Austin DUI and DWI Records
Austin DUI and DWI records are handled through the Travis County court system. The Austin Police Department makes DWI arrests inside city limits, while Travis County courts manage all criminal case filings. Austin Municipal Court handles Class C alcohol charges. Depending on the charge level, Austin DWI records may be held by the Travis County Clerk for misdemeanors or the Travis County District Clerk for felonies.
Austin DWI Overview
Where to Find Austin DWI Records
Austin DWI records at the felony level are kept by the Travis County District Clerk at 1000 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78701. Their phone is (512) 854-9457. The office serves 11 criminal district courts handling felony DWI cases including third offense DWI, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Their online case search is at traviscountytx.gov.
Misdemeanor DWI cases go to 8 County Courts at Law in Travis County. Those records are maintained by the Travis County Clerk, also at 1000 Guadalupe Street, reachable at (512) 854-9184. Both offices are in downtown Austin and are open weekdays. Document copies are $1.00 per page and certified copies require a $5.00 certification fee per document. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov.
| Travis County District Clerk | 1000 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701 | (512) 854-9457 |
|---|---|
| Travis County Clerk | 1000 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78701 | (512) 854-9184 |
| Austin Police - Records | 715 E. 8th St., Austin, TX 78701 | (512) 974-5499 |
| Austin Municipal Court | 700 E. 7th St., Austin, TX 78701 | (512) 974-4800 |
The Austin Police Department Records Division is at 715 E. 8th Street. You can submit open records requests online at austintexas.gov/police, by email to policeopenrecords@austintexas.gov, or by mail to APD Records, P.O. Box 689001, Austin, TX 78768. Standard processing is 10 business days. Reports cost $5.00 each. Video from body cameras and patrol vehicles is available with additional fees. Arrest reports include the probable cause affidavit, field sobriety test results, and chemical test documentation.
Searching Austin DUI Case Records
Travis County's online case portal at traviscountytx.gov allows free searching by defendant name, case number, attorney, or date range. The portal shows case summary, docket entries, charges, bond information, and disposition if the case is closed. Document images cost $1.00 per page and can be downloaded immediately after purchase online.
Austin Municipal Court at austintexas.gov/department/municipal-court operates four locations in Austin: Downtown at 700 E. 7th Street, North at 6719 N. IH-35, South at 5750 Menchaca Road, and a Downtown Traffic Court also at 700 E. 7th Street. You can search cases by citation number, driver's license, full name, or date of birth. The court handles Class C offenses including public intoxication, minor in possession, minor consumption, and traffic violations.
Travis County also runs a DWI Court, which is a specialized treatment court for repeat DWI offenders. Participants in the DWI Court program have their case records handled through the Travis County Clerk system. Pre-trial diversion is also available for some first-time DWI offenders through the Travis County system. Those records show deferral conditions and completion status.
Austin DWI Laws and Penalties
Austin DWI cases are prosecuted under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The core DWI offense under Sec. 49.04 covers operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Intoxication means either impairment of normal faculties or a BAC of 0.08 or more. Officers can arrest based on impairment alone even if the BAC comes in under 0.08.
A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with a 72-hour minimum jail term and up to 180 days. Fines go up to $2,000. Open container in the vehicle pushes the minimum to six days. A BAC of 0.15 or more makes it Class A with up to one year and $4,000. Under Sec. 49.09, second DWI has a 30-day mandatory minimum. Third DWI is a third-degree felony. Carrying a child passenger under 15 while intoxicated is a state jail felony regardless of prior record under Sec. 49.045.
On top of court fines, TxDOT guidelines show that state surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 are assessed at sentencing. Austin Municipal Court handles Class C alcohol fines in the $250 to $500 range plus court costs. Deferred disposition for Class C offenses carries a fee of $50 to $150 and a 90-day deferral period.
ALR and License Suspension in Austin
After a DWI arrest in Austin, the Administrative License Revocation process begins. Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524, you have 15 days from the arrest notice to request a hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings. If you don't request a hearing, your license is suspended automatically on day 40. The officer takes your physical license at the time of arrest and issues a temporary permit.
A first failed chemical test brings a 90-day suspension. A first refusal brings 180 days. Past ALR suspensions within 10 years extend those periods. The $125 reinstatement fee to Texas DPS must be paid before any new license is issued. Multiple DPS driver license offices operate in the Austin area and require appointments for most services.
The ALR hearing is a civil administrative proceeding separate from the criminal DWI case. The burden of proof is lower at the ALR level. You can win the criminal case and still lose the ALR hearing, and vice versa. The ALR decision does not automatically affect the criminal case outcome.
Austin DUI Resources and Records Access
Crash reports from DWI-related accidents in Austin go to TxDOT, not APD. Under Texas Transportation Code ยง550.062, officers must report crashes involving injury, death, or damage over $1,000 within 10 days. You can buy those reports through the TxDOT CRIS system for $6 standard or $8 certified. Access is limited to parties with a legitimate interest in the crash.
Texas DPS maintains criminal history records at dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records. DWI convictions from Travis County are part of the statewide database. You can request public information from DPS by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773-0140. The DPS main office is at 5805 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin. In-person requests are accepted there as well.
Minor alcohol violations in Austin are governed by Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 106.041. Any detectable amount of alcohol in a driver under 21 is a Class C misdemeanor. Austin Municipal Court handles these cases with fines of $250 to $500, 8-12 hours of community service, and a mandatory alcohol awareness course. An alcohol awareness course required by the court must be from a TABC-certified provider. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission approves those programs.
Note: Austin Municipal Court payment plans are available for fines. Community service credit is available for indigent defendants at a rate of $10 per hour. Warrant resolution for unpaid tickets can be handled with a walk-in at the court, no arrest required.
Texas DPS maintains the official driving record and Administrative License Revocation database for all Texas drivers, including those arrested for DWI in Austin.
Austin-area drivers can check license status, pay reinstatement fees, and order driving records through the Texas DPS website.
Travis County DUI Records
Austin is the county seat of Travis County. All DWI cases for Austin are filed through the Travis County courts. For county-level details on courts, case search portals, fees, and additional resources, see the Travis County DUI records page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Austin with DWI records and local court systems: