALR as round one

The officer who stopped you can be subpoenaed to the ALR hearing. Their testimony there is locked in before the criminal case ever reaches a courtroom — which means inconsistencies become material for suppression and cross-examination later. Handled right, the license fight protects your driving and builds your defense.

Arrested this week? Count the days. Then call — the line answers at 2 a.m. for exactly this reason.