A DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) DUI/DWI hearing is an administrative hearing to determine whether the state should suspend the license (driving privileges) of a driver who has been charged with DUI/DWI. This hearing is also known as an “administrative per se” or “admin per se” hearing or an “administrative license revocation” or ALR hearing, and generally must be requested within a matter of days following the DUI/DWI arrest to challenge the automatic suspension of the driver’s license.

A defendant has the right to be represented by an attorney at such a DMV hearing—but unlike the criminal prosecution portion of a DUI/DWI charge, a defendant does not have a Constitutional right to counsel in an administrative DMV hearing and must hire an attorney (or be self-represented or pro se), as the state will not appoint an attorney to represent the defendant.

Laws regarding DMV hearings for driver’s license suspensions or revocations in DUI/DWI cases vary from state to state—including procedures and deadlines—and are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the vehicle code, penal or criminal code, or administrative code.

In Rhode Island, a DMV DUI/DWI hearing is an administrative procedure separate from the criminal court process. It is designed to determine whether a driver's license should be suspended due to being charged with a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated). This type of hearing is often referred to as an 'administrative per se' hearing. In Rhode Island, a driver must request this hearing typically within a short period after the arrest, which is usually around 7 to 15 days, to contest the automatic suspension of their driving privileges. At the DMV hearing, the defendant has the right to be represented by an attorney, but unlike in criminal proceedings, there is no constitutional right to appointed counsel. Therefore, if the defendant wishes to have legal representation, they must hire an attorney at their own expense or choose to represent themselves. The specific procedures, deadlines, and regulations for these hearings are outlined in Rhode Island's statutes, which can be found in the state's vehicle or administrative codes.