Every state
DUI attorneys near you
DUI arrest — the criminal case and the separate licence hearing with its short deadline.
Deadline, in general
The driver licence hearing after a DUI arrest must often be requested within about 10 days.
A DUI arrest usually starts two cases at once. The criminal case decides guilt and punishment. A separate administrative case, run by the state licensing agency, decides what happens to driving privileges — and it moves on its own clock whether or not anyone asks for a hearing.
For anyone holding a professional licence there can be a third consequence. Many licensing boards require reporting of arrests or convictions, and the board runs its own proceeding with its own outcome, independent of what the criminal court decides.
Tell us what happened
A few questions about your situation. It is free, and there is no obligation of any kind.
This may be your situation if
- —You were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- —You received paperwork about a driver licence hearing with a short deadline.
- —You have a court date and no representation.
- —You hold a professional licence that may require reporting the arrest.
- —This is not a first offence, or there was an accident or injury involved.
What an attorney generally does here
- —Request the driver licence hearing within the short window the state allows.
- —Appear in the criminal case and deal with the prosecutor.
- —Challenge the stop, the testing, or the procedure where the facts allow.
- —Weigh any plea against its effect on driving privileges and any professional licence.
- —Pursue reduction or diversion programmes where the state offers them.
The deadline
The driver licence hearing after a DUI arrest must often be requested within about 10 days. Set by Your state’s vehicle code and its rules of criminal procedure.
That window is set by each state and is separate from the criminal case — it is missed constantly because people assume the court date covers it. Criminal filing deadlines are separate again.
Worth gathering first
- —The citation, arrest paperwork, and any bail documents.
- —The driver licence hearing notice, if one was issued.
- —Your court date.
- —Your professional licence details, if you hold one.
- —Any prior record.
If you work in care
A DUI can trigger a licensing board report even before conviction in some states, and the board case runs independently of the criminal one. Resolving the criminal charge without considering the licence can preserve the record and cost the career — both need handling together.
Common questions
What is the ten-day DUI deadline?
After a DUI arrest many states give around ten days to request a hearing about driving privileges. It is separate from the criminal case, and missing it can mean an automatic suspension regardless of the court outcome.
Will a DUI affect my nursing licence?
It can. Many boards require reporting of arrests or convictions, and the board conducts its own proceeding. The rules differ by state and by profession.
Can I get a public defender for a DUI?
If you cannot afford an attorney the court will appoint one in the criminal case. The administrative licence hearing is separate and the rules on representation there vary.
What happens at the licence hearing?
It is an administrative proceeding about driving privileges — whether the stop and testing followed the rules. It is separate from the criminal trial and has its own outcome.
Related
This page is general information about how this kind of matter works in the United States, and the rules that matter most here are set state by state — the deadline where you live may be shorter than the general figure given above. It is not legal advice, it is not a substitute for advice about your own situation, and reading it or sending the form does not create an attorney-client relationship. Unified Savers is not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. Deadlines stated are general rules and exceptions frequently make them shorter. See the disclaimer and privacy policy.