Search Bosque County DUI Records

Bosque County DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk at the courthouse in Meridian. The county sits in Central Texas and processes DWI cases through the 220th Judicial District Court for felonies and the County Court for misdemeanor DWI charges. Records can be accessed in person or by mail request.

Where to Get Bosque County DWI Records

The Bosque County District Clerk office in Meridian is where you go for felony DWI records. Those are third or subsequent DWI offenses, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter cases. Records include the indictment, docket entries, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and any probation terms. The 220th Judicial District Court presides over felony cases here.

For misdemeanor DWI records, meaning first and second offense cases, the Bosque County Clerk maintains those files. The County Clerk office is also at the Bosque County Courthouse in Meridian. Both offices keep records open for public inspection during normal business hours. Standard fees apply: $1.00 per page, and $5.00 extra for a certified copy.

Mail requests are accepted with payment by check or money order. Include the defendant's full name and an approximate year or case number to help staff locate the record. The Texas Judicial Branch provides information on court structure and public access rights for anyone who wants to understand how the system works before submitting a request.

How to Search Bosque County DUI Records

Online access to Bosque County court records is limited. For direct access to DWI case files, you'll need to contact or visit the clerk's office. When you call or write, have the defendant's name and the approximate date of the case ready. Staff can confirm whether a record exists and what the fee will be for copies.

At the state level, the Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains a statewide criminal history database that includes DWI convictions from all Texas courts, including Bosque County. You can request a public criminal history through the DPS Public Information Center. Requests can be sent by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or by mail to the DPS office in Austin.

If the DWI case involved an accident, the crash report is held by TxDOT, not by county offices. You can order a copy through the TxDOT crash reports portal for $6 to $8. As of January 2025, TxDOT no longer accepts subpoena requests by mail. All such requests must go through the CRIS Request online system.

The Bosque County Sheriff's Office handles DWI arrests in unincorporated areas of the county. For incident reports from the Sheriff, a written open records request is the proper method. Processing typically takes around 10 business days.

Texas DPS state records supplement what is available locally through Bosque County's clerk offices for DUI and DWI case information.

DWI Laws and Penalties in Bosque County

Bosque County DWI cases are prosecuted under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49, the same statute that applies statewide. A first offense with a BAC under 0.15 is a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 180 days in county jail and a fine up to $2,000. There is a mandatory minimum of 72 hours. A BAC of 0.15 or above makes it a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail.

Second DWI offense carries a mandatory 30-day minimum, and is a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in county jail. Third and subsequent convictions are third-degree felonies under Section 49.09, which means 2 to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice plus fines up to $10,000. Beyond those base penalties, additional state fines of $3,000 to $6,000 are assessed on sentencing per TxDOT's impaired driving information at txdot.gov.

Driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under 15 is a state jail felony regardless of how many prior DWIs exist. Intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter are third and second-degree felonies respectively.

Note: Officers must be certified in standardized field sobriety testing to administer those tests during a DWI investigation, per Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701.

License Suspension After DWI Arrest in Bosque County

After a DWI arrest in Bosque County, the officer takes the driver's physical license and issues a temporary driving permit good for 40 days. The driver then has 15 days to ask for an Administrative License Revocation hearing from the State Office of Administrative Hearings. If no hearing is requested within those 15 days, the suspension becomes final and takes effect on day 41.

Under Transportation Code Chapter 524, refusing a chemical test results in a 180-day suspension for a first refusal, or two years for a second refusal within 10 years. Failing the test at 0.08 or above brings a 90-day suspension for a first failure, or one year if there was a prior suspension within the last 10 years. These suspensions are civil in nature and proceed even if the criminal DWI case is dismissed or results in an acquittal.

Once the suspension ends, a $125 reinstatement fee is required before Texas DPS will issue a new license. Drivers under 21 face zero-tolerance rules under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041 and can face suspension for any detectable amount of alcohol.

Bosque County Court System

Misdemeanor DWI cases in Bosque County go through the Bosque County Court. The County Judge presides over Class A and B misdemeanor criminal matters. First and second DWI offenses are tried here. The court handles plea agreements, bench trials, and sentencing for those cases.

Felony DWI cases, plus intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter, go to the 220th Judicial District Court. This court has full felony jurisdiction. Cases are filed by grand jury indictment. The District Clerk manages the docket and all related filings. E-filing for attorneys is available through eFileTexas.gov.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission also handles cases involving alcohol sales to minors or to already-intoxicated persons. TABC enforcement activity in the county sometimes connects to DWI investigations when bars or restaurants are involved in cases.

Nearby Counties

Bosque County is in Central Texas and shares borders with several other counties, each with its own courts and DWI records system.