Search Austin County DWI Records

Austin County DUI and DWI records are on file at the County Clerk and District Clerk offices in Bellville, Texas. Austin County is part of the 155th Judicial District. The county seat is Bellville. Records go back to 1837, making this one of the oldest counties in Texas for public records. Misdemeanor DWI cases go through the County Clerk. Felony DWI cases go through the District Clerk. Both offices are open to the public during regular business hours.

Austin County Clerk and District Clerk

The Austin County Clerk's office is at 1 E. Main St., Bellville, TX 77418. The main phone is (979) 865-5911. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The County Clerk maintains all misdemeanor DWI case records and has records going back to 1837. Copy fees are $1.00 per page and certification is $5.00 per document. E-filing is available for attorneys.

The District Clerk is at the same address and can be reached at (979) 865-5911 ext. 240. This office keeps all felony criminal case records including DWI third offense and higher, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. The 155th Judicial District Court handles these cases. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys. Appeals from Austin County go to the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston. The Austin County website has contact and service details.

Austin County Sheriff's Office and Records

The Austin County Sheriff's Office is at 925 State Hwy 159 E., Bellville, TX 77418. The phone is (979) 865-3111. The sheriff's office handles law enforcement throughout the county, operates the county jail, and maintains arrest records. Open records requests are accepted in person or by mail. The records division is open during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

The sheriff's office also handles sex offender registration, concealed handgun license applications, and civil process services. DWI arrest reports from the Sheriff's Office are available through a written open records request under the Texas Public Information Act. The response time varies. Complex requests may take up to 10 business days.

Crash reports involving DWI accidents in Austin County go to the Texas Department of Transportation. Reports are filed within 10 days of an accident involving injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage. Standard copies cost $6.00 and certified copies are $8.00 through the TxDOT CRIS system.

Texas DWI Law and Penalties

The legal framework for DWI in Texas is Penal Code Chapter 49. DWI is operating a vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. The dual definition of intoxication covers impaired faculties from alcohol, drugs, or a combination, or a BAC of 0.08 or more. Both can be used in prosecution. Officers use standardized field sobriety tests, breath tests, and blood tests to gather evidence.

A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor. That means up to 180 days in jail with a 72-hour minimum, plus up to a $2,000 fine. Texas adds state surcharges on top of the fine. A BAC of 0.15 or higher makes it a Class A misdemeanor. Second offense DWI is Class A with a 30-day minimum. Third offense is a third degree felony. DWI with a child passenger is a state jail felony. Intoxication assault is a third degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony.

The TxDOT impaired driving page explains all penalty ranges. Texas law also imposes additional surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 assessed at sentencing on top of fines. These are mandatory. Open container in the vehicle raises the minimum jail time to six days even on a first offense.

License Suspension After Arrest

When you are arrested for DWI in Austin County, the officer takes your license and gives you a Notice of Suspension. This is the start of the ALR process. The notice acts as a 40-day temporary driving permit. You have 15 days from the arrest date to request a hearing. If you do not request one, the suspension starts on day 40.

First refusal means a 180-day suspension. First failed test means a 90-day suspension. The ALR hearing is held through the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The issues at the hearing are whether the officer had probable cause and whether you refused or failed the test. To get your license back, you pay a $125 reinstatement fee to Texas DPS. The full statute is Transportation Code Chapter 524.

Austin County Records

The Austin County Clerk website provides details on all county services including records access for DWI and other court cases going back to 1837.

The County Clerk office handles misdemeanor DWI records and public access to historical court documents for Austin County in Bellville.

Law Enforcement Training Standards

All law enforcement officers in Austin County must meet training requirements set by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Occupations Code Chapter 1701. This includes certification for administering standardized field sobriety tests, operating Intoxilyzer breath testing equipment, and following blood draw procedures for DWI cases.

Blood draw warrants in DWI cases are governed by Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 18.067. When a driver refuses to submit to chemical testing, officers may seek a blood draw warrant from a magistrate. The blood sample must then be analyzed by an accredited laboratory. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.35 requires crime labs to be accredited by the Texas Forensic Science Commission to ensure the admissibility of blood alcohol results in court.

The Texas DPS Public Information Center processes requests for DPS-held records including criminal histories and driver records. Requests can be submitted by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or by mail to Austin.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Austin County in Southeast Texas.