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How to apply to the Goliad County Judge for an occupational driver's license after a DWI or drug suspension or a DPS revocation: obtain an SR-22 and six months of liability insurance; complete a notarized Verified Petition stating the hours (normally up to four a day, up to twelve on a showing of need under Transportation Code § 521.248), areas and times of driving; attach a DPS driving record; schedule a hearing through the County Judge's office and bring the arrest and court papers; if granted, file the petition and order with the County Clerk ($147 filing fee) and carry the certified copy; then submit the certified petition and order, the SR-22 and the license and reinstatement fees to DPS.
Applies to petitions for an occupational driver's license heard by the County Judge in the Goliad County Court (constitutional county court). Undated instructions posted on the county's Useful Forms and Information page with the Verified Petition form; an earlier edition of the same instructions is posted alongside (recorded). Procedural information only; not legal advice.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING APPLICATION FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE — GOLIAD COUNTY The following rules are applicable to any person who has had his/her driver's license suspended due to conviction of Driving While Intoxicated or drug offenses, or who has had his/her driving privileges revoked by the Department of Public Safety for any reason, and who wishes to apply for an Occupational Driver's License during the period of suspension. • An Occupational Driver's License will not be issued by the Department of Public Safety unless the driver has obtained liability insurance. You must obtain Form SR-22 and verification of the purchase of at least six (6) months of liability insurance. • An Occupational Driver's License is generally to allow no more than four (4) hours per day. If there is a specific need, the Court can allow you to drive up to twelve (12) hours per day (Texas Transportation Code, Title 7, § 521.28). You must be specific as to the number of hours per day you will need. The need must be justified based on your particular occupational, educational, or household duties. • You must fill out completely a Verified Petition for Occupational Driver's License, stating the reasons for the necessity of the Occupational Driver's License. You must be specific as to the areas and times in which you will be driving. The petition must be signed in the presence of a notary public, and you must have picture ID. You can print a copy of the form at http://www.co.goliad.tx.us/upload/page/2537/docs/County%20Court/Verified%20Petition%20Revised.pdf. • Obtain a copy of your driving record and attach to the Verified Petition for Occupational Driver's License. You can do this online at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/dlfork.aspx?action=record. You may also order a driver record by submitting a DR-1 Application for Copy of Driver Record, along with the required fee, to: Texas Department of Public Safety, ATTN: DRB/Certified Abstract, P.O. Box 15999, Austin, TX 78761-5999. Note: Please allow fourteen (14) business days from the date the Department of Public Safety receives the request for delivery. • After you have filled out the Verified Petition completely and have obtained at SR-22, proof of the purchase of at least six months of liability insurance, and copy of your most recent driving record, please contact the Goliad County Judge's Office (361-645-3337) to schedule an appointment for a hearing with the County Judge. When you come to the hearing, bring copies of any paperwork associated with your arrest, court appearance, license suspension, etc. • If the County Judge approves your petition, s/he will issue an Order Granting Occupational Driver's License. • You will take the original copies of the Verified Petition and the Order Granting Occupational Driver's License to the County Clerk's Office to be filed. The filing fee is $147.00. The County Clerk's Office will file your documentation and will issue a certified copy to you. You must carry this certified copy with you at all times. If you need additional copies, you may purchase them from the County Clerk's Office. • The following is information from the Department of Public Safety's website, regarding how to obtain an Essential Needs Occupational License: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY – OCCUPATIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS You must mail the following items to the Department: • The certified copy of the petition and a certified copy of the court order granting the Occupational Driver's License. (If the individual is participating in a special drug court program, the petition is not required; the judge has the authority to grant an occupational order.) • An original Form SR-22 certificate of insurance. This is the only proof of insurance acceptable. • An occupational license fee for a one-year license or less. The maximum length of issuance is a two-year (2) license, provided that the court order grants this length of time. • All required reinstatement fees DPS Customer Service Contact Center Hours of operation in the DPS Contact Center are 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., Central Time, Monday through Friday, except for national holidays. DPS representatives are able to assist you in either English or Spanish. Customers may call (512) 424-2600 (English) or (512) 424-7181 (Spanish) to speak to a customer service representative, or you may email DPS for answers to your driver's license questions.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING APPLICATION FOR AN OCCUPATIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE — GOLIAD COUNTY The following rules are applicable to any person who has had his/her driver's license suspended due to conviction of Driving While Intoxicated or drug offenses, or who has had his/her driving privileges revoked by the Department of Public Safety for any reason, and who wishes to apply for an Occupational Drive
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-08 from the own-site custody copy (two pages, native text layer read in full; the print's "obtained at SR-22" and "§ 521.28" kept as printed). Unsigned and undated, so no judge join and no effective date; bound to the County Court because the hearing is before the County Judge. The older edition ("Instructions_for_App_for_OCDL[1].pdf": "he will issue", no drug-offense clause, no form link) is recorded as superseded.
G-2026-045-SC required anyone using generative AI to disclose it on the face of the filing and add a scripted certification, on pain of striking, denial of relief or monetary penalties. Rule 2.515(d)(2) and AOSC26-12 preempted it on June 15, 2026, so it could not be enforced — and by August 16, 2026 the Seventh Circuit had removed the order from its published register (no rescission instrument appears there). BenchPath holds the hashed capture as the historical record.
3 verbatim requirements on divisional requirements in ANDREW L. SIEGEL's division.