New Braunfels DUI Records Search

New Braunfels DUI and DWI records are processed through Comal County courts, which handle all criminal cases for the city. If you need to find a DWI arrest record, look up a court case, or request certified copies of DWI documents, start with the Comal County District Clerk for felony cases or the Comal County Clerk for misdemeanors. Both offices are at the Comal County Courthouse in New Braunfels. This page explains the process, where to search, and what the laws say about DWI charges in Texas.

Where to Find New Braunfels DWI Records

New Braunfels is the county seat of Comal County. All DWI court records filed in New Braunfels are at the Comal County Courthouse located at 150 N. Seguin Avenue, New Braunfels, TX 78130. The Comal County District Clerk handles felony DWI cases including third or subsequent offenses, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Call the District Clerk at (830) 221-1230 for felony case inquiries.

First and second offense DWI cases are Class B and Class A misdemeanors. These go to the Comal County Clerk at the same courthouse address. The County Clerk number is (830) 221-1200. Standard copy fees apply: $1.00 per page for plain copies and a $5.00 certification fee if you need a certified copy. Staff can search records by defendant name or cause number during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Arrest records and police reports from DWI stops in New Braunfels are held by the New Braunfels Police Department. The department's records division handles open records requests under the Texas Public Information Act. Report fees are typically $5.00 per document. You can also request records by mail. Contact the New Braunfels Police Department for current request procedures and hours.

Searching New Braunfels DUI Records

The most direct way to search New Braunfels DWI records is to visit the Comal County Courthouse in person. Bring the full name of the person and an approximate year for the case. Staff will search by name or cause number and show you what is on file. If you want document copies, the clerk will make them for you at the standard per-page rate. The statewide Texas courts portal can also be used to locate Comal County cases if you are not sure of the exact court division.

For online searches, Comal County has limited online access compared to larger urban counties. The state court system maintains some records that are searchable through txcourts.gov. If you need certified copies, those must be requested directly from the clerk's office, either in person or by mail with a written request and payment.

Crash reports from DWI accidents in New Braunfels are available through TxDOT at txdot.gov. A regular crash report copy costs $6.00. A certified copy is $8.00. TxDOT maintains crash records for ten years plus the current year under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.062.

DWI Laws in New Braunfels, Texas

Texas DWI law under Penal Code Chapter 49 applies uniformly in New Braunfels. The legal limit is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. But you can face DWI charges at any BAC if impairment is evident. Officers use standardized field sobriety tests and chemical testing to build cases. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement sets standards for how officers must conduct these tests under Occupations Code Chapter 1701.

A first DWI in New Braunfels is a Class B misdemeanor with a 72-hour minimum jail term, up to 180 days maximum, and a $2,000 fine cap. If the driver had an open container in the car, the minimum jumps to six days. BAC at 0.15 or higher makes the first offense a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. A second offense is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum. A third offense becomes a felony under Penal Code Section 49.09, carrying two to ten years in prison. State surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 are added at sentencing.

Driving with a child under 15 in the vehicle while intoxicated is a state jail felony under Section 49.045. That carries 180 days to two years in state jail and fines up to $10,000. Intoxication assault is a third-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony with two to twenty years. All felony records go to the Comal County District Clerk.

For drivers under 21, any detectable amount of alcohol is a violation under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. A first-time minor DUI is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500 and a 30-day license suspension. Community service and an alcohol awareness program are also required.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest in New Braunfels

After a DWI arrest in New Braunfels, the Texas Department of Public Safety starts the Administrative License Revocation process under Transportation Code Chapter 524. The arresting officer takes your physical license and gives you a temporary permit that lasts 40 days. You have just 15 days from receipt of the notice to request a hearing. If you miss that window, the suspension kicks in automatically without any hearing.

The ALR hearing is handled by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The judge looks at whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop you, whether there was probable cause for the arrest, whether you were properly asked to submit to testing, and whether you refused or failed the test. This is not a criminal proceeding, and the burden of proof is lower.

Refusing a test means a 180-day suspension for a first offense and two years for a second refusal within ten years. Failing the test at 0.08 or above means 90 days for a first offense and one year for a repeat within ten years. After any suspension, you must pay a $125 reinstatement fee to DPS before you can get your license back. Visit dps.texas.gov to check your status and pay fees online.

New Braunfels Legal and Court Resources

The New Braunfels Municipal Court handles Class C misdemeanor offenses. Those include public intoxication and minor in possession cases but not DWI, which always requires county court or district court. If you need an attorney in Comal County, the State Bar of Texas referral service is at (800) 252-9690. Search the attorney directory at texasbar.com.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division at dps.texas.gov maintains statewide criminal conviction data. Driving records can be ordered online at dps.texas.gov. Types range from a basic status record to a full certified history. Online fees range from $4 to $22 depending on record type. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at tabc.texas.gov handles alcohol-related enforcement separate from DWI criminal cases.

For New Braunfels residents dealing with a DWI case, Texas DPS driver license services handles all license suspension matters under the Administrative License Revocation program.

You can order driving records, pay reinstatement fees, and check license status through the DPS online system without making a trip to a driver license office.

Comal County DWI Records

New Braunfels is in Comal County, and all DWI criminal cases go through the Comal County courts. Visit the Comal County page for full court information, clerk contacts, and details on accessing DWI records from anywhere in the county.

View Comal County DUI Records

Nearby Cities

Nearby cities with DWI record pages include San Antonio in Bexar County and Austin in Travis County.