State service guide

Texas DUI laws: really Texas DWI, with ALR, SR-22, occupational-license strategy, and adult-versus-minor splits

A strong Texas DUI page should explain that adult Texas cases are mainly DWI cases and that one arrest can create two separate license tracks: the civil Administrative License Revocation process and the criminal conviction consequences. The most useful Texas details are the 15-day ALR hearing deadline, the 90-day versus 180-day first-offense adult ALR split for failed tests and refusals, the fact that ALR can stack on top of a conviction suspension from the same arrest, and the conviction-side requirements for alcohol education, SR-22 coverage, reinstatement fees, and sometimes interlock-restricted or occupational driving.

Open official source View Texas services
ALR hearing deadline 15 days from service of the notice
Adult first ALR failure 90 days
Adult first ALR refusal 180 days
SR-22 after DWI conviction Maintain for 2 years from the date of conviction

Overview

What this page helps you verify

Texas DUI content should not be copied from a generic DUI state. Texas DPS uses DWI terminology for adults, runs ALR as a civil process separate from the criminal prosecution, and also publishes separate alcohol-related rules for minors and commercial drivers. The best version of this page should answer four operational questions quickly: whether ALR has already started, whether the driver has only 15 days to request a hearing, whether refusal made the suspension worse, and what conviction-side requirements DPS will still impose even after the criminal court part appears to be over.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-16. This page was manually upgraded against service-specific official sources, but requirements can still change quickly.

Usually needed

Documents and information to prepare

  • The DIC notice, ALR suspension paperwork, and any temporary driving authority served after arrest
  • A timely ALR hearing request if you plan to challenge the administrative action
  • Proof of completion from the required alcohol education or repeat-offender program
  • SR-22 insurance filing when required after conviction
  • Any interlock-related paperwork if the court ordered IID or DPS requires an interlock-restricted license
  • A certified occupational-license court order if you need essential driving during a qualifying suspension
  • License Eligibility results showing fees and whether additional compliance items still remain open

Typical flow

What the process often looks like

  1. Treat the ALR case and the criminal DWI case as separate Texas problems immediately.
  2. If you want to contest the ALR suspension, request the hearing within 15 days of the notice. Missing that deadline usually means the suspension goes into effect on the 40th day after service.
  3. Identify whether the case is an adult failed-test case, an adult refusal case, a minor alcohol case, or a conviction-stage DWI problem, because Texas uses different suspension lengths and compliance rules in each branch.
  4. If convicted, complete the required alcohol education or repeat-offender program on time and keep proof ready for DPS submission.
  5. Obtain SR-22 coverage when required and keep it active for the full monitoring period.
  6. If you must drive during an eligible suspension, evaluate occupational-license or interlock-restricted options early rather than waiting until the suspension is already active.
  7. Use License Eligibility before driving again to confirm that the ALR action, conviction action, fees, and program proof have all cleared.

Two tracks

Texas ALR is separate from the criminal DWI case, and both can hit from the same arrest

This is the main structural point a Texas page needs to get right.

  • Texas DPS says the Administrative License Revocation Program is a civil administrative process unrelated to the criminal court proceedings for DWI or BWI.
  • Texas also says you may receive a suspension for a DWI conviction and a suspension for a blood or breath test refusal or failure resulting from the same arrest.
  • A better Texas page should therefore avoid pretending that winning, losing, or delaying the criminal case automatically resolves the ALR record entry.

ALR rules

In Texas, refusal is the harsher adult ALR branch and the hearing deadline is only 15 days

These are the details most likely to change a driver's immediate strategy.

  • For adults 21 and older, DPS says a first ALR suspension for providing a specimen at 0.08 or higher is 90 days, while a repeat within the 10-year lookback is 1 year.
  • For adults 21 and older, DPS says a first refusal to provide a specimen causes a 180-day suspension, while a repeat alcohol-related enforcement contact in the 10-year lookback raises that to 2 years.
  • Texas says the ALR hearing request must be made within 15 days of service, and if the request is late the suspension goes into effect on the 40th day after service.
  • Commercial drivers face separate disqualification exposure on top of the ordinary driver-license suspension rules.

Conviction-side requirements

Texas conviction consequences are program- and proof-driven, not just a suspension date on the calendar

This is where statewide content should focus on what DPS actually requires for license recovery.

  • For adults convicted of DWI, Texas says a court may require an alcohol education program, a suspension for up to 2 years, a $100 reinstatement fee, SR-22 insurance for 2 years from conviction, probation, and IID.
  • If probation is granted, DPS says evidence of the required education program must be submitted within 180 days of conviction or the license will be revoked.
  • When IID is required, Texas says the driver must apply for an interlock-restricted license to be eligible to drive.
  • If the driving privilege is suspended in addition to an interlock requirement, Texas says the driver may also be eligible to pursue an occupational license.

Minors and terminology

Texas 'DUI laws' searches usually need a DWI explanation plus separate minor alcohol rules

This is where a generic DUI article usually becomes sloppy in Texas.

  • Adult criminal cases are generally DWI cases in Texas, while minor alcohol cases can also trigger zero-tolerance or under-21 alcohol suspensions even when the BAC does not meet the adult 0.08 standard.
  • DPS says a driver under 21 convicted of DWI receives a 1-year suspension, with subsequent alcohol-related offenses potentially bringing an 18-month suspension.
  • Texas also publishes separate minor alcohol-offense suspension rules for purchase, attempt, possession, public intoxication, and misrepresentation of age.
  • A Texas page should therefore explain the DWI terminology explicitly instead of copying adult DUI language from other states.

Driving during suspension

Texas restricted-driving strategy usually means occupational license, not a simple DMV hardship toggle

That matters because Texas relief still runs through court orders and DPS processing.

  • Texas occupational licenses are court-ordered, non-commercial, and limited to work, essential household duties, or school-related activities.
  • DPS requires the certified petition, certified court order, SR-22, fee payment, and other reinstatement materials before issuing the occupational license.
  • The court order may function as temporary authority for 45 days while DPS processes the occupational request.
  • Drivers should not assume every DWI-related suspension will qualify, especially if another ineligible revocation category is also active.

Accuracy notes

Where people get tripped up

  • Do not write Texas adult DUI content as if the state uses the same everyday terminology as other states. Adult Texas cases are primarily DWI cases, with separate under-21 alcohol rules layered on top.
  • Keep ALR and conviction-side suspensions separate. Texas explicitly says both can arise from the same arrest.
  • Do not reuse repealed surcharge-era content. Current Texas DWI license consequences revolve around ALR, education-program proof, SR-22, reinstatement fees, and occupational or interlock-restricted licensing.
  • Keep the 15-day ALR hearing deadline distinct from other Texas enforcement-action hearing windows that may use 20 days.

FAQ

Common questions

  • How long do I have to request a Texas ALR hearing after a DWI arrest?

    Texas DPS says you have 15 days from service of the notice to request the ALR hearing.

  • What is the difference between a Texas failed-test ALR case and a refusal case?

    For adults 21 and older, DPS says a first failed-test ALR suspension is 90 days, while a first refusal is 180 days. Repeat alcohol-related enforcement history raises those periods further.

  • Can Texas suspend me twice from the same DWI arrest?

    Yes. DPS says you may receive an ALR suspension for the failed or refused test and also receive a conviction-based suspension from the same arrest.

  • How long do I have to carry SR-22 after a Texas DWI conviction?

    Texas DPS says SR-22 must be maintained for 2 years from the date of conviction.

Sources

Official references used for this page

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