Collingsworth County DUI and DWI Records

Collingsworth County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the County and District Clerk in Wellington, Texas. This small Panhandle county is part of the 100th Judicial District. You can search for DWI case filings, arrest details, and court outcomes through the clerk's office. Access to records is primarily in person or by written mail request, as online systems are limited in this rural county.

Collingsworth County Clerk and District Clerk

The Collingsworth County Clerk office in Wellington handles both misdemeanor and felony DWI records. The office is at the county courthouse on West Avenue B in Wellington, TX 79095. You can reach the clerk by phone at (806) 447-2408. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Copy fees follow the state standard of $1.00 per page with a $5.00 certification fee for certified copies.

Misdemeanor DWI cases, meaning first and second offenses, go through the County Court. Felony DWI cases, including a third or subsequent conviction, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter, go through the 100th District Court. Both record types are kept at the same courthouse location. Written requests are the most reliable way to get copies if you cannot visit in person. Include the defendant's full name, approximate case date, and a check or money order for the copy fees.

The 100th Judicial District Court is shared with several nearby Panhandle counties. The district judge travels between counties on a set schedule. This means district court sessions in Collingsworth County happen on specific dates rather than daily. Contact the clerk's office to confirm upcoming court dates before planning a visit for district court matters.

Collingsworth County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Collingsworth County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in the county, including DWI arrests, jail operations, and warrant service. The sheriff's office is in Wellington. You can reach the office at (806) 447-2521. Records requests for arrest reports and incident reports should be submitted in person or by mail during business hours.

DWI arrest records from the sheriff's office will include the officer's narrative, the reason for the traffic stop, observations of impaired driving, field sobriety test results, and chemical test data. For arrest records from the Wellington Police Department, contact the city directly. All DWI arrests in the county are eventually forwarded to the District Attorney's office for review and potential charge filing.

For a broader criminal history search, the Texas DPS Crime Records Division keeps a statewide database of all criminal convictions including DWI. You can request a personal record online from DPS. Third-party background checks require a formal request through DPS channels. Collingsworth County DWI records are part of this statewide reporting system.

DWI Laws and What Records Show

Texas DWI law is set out in Penal Code Chapter 49. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor. The minimum jail time is 72 hours and the maximum is 180 days. The fine can be up to $2,000. If the driver had an open container in the vehicle, the minimum goes up to six days. A BAC of 0.15 or higher at the time of the first offense raises the charge to a Class A misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Second offense DWI is a Class A misdemeanor with a 30-day minimum jail term. Third offense DWI is a third degree felony, meaning 2 to 10 years in state prison and a fine up to $10,000. DWI with a child passenger under 15 in the vehicle is a state jail felony regardless of prior offenses. Intoxication assault is a third degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony with 2 to 20 years. On top of court fines, Texas adds state surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 depending on the offense level. The TxDOT impaired driving summary covers these in plain language.

Court records in Collingsworth County show the charge filed, the plea entered, any bond conditions, and the final disposition. If there was a guilty plea or conviction, the record will show the sentence. Bond records for DWI cases often include conditions like no alcohol consumption, ignition interlock requirements, or travel restrictions.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest

Any DWI arrest in Collingsworth County starts the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process through Texas DPS. The arresting officer takes your license and issues a Notice of Suspension that works as a 40-day temporary permit. You have only 15 days from the arrest date to request a hearing. If you miss that window, the suspension becomes automatic on day 40.

If you refuse the chemical test, the suspension is 180 days for a first offense. If you took the test and failed at 0.08 or above, the suspension is 90 days. Both periods double if there was a prior ALR suspension within the last 10 years. To get your license back after the suspension period ends, you must pay a $125 reinstatement fee to DPS. The ALR process is governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524. The ALR hearing and the criminal court case are separate proceedings. A dismissal in criminal court does not wipe out the ALR suspension.

Note: Driving records can be ordered from dps.texas.gov for fees ranging from $4 to $22 depending on the record type needed.

Crash Reports and State Records

When a DWI arrest involves a crash, the peace officer files a CR-3 crash report with the Texas Department of Transportation. These reports can be purchased through the TxDOT CRIS online system for $6.00 standard or $8.00 certified. TxDOT keeps crash records for 10 years. As of January 2025, subpoena requests must also go through the CRIS system since TxDOT no longer accepts mail requests.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission enforces alcohol laws statewide, including in Collingsworth County. TABC handles compliance with licensed establishments and investigates cases of alcohol sold to minors or to visibly intoxicated customers. In DWI crashes where an establishment may have over-served the driver, TABC records can become relevant in civil dram shop liability claims.

The Texas DPS Public Information office handles formal records requests under the Texas Public Information Act. Requests can be submitted by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or by mail to the Austin office. DPS no longer accepts fax requests as of September 1, 2019.

The Texas Judicial Branch website provides general information about how courts are organized across the state, which is useful when trying to figure out which court handled a specific DWI case from Collingsworth County.

The official Texas state records portal is a good starting point for understanding the full text of DWI statutes that apply to any case filed in Collingsworth County.

Texas state records portals provide access to DWI statutes and agency information used in Collingsworth County DWI prosecutions.

Nearby Counties

These Panhandle counties border or are near Collingsworth County in Texas.