Bell County DUI Records

Bell County DWI and DUI records are kept by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Belton, Texas. Bell County is home to Killeen, Temple, and several other cities. It is one of the larger counties in Central Texas. The District Clerk handles felony DWI cases and the County Clerk handles misdemeanor DWI cases. Both offices are in Belton at the courthouse. If you need to search for a DWI case or get court documents, the clerk offices in Belton are where you start.

Bell County District Clerk and County Clerk

The Bell County District Clerk's office is at 1201 Huey Dr., Belton, TX 76513. The phone is (254) 933-5160. The District Clerk handles all felony criminal court records including DWI third offense, DWI with a child passenger, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Bell County has 5 district courts. E-filing for attorneys has been mandatory since 2016. Copy fees are $1.00 per page and $5.00 for certification.

The Bell County Clerk's office is at the same address and can be reached at (254) 933-5165. The County Clerk maintains all misdemeanor DWI records through 3 County Courts at Law. First and second offense DWI cases are handled in these courts. E-filing is available for civil matters. The clerk also maintains vital records for the county. Records are open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Searching Bell County DWI Records

Bell County has an online case search portal at bellcountytx.com/court-records. You can search by defendant name or case number. The portal is free to access and shows case information, docket entries, and case status. Document images may be available for purchase online. For certified copies, you need to request them in person or by mail.

The Texas Judicial Branch website also provides statewide search tools and guidance on accessing court records. Bell County is one of the medium-sized counties in Texas that uses the Odyssey case management system, which makes online searching easier than in smaller counties.

To get arrest records for DWI cases in Killeen, contact the Killeen Police Department at (254) 501-8800, 3304 Community Blvd., Killeen, TX 76542. For Temple cases, contact the Temple Police Department at (254) 298-5500, 209 E. Avenue A, Temple, TX 76501. Both departments have records divisions that handle open records requests.

Bell County DWI Charges

Bell County processes many DWI cases due to its large population and military presence from Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood). Under Penal Code Chapter 49, first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. There is a mandatory 72-hour minimum. A BAC of 0.15 or higher makes it a Class A misdemeanor. Second DWI is Class A with a 30-day minimum.

Third DWI in Bell County goes to district court as a third degree felony. DWI with a child under 15 is a state jail felony. Intoxication assault is a third degree felony. If the victim is a peace officer or firefighter on duty, the charge may be elevated. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony with 2 to 20 years. Texas state surcharges of $3,000 to $6,000 are added to all DWI convictions on top of the base fine.

For drivers under 21, Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041 applies the zero tolerance rule in Bell County the same as elsewhere in Texas. Any detectable alcohol means a DUI charge. The TxDOT impaired driving page summarizes all penalty levels.

License Suspension and Reinstatement

After a DWI arrest in Bell County, you have 15 days to request an ALR hearing with Texas DPS. The Notice of Suspension you receive at arrest works as a 40-day temporary driving permit. If you do not request a hearing in time, the suspension begins on day 40. This process applies regardless of what happens with the criminal case.

First refusal suspension is 180 days. First failed test suspension is 90 days. Repeat offenses within 10 years result in longer suspensions. You must pay a $125 reinstatement fee to Texas DPS after any suspension. The full ALR process is governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524. You can check your license status or order a driving record through the DPS driver record portal.

Note: The ALR suspension and the criminal DWI charge are handled in completely separate processes. Outcomes in one do not automatically affect the other.

Bell County Law Enforcement and Records

The Killeen Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the largest city in Bell County, handling DWI arrests and maintaining incident records for the Killeen area.

Bell County DWI records are filed with the County Clerk for misdemeanor cases and the District Clerk for felony cases. Both offices are in Belton at 1201 Huey Dr.

Cities in Bell County

Bell County includes several cities. DWI cases from all of them are filed with the clerk's offices in Belton.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Bell County in Central Texas.