A DWI charge threatens your ability to drive and earn a living. For professional drivers, your license means putting food on the table, paying your bills and taking care of your family.
Texas moves quickly against people charged with DWI, but you can fight to keep your driving privileges.
What happens to professional drivers after a DWI
Professional drivers often face DWI charges after traffic stops for minor violations like broken taillights or drifting between lanes. Law enforcement might notice bloodshot eyes or smell alcohol, leading to field sobriety tests.
Even prescription medications or a single drink can trigger charges if an officer believes your driving ability suffered impairment. Penalties can hit professional drivers especially hard:
- Quick license suspension: Suspensions can last from 90 days to 2 years before you’re even convicted
- Loss of commercial driver’s license (CDL): First offenses cost you your CDL for at least a year
- Special devices required: You might need to install and pay for an ignition breath testing device in your vehicle
- Higher insurance costs: Your rates can triple if you can find coverage at all
- Permanent record: In Texas, a DWI stays on your record forever
These problems start right after arrest, not after you’re found guilty. Acting quickly is your only defense.
You have 15 days to protect your license
Texas law gives you only 15 days after arrest to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing to fight your license suspension. The state strictly enforces this deadline. Miss it, and your license suspension becomes automatic regardless of your case’s merit.
The ALR hearing offers your first opportunity to challenge evidence and potentially save your driving privileges. Beyond preserving your license, the ALR hearing also helps your criminal case.
You gain early access to police reports, officer testimony and testing evidence. With the help of a lawyer, you might spot mistakes in procedures or violations of your rights. This information often reveals defense strategies for fighting the DWI charges later.
More than just driving is at stake
Protecting your license protects your whole life, not just your driving. Without it, you could lose your job, health insurance, home or even custody of your children if you depend on stable employment.
A DWI lawyer understands these risks and helps you meet the strict deadline while building your defense. Acting quickly after arrest is the first step to protecting everything that matters in your life.