Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101 (Tex. 2006). · Go Syfert
Texas Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101 (Tex. 2006). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“courts review administrative license suspension decisions under the substantial 3 evidence standard.”
223 citation events (223 in the last 25 years) across 4 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Brian McEnery v. City of San Antonio and Chief Charles N. Hood (texapp, 2015-10-30)
Treatment trajectory · 2001 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2001 2013 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Brian McEnery v. City of San Antonio and Chief Charles N. Hood
Tex. App. · 2015 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
hether there is substantial evidence to support an administrative decision is a question of law.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Brian McEnery v. City of San Antonio and Chief Charles N. Hood
Tex. App. · 2015 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
hether there is substantial evidence to support an 4 administrative decision is a question of law.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Stephen Joseph Caruana
Tex. App. · 2012 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
courts review administrative license suspension decisions under the substantial evidence standard.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Stephen Joseph Caruana
Tex. App. · 2012 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
courts review administrative license suspension decisions under the substantial 3 evidence standard.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority v. National Wildlife Federation
txctapp15 · 2026 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) City of Edinburg, Texas v. Rodolfo Campos
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006); Montgomery Indep.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Public Utility Commission of Texas and North Fort Bend Water Authority v. City of Fulshear, Texas
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Health and Human Services Commission v. Jessica Canto
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam) (noting that appellate court applies substantial evidence review without deference to district court).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Farrah Arsenia Agustin-Bunch v. Texas Medical Board
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Bryan Jason Saintes
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006); see Tex. Gov’t Code § 2001.174.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) AIRW 2017-7, L.P.; 600 Westinghouse Investments, LLC; 800 Westinghouse Investments, LLC; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; And Jonah Water Special Utility District v. City of Georgetown, Texas (2×)
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam) ..............................................................................................................................21 Texas Health & Hum.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Richard A. Hyde, P.E., in His Official Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; And the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality v. Harrison County, Texas
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam) (noting that appellate court applies substantial-evidence review without deference to district court).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lampasas Independent School District v. Mike Morath, the Honorable Commissioner of Education for the State of Texas; Bellpas, Inc.; And Copperas Cove Independent School District
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per 5 curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) SignAd, Ltd. v. Texas Department of Transportation
Tex. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2000) (per curiam) (“whether there is substantial evidence to support an administrative decision is a question of law.”); Montgomery Indep.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Richard Walton v. Texas Real Estate Commission
Tex. App. · 2024 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Klein Independent School District And Mike Morath, Texas Commissioner of Education v. Alana Sisk
Tex. App. · 2023 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Amber K. Walkington, CRNA v. Texas Board of Nursing Kathy Shipp, MSN, RN, FNP, Texas Board of Nursing President And Katherine A. Thomas, MN, RN, FAAN, Texas Board of Nursing Executive Director
Tex. App. · 2023 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam); TJFA, L.P. v. Texas Comm’n on Env’t Quality, 632 S.W.3d 660 , 667 (Tex. App.—Austin 2021, pet. denied).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Adrian Lamar Cuellar
Tex. App. · 2023 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006); Patel, 409 S.W.3d at 767–68.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Vista Medical Center Hospital, Surgery Specialty Hospital of America, Southeast Houston and Vista Hospital of Dallas v. Texas Mutual Insurance Company
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam); R.E.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Clay Elwood Autery III v. Texas Department of Public Safety
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam). 7 (F) arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion. 10 Under a substantial evidence review, we “may not substitute our judgment for the judgment of the state agency on the weight of the evidence.” 11 “We must uphold the agency’s ultimate decision if the evidence is such that reasonable minds could have reached the conclusion that the agency must have reached in order to justify its action.” 12 The burden to prove the agency’s decision is unsupported is on…
cited Cited as authority (rule) Philip J. Leonard, M.D. v. Texas Medical Board
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006)(per curiam)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Judd Kearl v. Texas Racing Commission
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam); see Heritage on San Gabriel Homeowners Ass’n v. Texas Comm’n on Envtl.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Vergo Patio Gardens, Inc. v. Railroad Commission of Texas
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Health and Human Services Commission v. Elliott Davis
Tex. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Jonathan Dakota Hargroder (3×) also: Cited "see", Cited "see, e.g."
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam). 6 In the original administrative hearing, the agency itself is the primary fact- finder, and on appeal, the question to be determined by the trial court is strictly one of law.
cited Cited as authority (rule) TJFA, L.P. Environmental Protection in the Interest of Caldwell County James Abshier And Bryon Friedrich v. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and 130 Environmental Park, LLC
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam); Jenkins v. Crosby Indep.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Conrado M. Huerta
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Robert Charles Lowry, M.D.// Cross Texas Medical Board v. Texas Medical Board// Cross-Appellee, Robert Charles Lowry, M.D.
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Luis Demetrio Gonzalez Jr.
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Nicholas Albert Douglas
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (citing Mireles v. Tex. Dep’t of Pub.
cited Cited as authority (rule) RGV Concepts, Ltd. and New Concept, LLC v. Texas Workforce Commission and Eloy Cavazos
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006); Blanchard, 353 S.W.3d at 572 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Vergo Patio Gardens, Inc. v. Railroad Commission of Texas
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam)). 5 DISCUSSION On appeal, Vergo raises three issues: (1) whether the ALJ erred by breaching its ministerial duty to enter an order dismissing the case when presented with the Rule 11 Agreement and joint motion to dismiss, (2) whether Vergo met its burden to demonstrate that there was no potential for polluting subsurface waters, and (3) whether the Commission met its burden of good cause to terminate Vergo’s permit.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Michael Van Deelen v. Texas Workforce Commission and Spring Independent School District
Tex. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Leo J. Tran
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) George Edward Garcia v. Texas Workforce Commission and Toshiba International Corp.
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006). 6 of juries, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by resolving Garcia’s claim alleging the TWC’s ruling should be overturned without allowing a jury to try Garcia’s unemployment compensation claim. 4 Because Garcia’s issue lacks merit, it is overruled.
cited Cited as authority (rule) El Duranguense Fort Worth Inc. D/B/A El Duranguense v. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Real Estate Commission v. Josef Adam Riekers
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Field G. Harrison, D.D.S. v. Texas State Board of Dental Examiners
Tex. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Nissan North America, Inc. v. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (2×) also: Cited "see"
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Claudia Renee Taunton
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Herminio Pasillas
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Facility Insurance Corporation v. Patients Medical Center
Tex. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam). 6 DISCUSSION Carrier raises five issues on appeal, asserting that: (1) the ALJ committed “legal error” in failing to apply the “informal” or “voluntary” network rate allowed for by contract between Provider and Aetna, which Carrier was allegedly entitled to access; (2) Provider “forfeited” the right to payment for failing to submit a “complete” and timely bill; (3) Provider “waived” its entitlement to the Division’s MFDR process by failing to request reconsideration of the Carrier’s response to Provider…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Facility Insurance Corporation v. Patients Medical Center
Tex. App. · 2018 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam). 6 DISCUSSION Carrier raises five issues on appeal, asserting that: (1) the ALJ committed “legal error” in failing to apply the “informal” or “voluntary” network rate allowed for by contract between Provider and Aetna, which Carrier was allegedly entitled to access; (2) Provider “forfeited” the right to payment for failing to submit a “complete” and timely bill; (3) Provider “waived” its entitlement to the Division’s MFDR process by failing to request reconsideration of the Carrier’s response to Provider…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Southern Concepts, Inc. Volunteers of America Texas, Inc. Knob Oak, Inc. Silver Quail, Inc. Community Access, Inc. And Creative Community Care, Inc. v. Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Tex. App. · 2018 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (explaining that appellate courts do not defer to trial court’s judgment that agency order satisfies substantial-evidence standard).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Evangel Healthcare Charities, Inc. v. Texas Workforce Commission and Jeneba Isha Bangura
Tex. App. · 2018 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006; Blanchard, 353 S.W.3d at 572 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Family and Protective Services v. C. A.
Tex. App. · 2018 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) CPS Energy v. Public Utility Commission
Tex. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per cu-riam), and the focus of this Court's review on appeal from the district court's judgment is on the agency decision, not the district court’s judgment, see Heritage on the San Gabriel Homeowners Ass'n v. Texas Comm’n on Envtl.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Jenkins v. Crosby Independent School District
Tex. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006) (per curiam). .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Texas Department of Public Safety v. Seth Aaron Ardoin (2×) also: Cited "see"
Tex. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
Safety v. Alford, 209 S.W.3d 101, 103 (Tex. 2006).
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, Petitioner,
v.
Gyles Robert ALFORD, Respondent
05-0164.
Texas Supreme Court.
Dec 1, 2006.
209 S.W.3d 101
Michelle Rangel, Houston, Kevin Michael Givens, Texas Department of Public Safety, Raini ‘Rene’ Pass, Austin, for Petitioner., Philip C. Banks, Bryan, for Respondent.
Per Curiam.
Cited by 180 opinions  |  Published
PER CURIAM.

Respondent Gyles Robert Alford held a commercial driver’s license but was driving a non-commercial vehicle when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. He refused a breath test, and his license was administratively suspended for two years. The trial court reversed the suspension, and a divided court of appeals affirmed, holding that no factual basis existed for the suspension. 154 S.W.3d 133 (Tex. App.-Waco 2004). We disagree. We also hold that a statute allowing consideration of prior offenses is not an invalid ex post facto law. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court of appeals and render judgment in favor of petitioner, the Texas Department of Public Safety.

About 1:25 a.m., a police officer observed Alford drive a Geo Storm into city-street oncoming-traffic lanes twice and then off into a ditch. The officer stopped Alford and noticed that his speech was slurred and that he smelled of alcohol. When Alford admitted he had been drinking beer and failed three field sobriety tests, he was arrested. He refused a breath test after being warned of the consequences as required by section 724.015 of the Texas Transportation Code. [1] Because he had had an “alcohol-related enforcement contact” (defined in section 524.001(3)) two years earlier, his commercial driver’s license was suspended for two years, as mandated by section 724.035(b) (“The period of suspension or denial is two years if the person’s driving record shows one or more alcohol-related or drug-related enforcement contacts, as defined by Section 524.001(3), during the 10 years preceding the date of the person’s arrest.”).

An administrative law judge sustained the suspension, and Alford appealed, asserting three grounds: (1) although he was told that refusal to give a breath sample would result in the suspension of a driver’s license, he should also have been warned that his refusal to give a breath sample would result in the suspension of his commercial driver’s license with no provision for operating a commercial vehicle for occupational purposes; (2) section 724.035(b) is “ ‘ex post facto’ in nature and therefore void” because it requires a longer suspension based on occurrences before the statute was enacted; and (3) the evidence was insufficient to support the suspension. The trial court reversed without giving a reason. The court of appeals affirmed, agreeing with the Department on (1) but with Alford on (3), and not reaching (2). 154 S.W.3d at 134-35.

Section 522.103 requires an officer to warn a commercial driver of the consequences of refusing to give a breath, blood, or urine specimen, but section 522.102(c)[*103] limits the requirement to a driver stopped while driving a commercial vehicle. Otherwise, the only other warning required is prescribed by section 724.015, which Alford was given. Therefore, as the court of appeals concluded, Alford’s first basis for challenging the suspension is without merit.

The suspension of Alford’s license was increased from 180 days to two years because of an alcohol-related contact with law enforcement prior to the date that section 724.035(b), the statute requiring such enhancement, was enacted. Alford cites no authority for his argument that the statute is thus an invalid ex post facto law, and we know of none. “It is well settled that a conviction which occurred prior to the enactment of a statute providing for increased punishment upon a subsequent conviction may be used for enhancement purpose under that statute, and that such usage is not unconstitutional as being ex post facto application of the statute” under either the United States Constitution or the Texas Constitution. Vasquez v. State, 477 S.W.2d 629, 632 (Tex.Crim.App.1972) (citing Gryger v. Burke, 334 U.S. 728, 68 S.Ct. 1256, 92 L.Ed. 1683 (1948), and Graham v. West Virginia, 224 U.S. 616, 32 S.Ct. 583, 56 L.Ed. 917 (1912)).

Finally, Alford argues that the evidence does not support suspension of his license. “[C]ourts review administrative license suspension decisions under the substantial evidence standard.” Mireles v. Texas Dep’t of Pub. Safety, 9 S.W.3d 128, 131 (Tex.1999); see Tex. Transp. Code § 724.047 (“Chapter 524 governs an appeal from an action of the department, following an administrative hearing under this chapter, in suspending or denying the issuance of a license.”); id. § 524.043 (establishing rules for appeal but not defining the scope of review); Tex. Gov’t Code § 2001.174 (“If the law ... does not define the scope of judicial review, a court may not substitute its judgment for the judgment of the state agency on the weight of the evidence on questions committed to agency discretion but ... (2) shall reverse or remand the case for further proceedings if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are: ... (E) not reasonably supported by substantial evidence considering the reliable and probative evidence in the record as a whole....”). The record in this case, which we have summarized, fully supports the judge’s decision.

The court of appeals noted that the administrative law judge had found as fact that Alford “was given the statutory warning prescribed under section ‘724.000,’ ” that his conclusion of law was “ ‘[b]ased on the foregoing’ ” findings, and that the Transportation Code does not contain a section 724.000. 154 S.W.3d at 135 (emphasis omitted). Thus, the court concluded, “the trial court could have concluded that on the face of the record no factual basis existed for the conclusion of law as stated.” Id. But whether there is substantial evidence to support an administrative decision is a question of law, Montgomery Indep. Sch. Dist v. Davis, 34 S.W.3d 559, 566 (Tex.2000), and on questions of law, neither the trial court nor the administrative law judge is entitled to deference on appeal, e.g., State v. Heal, 917 S.W.2d 6, 9 (Tex.1996). Irrespective of the administrative law judge’s mistake in referencing the statute, there was substantive evidence to support his findings, which are entitled to deference, and his ultimate decision.

Accordingly, we grant the Department’s petition for review and without hearing oral argument, Tex.R.App. P. 59.1, reverse[*104] the court of appeals’ judgment and render judgment for the Department.

1

. All statutory references are to the Texas Transportation Code unless otherwise noted.