The Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office
The Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office ("ADLRO") is the Hawaiʻi state agency that handles the administrative (civil) revocation of driver's licenses after an arrest for Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant ("OUI" / "OVUII" / "DUI").
ADLRO's role is to review the circumstances of an OUI arrest and determine whether a person's driving privileges should be revoked, separate from any criminal prosecution. In other words, ADLRO can take action against your license even before your criminal case is resolved.
Two Parallel Processes After an OUI Arrest
After an OUI arrest in Hawaiʻi, two separate legal tracks may begin at the same time. They run in parallel, follow different rules, and have different consequences:
1) The Criminal Case (Court)
This is the criminal prosecution handled in court. It determines whether you are guilty or not guilty of OUI and what criminal penalties may apply. Criminal cases may involve court appearances, hearings, negotiations, and sometimes trial. They often take weeks or months to resolve.
2) The ADLRO Proceeding (Administrative License Revocation)
Separately, ADLRO conducts a civil administrative process focused only on your driver's license. This process is not about criminal guilt or innocence. It is about whether the State will administratively revoke your license based on the arrest.
Important: Your license can be revoked through ADLRO even while your criminal case is still pending.
A Lower Burden of Proof Than Criminal Court
One major difference between ADLRO and the criminal case is the burden of proof. In criminal court, the State must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In ADLRO proceedings, the standard is typically preponderance of the evidence, meaning generally that the ADLRO only needs to be satisfied that it is more likely than not that the legal requirements for revocation are met.
ADLRO Moves Fast and the Process is Easy to Miss
The ADLRO process begins immediately after an arrest. The ADLRO process has strict deadlines and can move forward quickly while you are also dealing with the criminal case.
Key points to know:
- ADLRO has 15 days after your arrest to decide whether to sustain revocation of your license
- The decision is mailed to the address you provided law enforcement at the time of arrest
- There is a strict deadline to request a hearing (missing it may mean losing your chance to challenge or mitigate the revocation)
- Driving after your revocation begins can lead to additional legal consequences, including being cited or arrested for HRS § 291E-62 (driving while your license is revoked for an OUI-related revocation)
What To Do Right Now (Checklist)
If you were arrested for OUI in Hawaiʻi:
✅ Do not assume your license is safe because your criminal case is pending
✅ Watch for ADLRO mail at the address you provided law enforcement at the time of arrest
✅ Do not miss the deadline to request a hearing
✅ Speak with a drunk driving defense attorney as soon as possible
✅ Do not drive once the 30-day revocation grace period ends unless you are legally permitted to do so
✅ Ask whether you qualify for an ignition interlock permit or employee driving permit
Learn More
For additional information about the ADLRO process, you can review the official ADLRO FAQ here: FAQ on the ADLRO's website.
