Richardson DUI Records
Richardson DWI records are filed through two counties because the city straddles the Dallas-Collin county line. Most of Richardson falls in Dallas County, but the northern portion extends into Collin County. Knowing which county handled a specific case is important when searching Richardson DUI and DWI records.
Richardson DWI Overview
Where to Find Richardson DWI Records
For DWI cases in the Dallas County part of Richardson, felony records go to the Dallas County District Clerk at (214) 653-7426, located at 600 Commerce Street in Dallas. Misdemeanor DWI records go to the Dallas County Clerk at (214) 653-7141 at the same address. Both offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
For the Collin County portion of Richardson, felony DWI records go to the Collin County District Clerk at (972) 548-4320 at 2100 Bloomdale Road in McKinney. Misdemeanor records go to the Collin County Clerk at (972) 548-4185 at 2300 Bloomdale Road in McKinney. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Dallas County District Clerk | 600 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75202 | (214) 653-7426 |
|---|---|
| Dallas County Clerk | 600 Commerce St., Dallas, TX 75202 | (214) 653-7141 |
| Collin County District Clerk | 2100 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney, TX 75071 | (972) 548-4320 |
| Collin County Clerk | 2300 Bloomdale Rd., McKinney, TX 75071 | (972) 548-4185 |
The Richardson Police Department handles DWI arrests within city limits. Open records requests for arrest and incident reports go through the RPD records division. Reports cost $5.00 per copy and take about 10 business days to process. The police department does not hold court records. Those are at the county clerks listed above.
Booking records for Richardson DWI arrests go to whichever county jail held the person after arrest. Dallas County cases go to the Dallas County Jail. Collin County cases go to the Collin County Detention Facility in McKinney. The Dallas County Sheriff's online inmate search is at dallascounty.org/sheriff. Collin County jail information is at collincountytx.gov/sheriff.
How to Search Richardson DUI Records Online
The Dallas County case search portal at dallascounty.org is free and available 24/7. Search by defendant name or case number. Results show charge information, court assignments, bond amounts, attorney of record, and case status. Documents cost $1.00 per page online. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee.
The Collin County criminal case search at cijis.collincountytx.gov works similarly. Search by defendant name, case number, attorney, or date range. The system covers 12 district courts and 5 county courts at law. Collin County offers pre-trial diversion for first-time DWI offenders in some cases, and those records appear in the system as well.
If you are not sure which county handled a case, search both portals. The county where the arrest physically happened determines which court handles the case. Richardson's county line roughly follows Belt Line Road in much of the city, though the exact boundary varies by location.
Note: For Richardson Municipal Court records covering Class C alcohol offenses, those are held at the city level and are not part of either county's online case search system. Contact the city of Richardson for those records.
DWI Laws and Penalties in Richardson
Richardson DWI cases are prosecuted under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The penalties are the same in both Dallas and Collin County. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor with at least 72 hours in jail and up to 180 days, plus a fine up to $2,000. A BAC of 0.15 or above bumps the charge to a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
A second DWI 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. Cases are prosecuted by the Dallas County DA or Collin County DA depending on which county filed the case.
Intoxication assault under Sec. 49.07 is a third-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter under Sec. 49.08 is a second-degree felony with 2 to 20 years in prison. DWI with a child passenger under 15 is a state jail felony under Sec. 49.045. These charges apply regardless of which county handles the case.
State surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 apply at sentencing per TxDOT guidelines, on top of any court fine. They are paid to the state.
License Suspension After a Richardson DWI
Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524, a DWI arrest in Richardson triggers the Administrative License Revocation process. The officer takes the physical license and issues a temporary permit valid for 40 days. The driver has 15 days to request a hearing with Texas DPS or the suspension starts automatically on day 40.
A first failed test brings a 90-day suspension. A first refusal means 180 days. After the suspension, a $125 reinstatement fee is due to Texas DPS. You can pay this online. The ALR process is civil and runs independently from the criminal case in either Dallas or Collin County court. The standards of proof are different, and the outcomes are unrelated.
Driver Records and Criminal History in Richardson
Texas DPS maintains driving records showing DWI convictions, suspensions, and crash history. Order your own at dps.texas.gov. A three-year history costs $4 online. To get another person's record, Form DR-1 and compliance with federal privacy law are required.
The DPS Crime Records Division at dps.texas.gov/section/crime-records holds statewide criminal history. DWI convictions and deferred adjudications appear here. Submit public information requests to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773-0140. DPS does not take phone requests.
DWI crash reports are at TxDOT, not the police department. Buy one through the TxDOT CRIS system for $6 (regular) or $8 (certified). Access requires direct involvement in the crash or proper authorization. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission enforces state alcohol laws and may have records relevant to dram shop cases following DWI accidents in Richardson.
The Texas Department of Public Safety manages the Administrative License Revocation program and driver records for Richardson residents, whether their DWI case is filed in Dallas County or Collin County.
Texas DPS is the central agency for DWI conviction data and license reinstatement for all Richardson-area drivers regardless of which county court handled their case.
County DUI Records for Richardson
Richardson spans Dallas County and Collin County. Most DWI cases are filed in Dallas County. For full details on courts, online search tools, and county-level resources, visit the county pages below.
Nearby Cities
Looking for DWI records in other North Texas cities near Richardson? These cities have their own local agencies and courts.