Blanco County DUI and DWI Records

Blanco County DUI and DWI records are kept by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Johnson City. This small Hill Country county handles DWI cases through the 33rd Judicial District, and you can access those records in person at the courthouse or through mail requests to get case details, charges, and court outcomes.

Where to Find Blanco County DWI Records

The Blanco County District Clerk handles all felony DWI records for the county. That means third offense DWI, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter cases all live in this office. The clerk's office is located at the Blanco County Courthouse on 101 E. Pecan Drive in Johnson City.

For misdemeanor DWI records, which cover first and second offense cases, you go to the Blanco County Clerk. Both the District Clerk and County Clerk operate out of the same courthouse complex in Johnson City. Standard copy fees in Texas are $1.00 per page for regular copies and an additional $5.00 for certified copies. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit in person. Mail requests are accepted with payment by check or money order. The Texas Judicial Branch provides general guidance on how public records work across the state court system.

How to Search Blanco County DUI Records

Blanco County is a smaller rural county, and online access to court records is limited compared to larger urban counties. Your best option for a direct search is to contact the clerk's office by phone or visit in person. You can search by defendant name or by case number if you have one.

For a broader statewide search, the Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains conviction and deferred adjudication records that are accessible to the public. You can also submit a public information request to the DPS General Counsel office for records held at the state level. Crash records from DWI incidents where law enforcement filed a report go through TxDOT's crash report system. Those cost $6 for a regular copy and $8 for certified, ordered online through the CRIS system.

The Blanco County Sheriff's Office handles arrests in unincorporated parts of the county. For incident reports from the Sheriff, you submit a written open records request to their office. Records are typically processed within 10 business days.

The Texas Department of Public Safety also lets you order your own driving record at dps.texas.gov. A Type 3A certified complete history costs $10 and shows all violations and suspensions.

The Texas DPS official government records portal provides statewide DUI and DWI information available to the public through official channels.

Texas DPS maintains criminal history and driving records that can supplement what you find through the Blanco County clerk offices.

DWI Laws That Apply in Blanco County

All DWI cases in Blanco County are prosecuted under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The basic first offense under Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor. It carries a minimum of 72 hours in jail and up to 180 days, plus a fine up to $2,000. If the driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or higher, the charge jumps to a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000.

A second DWI is also a Class A misdemeanor, but it carries a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail. Third and subsequent offenses become third-degree felonies under Section 49.09 of the Penal Code, with a sentencing range of 2 to 10 years in state prison and fines up to $10,000. Blanco County felony DWI cases are handled in the 33rd District Court.

If a driver was intoxicated with a child under 15 in the vehicle, that is a state jail felony under Section 49.045 regardless of how many prior DWIs are on record. State jail felonies carry 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility.

Texas also enforces impaired driving broadly. Per TxDOT's impaired driving guidelines, you can be charged even if your BAC is under 0.08, if drugs or alcohol visibly affected your ability to drive. Officers use standardized field sobriety tests governed by training standards under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701, which sets certification rules for all peace officers in the state.

Note: Open container violations add a minimum six-day jail term to a first DWI even when the driver is otherwise a first-time offender.

Administrative License Revocation After Arrest

When someone is arrested for DWI in Blanco County, the process does not stop with the criminal case. The Texas DPS runs a separate civil process called the Administrative License Revocation program. The arresting officer takes the physical license at the time of arrest and gives a temporary permit valid for 40 days.

You have exactly 15 days from the date of arrest to request an ALR hearing. Miss that window and the suspension kicks in automatically on day 41. The hearing is handled by the State Office of Administrative Hearings and is not the same as the criminal court case. Winning the criminal case does not cancel an ALR suspension. The two processes are fully separate.

Suspension periods under Transportation Code Chapter 524 work like this: refusing to submit to a chemical test results in a 180-day suspension for a first offense. Failing the test at 0.08 or above brings a 90-day suspension. If there was a prior refusal or failed test within the last 10 years, those periods double. Drivers under 21 face suspension for any detectable alcohol under the zero-tolerance rule found in Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041.

Getting the license back after suspension requires paying a $125 reinstatement fee to DPS before a new license will be issued. You can check license status and pay reinstatement fees at the DPS driver license portal.

Blanco County Court System for DWI Cases

Blanco County has two levels of courts that handle DWI cases. The County Court at Law handles all misdemeanor DWI cases, which means first and second offenses. These courts deal with Class A and Class B misdemeanors. The judge here sets bond, hears plea agreements, and handles sentencing for those cases.

Felony DWI cases, including third offense and above plus intoxication assault and manslaughter, go to the 33rd District Court. This court has full felony jurisdiction. Cases are filed by grand jury indictment. Court sessions are held at the Blanco County Courthouse in Johnson City. E-filing is now available for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov, though the volume of filings in this smaller county is much lower than in urban courts.

For Justice of the Peace courts, DUI by minor cases and public intoxication cases may be handled at that level. These are Class C misdemeanor offenses. A DUI by a minor under 21, which requires only any detectable alcohol rather than the 0.08 standard, is handled separately from adult DWI cases. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission also plays a role in enforcing alcohol laws involving minors in the county.

Local Resources for Blanco County DWI Cases

If you need a copy of a crash report from an accident that occurred in Blanco County, those records go through TxDOT, not the local sheriff's office. Law enforcement must submit crash reports to TxDOT within 10 days for accidents involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Reports are available for purchase through the CRIS online system for $6 regular or $8 certified.

The Blanco County Sheriff's Office handles most DWI arrests in the unincorporated areas of the county. Johnson City Police handles calls within city limits. For open records requests to either agency, written requests are the standard method. You can also reach out by email where available, but phone requests are not considered formal public information requests under Texas law.

For legal aid services, the Texas Legal Services Center provides assistance to qualifying low-income individuals. The DPS public information request process is also available if you need records held at the state level rather than the county level.

Note: Records requests sent by fax are no longer accepted by DPS as of September 1, 2019. All requests must go through the online Public Information Center, by email, or by mail.

Nearby Counties

Blanco County is in the Texas Hill Country and borders several other counties. DWI cases in those areas go through their own court systems.