Quick answer: No — your license is not suspended the moment you’re arrested. Officers typically take your license and issue a temporary permit valid for 40 days. You have 15 days to request an ALR hearing; doing so pauses the suspension until the hearing is decided.
This video clears up the most common post-arrest confusion: you can usually still drive after a DWI arrest, but a clock is running. The temporary driving permit, the 15-day ALR request window, and what happens if you miss it — it’s all here.
Requesting the hearing isn’t just about delay: it forces DPS to put on evidence, gives your lawyer a chance to cross-examine the arresting officer under oath, and sometimes wins outright. Even when it doesn’t, an occupational license can keep you driving legally.
Related reading: Is my license suspended immediately after a DWI?
Contact Stephen T. Bowling, DWI & Criminal Defense Attorneys for a free consultation — we answer these questions about your specific case, at no cost and no obligation.
