A DWI can have many ramifications on your life. However, you may not realize that a DWI creates both a criminal issue and a civil issue. Many focus on the criminal aspects of a DWI, but the civil issue, or Administrative License Revocation (ALR), has great importance as well. An administrative driver’s license suspension will happen AUTOMATICALLY after your DWI arrest if you do not timely request an ALR hearing. That means you will lose your driver’s license for the statutorily required period, and will not be allowed to drive.
If you are arrested for a DWI, you only have 15 days from the date of service to request an ALR hearing. The day you are served counts as the first day of service. If you were arrested, you should have received a DIC-25 (Notice of Suspension/Temporary Driving Permit). If you or your attorney does not timely request an ALR hearing, that permit is only valid for 40 days, after which your driving privileges will automatically be suspended for the statutory period. If you or your attorney timely requests an ALR hearing, the temporary permit will be effective until the administrative law judge makes a final decision in your case. Your attorney should know the procedures for obtaining an Occupational License once a final decision is made. An Occupational License allows you to retain limited driving privileges during your suspension.
If you need to keep driving for your family or livelihood, find a qualified attorney immediately after your arrest and do not miss the 15 day deadline.