A person who gets a suspension notice may ask for an administrative hearing in writing within 10 days, and the hearing process has set timing and notice rules.
(a) Any person who has received a notice of intended suspension pursuant to Section 32-5A-303 or a notice of suspension pursuant to Section 32-5A-302 where no notice of intended suspension was served may request an administrative hearing. A request for an administrative hearing shall be in writing and shall be hand delivered or mailed to the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, Driver License Division, in Montgomery, Alabama. The request shall be received by the agency or be mailed and postmarked within 10 days of the notice of intended suspension issued pursuant to Section 32-5A-303 or the notice of suspension issued pursuant to Section 32-5A-302 where no notice of intended suspension was served. Failure to request an administrative hearing within 10 days shall constitute a waiver of the person’s right to an administrative hearing and judicial review under this article. If the driver’s license of the person has not been previously surrendered, it shall be surrendered at the hearing. A request for a hearing shall not stay the driving privilege suspension. (b) The hearing shall be scheduled to be held as quickly as practicable and not more than 30 days after the filing of the request for a hearing. The hearing shall be held at a location designated by the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency unless the parties agree to a different location. The agency shall provide a written notice of the time and place of the hearing to the party requesting the hearing at least five days prior to the scheduled hearing, unless the parties agree to waive this requirement. (c) The hearing shall be before the secretary or his or her duly authorized agent. Upon the hearing, the secretary, or his or her duly authorized agent, may administer oaths and may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers and may require a re-examination of the licensee. Upon the hearing, the secretary, or his or her duly authorized agent, shall make a final determination which either rescinds the order of suspension or, for good cause appearing, continues, modifies, or extends the suspension of the licensee. If the hearing is conducted by a duly authorized agent instead of by the secretary, the determination of the agency shall not be final until approved by the secretary. (d) The sole issues at the hearing shall be whether by a preponderance of the evidence the person drove or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle with 0.08 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the blood, or whether the person refused a test as provided in Section 32-5-192. (e) The decision of the secretary shall be rendered in writing, and shall be mailed to the person who requested the hearing at their last known address on file with the agency. (f) If the person who requested the hearing fails to appear without just cause, the right to a hearing shall be waived. (g) The procedures set forth in this article shall be the sole and exclusive manner to determine the administration of this article. The Alabama Administrative Procedure Act in Sections 41-22-1 to 41-22-27, inclusive, shall not apply.