A DWI arrest can put your driver’s license at risk, but a suspension is not automatic, and you have only a short window to stop it. The license side of your case runs through a separate state process in Texas, and it begins the moment the handcuffs come off.
A Court Case and a License Case
Your arrest sets off two separate cases: a criminal charge in court and an administrative action by the Department of Public Safety to suspend your driver’s license. One result does not control the other, so a DWI in Texas arrest means handling both cases at once.
Your 15-Day Clock Is Already Running
The notice serves as a temporary driving permit valid for 40 days and starts a strict 15-day deadline to challenge your license suspension. The clock begins immediately, so take these steps as soon as possible:
- Save the paper notice the officer hands you
- Write down the day it was served on you
- Count 15 days forward and mark that deadline
- Request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing before time runs out
Miss the 15-day deadline, and the suspension takes effect on its own, on the 41st day after your notice. You also lose the chance to question the stop, the arrest, and the test before a judge.
How Long Does a First Suspension Last?
For a first arrest, the suspension length depends on the test. Refusing a breath or blood sample brings a 180-day suspension under Texas Transportation Code § 724.035, while giving a sample over the legal limit brings a 90-day suspension under Texas Transportation Code § 524.022, assuming no prior alcohol- or drug-related enforcement contact in the past 10 years.
Your license outcome is not set in stone, and the same facts that influence your criminal defense strategy often determine the suspension itself. A handful of details decide how long a first suspension runs, so it helps to know them early:
- Whether you refused testing or gave a sample
- Whether a prior alcohol-related contact appears on your record
- Whether you were under 21 at the time of the stop
- Whether the officer followed the required steps during the stop
Even during a suspension, you may qualify for an occupational license that lets you drive to work and school on set terms. Keep in mind that refusing a test does not always keep your blood out of the case, because a judge can still sign a warrant authorizing police to draw a sample.
Defend Your License After a Texas DWI Arrest
A suspension touches your job, your family, and your daily routine, so your response matters. Drivers in Waco and across Texas turn to our team, which answers the phone, keeps you updated, and charges less than many firms for the same thorough work.
At Callahan & King, PLLC, you work with real people, not an answering service. Each of our attorneys brings an average of 15 years of practice, backed by more than 50 years of combined experience.
The 15-day window closes fast, and every day you wait narrows your options. Call 254-717-8600 or contact our firm online to get ahead of a Texas DWI license suspension and protect your record today.
