Garland DUI and DWI Records
Garland DWI records are maintained through Dallas County, which handles all criminal case filings for the city. The Garland Police Department makes arrests within city limits, and the Dallas County court system processes the resulting cases. This guide explains how to find Garland DUI and DWI records across city and county offices.
Garland DWI Overview
Where to Find Garland DWI Records
DWI cases from Garland are filed in Dallas County. Misdemeanor DWI records, including first and second offense cases, are held by the Dallas County Clerk at (214) 653-7141. Their office is at 600 Commerce Street in Dallas. Felony DWI records, such as third offense or intoxication assault, go to the Dallas County District Clerk at (214) 653-7426 at the same address.
The Dallas County District Clerk manages 15 criminal district courts, numbered 291st through 363rd. All felony DWI cases from Garland are distributed among these courts. The online case search portal is free and available 24/7 at dallascounty.org. You can search by defendant name or case number without creating an account.
| Dallas County District Clerk | 600 Commerce St., Room 118, Dallas, TX 75202 | (214) 653-7426 |
|---|---|
| Dallas County Clerk (Misdemeanor) | 600 Commerce St., Records Division, Dallas, TX 75202 | (214) 653-7141 |
| Garland Police Department | Garland, TX | garlandtx.gov/police |
| Dallas County Sheriff | 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207 | (214) 653-3450 |
The Garland Police Department at garlandtx.gov/police handles DWI arrests in the city. Open records requests go through the GPD records division. Reports cost $5.00 per copy and take about 10 business days to process. Arrest reports, incident reports, and other DWI documentation are available through GPD, not through the county clerk.
Booking records for Garland DWI arrests are held at the Dallas County Jail. The Dallas County Sheriff maintains an online inmate search at dallascounty.org/sheriff. That portal shows current booking information, charges, and bond status. Records requests to the Sheriff go to sheriffrecords@dallascounty.org or by mail to 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207.
How to Search Garland DUI Records Online
The Dallas County online portal lets you search both misdemeanor and felony DWI cases. Search by defendant name (partial searches work) or by case number in the format F-YY-##### for felonies. Results display charge information, court assignments, bond amounts, attorney of record, and case status. Document images are available online for $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee.
Misdemeanor DWI records use the same portal but are filtered under "County Criminal Court" rather than "District Court." Both first and second offense cases show up in this system. Deferred adjudication records also appear, showing deferral period, conditions like DWI education and community service, and completion status.
For Class C alcohol offenses from Garland, the Garland Municipal Court handles those cases. Public intoxication, open container, and minor in possession charges stay in municipal court and are not part of the Dallas County court record system. Those records are accessed through the city of Garland directly.
Note: If you need body camera video or in-car video from a Garland DWI arrest, those requests go to GPD, not the county. Video is typically retained for 90 days. Fees apply and processing takes longer than standard report requests.
DWI Laws and Penalties in Garland
Garland DWI cases are prosecuted under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with at least 72 hours in jail and up to 180 days, plus a fine up to $2,000. If blood alcohol was 0.15 or higher, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a fine up to $4,000.
A second offense under Penal Code Sec. 49.09 carries a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum. A third offense is a third-degree felony, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. The Dallas County District Attorney's office handles DWI prosecutions for Garland cases. Their DWI Task Force handles specialized prosecution of serious DWI cases.
Intoxication assault under Sec. 49.07 is a third-degree felony when the victim is a member of the public. It becomes a second or first-degree felony if the victim is a peace officer or other protected person. Intoxication manslaughter under Sec. 49.08 starts at a second-degree felony with 2 to 20 years in prison.
State surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 are assessed on top of court fines at sentencing per TxDOT guidelines. These are paid to the state and are in addition to any fine imposed by the judge.
License Suspension After a Garland DWI Arrest
Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524, when someone is arrested for DWI in Garland, the officer takes the physical license and issues a temporary permit valid for 40 days. The driver has only 15 days to request a hearing with Texas DPS. If no hearing is requested, the suspension takes effect on day 40.
A first failed test means a 90-day suspension. A first refusal means 180 days. After the suspension period ends, a $125 reinstatement fee must be paid to Texas DPS. You can pay online and verify license status through the DPS website. The ALR suspension runs independently from the criminal case. Even a dismissed charge doesn't automatically reverse the administrative suspension.
Driving Records and Criminal History in Garland
Texas DPS maintains driving records showing DWI convictions, suspensions, and crash history. You can order your own record at dps.texas.gov. A three-year history costs $4 online. A certified complete history costs $10. To get another person's record, you need Form DR-1 and must meet the Driver Privacy Protection Act requirements.
The DPS Crime Records Division at dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records holds Texas criminal history data. DWI convictions and deferred adjudications appear here. Public information requests go to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773-0140.
Crash reports from DWI incidents are handled by TxDOT through the CRIS system. Regular copies cost $6 and certified copies cost $8. Access is limited to people directly involved in the crash and their representatives, insurance companies, and certain other authorized parties.
The Garland Police Department maintains DWI arrest records and processes open records requests for incident and arrest reports from Garland-area DWI cases.
Garland Police Department records are the starting point for DWI arrest documentation in the city before cases move to the Dallas County court system.
Dallas County DUI Records
Garland is in Dallas County, and all DWI case filings go through the Dallas County courts. For more detail on the courts, online search portals, fees, and county resources, visit the Dallas County DUI records page.
Nearby Cities
Looking for DWI records in other Dallas-area cities near Garland? These cities have their own local agencies and records offices.