Driver's License Hearings Filing Information
Driver's License Hearings Filing Information
- Please review the Standing Order of the Chief Administrative Law Judge Regarding ALR Hearings for more information.
Attorney and Agency Filers
Effective June 1, 2022, attorneys and the Texas Department of Public Safety must submit all ALR case filings electronically by use of eFile Texas or another electronic filing service provider approved for use by the Office of Court Administration.
- Parties may obtain more information about eFile Texas by visiting SOAH e-Services.
Guidelines for Electronic Filing
Service Contact Information. Attorneys and DPS filers are responsible for the entry and verification of complete and accurate service contact information for the parties in the electronic filing manager.
Service contact information must be sufficiently complete and accurate to allow SOAH and the parties to electronically serve documents through eFile Texas.
Failure to enter and verify service contact information within eFile Texas may result in SOAH’s rejection of filed documents, and may result in a failure to comply with legal requirements for service of process.
Designation of Lead counsel. The information entered into eFile Texas must include the designation of lead counsel if the party will be represented by counsel.
If necessary to promote efficiency due to the large number of ALR cases, DPS may designate the lead attorney for the DPS region to which the case is assigned as lead counsel within eFile Texas, even if another DPS attorney is ultimately assigned to prosecute the case.
Document Formatting. A document filed electronically must:
- be legible and in text-searchable portable document format (PDF);
- be directly converted to PDF rather than scanned, to the extent possible;
- not be locked;
- include the email address of the party or attorney responsible for the filing of the document;
- include the SOAH docket number and the name of the case in which it is filed, if not attached to a pleading or document that already contains this information; and
- comply with other applicable technology standards of the Judicial Committee on Information Technology.
Document Titles and Use of Proper Filing Codes. ALR documents submitted for filing through eFile Texas must be properly titled or described in the electronic filing manager in a manner that permits SOAH and the parties to reasonably ascertain its contents, including through use of the correct filing code for the type of document.
Separate Submissions. Different document types cannot be combined into a single PDF for submission. For example:
- If the document submitted for filing is an exhibit, it must be properly identified as an exhibit and submitted separately from motions, pleadings or other filings, unless the exhibit is attached as a necessary supporting document to a pleading.
- A party may not combine motions requesting different types of relief or action into a single filing, but must submit each motion separately.
Document Security. All documents submitted for filing in an ALR proceeding shall be designated as “Confidential” within eFile Texas or the party’s electronic filing manager at the time of submission.
Confidential document submission is necessary to avoid the need for redaction and the risk of public disclosure of confidential information or personal identifying information necessary for the resolution of an ALR proceeding.
Failure to correctly submit documents as “confidential” may result in the record being publicly-accessible through the re:SearchTX court records portal.
Exhibits. Exhibits must be filed electronically and in compliance with the judge’s orders. Exhibits should be numbered sequentially, and multipage documents shall be paginated or Bates stamped. If multiple exhibits are combined into a single PDF for submission, then the document must be bookmarked to allow the judge and parties to locate each exhibit within the record.
Requirements for All Filers
Exhibit Submission. All exhibits should be pre-filed at least two days before the hearing and the evidentiary package submitted by the Department should in every case include the Notice of Hearing and any amended or corrected Notices of Hearing.
Audio/Video Exhibits. Exhibits and evidence in audiovisual format must be submitted electronically using SOAH’s secure file transfer program, MOVEit Transfer. Audiovisual evidence must be in non-proprietary file formats that can be played using either Windows Media or VLC Media Player. Visit SOAH e-Services or contact the SOAH office assigned to your case for more information.
Signing of Pleadings. If the document submitted for filing is a pleading or motion, it must be signed by the party or their attorney. A pleading or document that is filed electronically is considered signed if the document includes an electronic signature, or “/s/.”
Alternative Filing Methods. For good cause, a judge may permit a party to file documents in paper or another acceptable form in a particular case.
Documents Offered at a Hearing. Any documents, including written testimony and exhibits, offered at a hearing that were not otherwise filed as part of the record shall be filed electronically by no later than the next business day following the hearing at which they were offered.
Self-Represented Parties Only
Self-represented parties (e.g., defendants without an attorney or representative) are strongly encouraged, but not required, to file electronically. Self-represented parties may instead use approved alternative methods of email, fax, mail, or hand-delivery. Self-represented parties may use the following email address and fax number to submit documents to SOAH:
To submit via email :
To submit via fax:
All USPS mail submissions should be sent to SOAH’s Austin office location.