Anderson County DWI Records

Anderson County DUI and DWI records are kept by the County Clerk and District Clerk in Palestine, Texas. If you need to search for a DWI case or get copies of court documents, both offices are located at the Anderson County Courthouse. The county has records going back to 1846. Misdemeanor DWI cases go through the County Clerk. Felony DWI cases, such as third offense or intoxication assault, go through the District Clerk. You can search in person or request copies by mail during regular office hours.

Anderson County Clerk and District Clerk

The County Clerk in Anderson County handles all Class A and Class B misdemeanor DWI records. That means first and second offense DWI cases go through this office. The District Clerk keeps all felony records, which includes third offense DWI, DWI with a child passenger, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Both offices are at the same address in Palestine.

The Anderson County Clerk is at 500 N. Church Street, Courthouse Annex, Palestine, TX 75801. The phone number is (903) 723-7432. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can search records in person or send a mail request with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Copy fees are $1.00 per page, and certification costs $5.00 per document.

The Anderson County District Clerk is at the same address and can be reached at (903) 723-7410. This office serves the 3rd Judicial District Court and the 349th Judicial District Court. Felony DWI cases are filed by indictment only. Records are open to the public during business hours.

Search Anderson County DUI Records

To look up a DWI record in Anderson County, you have a few options. You can visit the clerk's office in person and search by name or case number. Staff can help you find old and new cases. Bring a photo ID. The clerks can make copies on the spot, and you pay the copy fee at the time of the request.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write a letter describing the record you need, include your contact information, and send a check or money order for the estimated copy fee. The Texas Judicial Branch also provides guidance on how to search public court records across the state. For statewide searches, the re:SearchTX system at the Texas Courts website may have case information depending on the court.

The Anderson County Sheriff's Office at 1200 E. Lacy Street, Palestine, TX 75801 can be reached at (903) 731-8200. The records division is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Arrest records and incident reports are available through a written open records request.

Note: Crash reports are not kept at the Sheriff's Office. You can get them from the Texas Department of Transportation crash records system. A standard copy costs $6.00 and a certified copy is $8.00.

DWI Laws and Penalties in Texas

Texas DWI law is defined in Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. A first offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor. That means up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000. There is a mandatory minimum of 72 hours in jail. If you had an open container of alcohol in the car, that minimum goes up to six days.

If a blood or breath test shows a BAC of 0.15 or higher, the charge goes up to a Class A misdemeanor. That means up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000. A second DWI conviction is also a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum of 30 days. The TxDOT impaired driving page lists all the penalty ranges in plain language.

A third DWI is a third degree felony. That is 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. DWI with a child passenger under 15 is a state jail felony regardless of prior convictions. Intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury is a third degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony with 2 to 20 years in prison.

Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041, drivers under 21 with any detectable amount of alcohol face a DUI charge. This is different from DWI and carries its own penalties including license suspension and mandatory alcohol education.

Administrative License Revocation

When you get arrested for DWI in Anderson County, the officer will take your physical driver's license and give you a Notice of Suspension. This is a separate civil process from the criminal case. The Texas DPS runs this program under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524.

You have 15 days from the date of your arrest to request an ALR hearing. If you do not request a hearing, your license suspension starts on the 40th day after notice was served. The temporary driving permit in your Notice of Suspension is valid for 40 days. For first-time refusal, the suspension is 180 days. For a failed test with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, the suspension is 90 days. A $125 reinstatement fee is required before the Texas DPS will issue a new license after suspension.

Note: The ALR suspension can happen even if the criminal DWI charge is later dismissed or you are found not guilty.

Anderson County Court System

Anderson County has two district courts that handle felony criminal cases: the 3rd Judicial District Court and the 349th Judicial District Court. These courts meet in Palestine. The County Court at Law, presided over by Judge Joel T. Wilks, handles Class A and B misdemeanors including first and second offense DWI.

The Anderson County Court at Law also has probate jurisdiction and civil jurisdiction for cases under $250,000. The court manages pretrial services, probation monitoring, community service programs, and defensive driving approvals. Payment plans are available for court costs and fines.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains statewide criminal history data. Law enforcement agencies in Anderson County submit arrest data to this statewide system. You can request a personal criminal history from DPS, or a background check can be done for authorized purposes.

All officers in Anderson County who handle DWI stops are certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701. TCOLE sets the training standards for field sobriety tests, breathalyzer operation, and blood draw procedures used in DWI investigations.

Anderson County Records Offices

The Anderson County Clerk's official page shows office details, fee schedules, and contact information for the records division.

The County Clerk handles misdemeanor DWI records and maintains public access to court filings during regular business hours.

The Anderson County District Clerk's page provides information on felony case records maintained at the courthouse in Palestine.

Felony DWI records including third offense cases, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter are filed and stored with the District Clerk.

Driver Records and DPS Services

Your Texas driving record will show DWI convictions, license suspensions, and other violations. The Texas DPS driver record ordering page explains the different record types. A Type 2 record covers the last three years. A Type 3 covers your complete history. You can order online, by mail using Form DR-1, or by phone for some services.

Online records cost between $4 and $22 depending on type. A certified complete history (Type 3A) is $10.00. Mail requests go to Texas DPS, Box 149008, Austin, TX 78714-9008. Processing takes up to three weeks by mail.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Anderson County. Each has its own clerk's office for DWI records.