Comal County DUI and DWI Records

Comal County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in New Braunfels, Texas. One of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, Comal County handles DWI cases through the 22nd and 207th District Courts for felony matters and the County Courts at Law for misdemeanor DWI. You can search these records in person at the courthouse or request copies by mail.

Comal County District Clerk

The Comal County District Clerk is located at 150 N. Seguin Avenue, New Braunfels, TX 78130. You can reach the office at (830) 221-1250. The District Clerk handles all felony DWI cases in the county, including third offense and higher DWI, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Comal County has two district courts, the 22nd and 207th, which both handle criminal felony matters. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Comal County has grown rapidly and the court system reflects that growth. The District Clerk's office keeps records of all felony DWI filings, indictments, bond conditions, hearing dates, and final dispositions. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. For members of the public, records are available in person or by written request. Copy fees are $1.00 per page and $5.00 for certified copies.

Felony DWI cases begin with an arrest and a grand jury review. The grand jury decides whether to indict. If indicted, the case moves through arraignment, pre-trial hearings, and either a plea or trial. All of these steps generate records. The District Clerk's office tracks every step and those files are open to the public for inspection during business hours.

Comal County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI

The Comal County Clerk office at 150 N. Seguin Avenue handles misdemeanor DWI records. The phone is (830) 221-1230. First and second offense DWI cases are Class B and Class A misdemeanors under Texas Penal Code Sections 49.04 and 49.09. Comal County has County Courts at Law with jurisdiction over these cases. The clerk maintains records of all filings, pleas, sentences, and probation conditions.

First offense DWI in Comal County means up to 180 days in jail with a 72-hour minimum, plus fines up to $2,000. Second offense has a 30-day minimum. An open container at the time of the first offense raises the minimum to six days. With a BAC of 0.15 or above on a first offense, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000. These are the base penalties; state surcharges add thousands more on top of court fines.

Note: Comal County's rapid population growth has increased court caseloads significantly. Processing times for records requests may be longer than in smaller counties.

Comal County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Comal County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated parts of the county and some contract areas. The main office is in New Braunfels. You can reach the records division at (830) 620-3400. DWI arrest reports include the deputy's narrative, field sobriety test documentation, chemical test results, and booking details. Requests should be submitted in writing. Processing time is typically 7 to 10 business days.

For DWI arrests made by the New Braunfels Police Department within city limits, contact that department directly. The New Braunfels Police Department is at 424 S. Castell Avenue, (830) 608-2080. Both the sheriff and the police department can be sources of DWI arrest records depending on where the offense occurred.

All DWI arrests in Comal County are reported to the Texas DPS Crime Records Division, which maintains a statewide database. A request to DPS can pull criminal history records across all Texas counties, which is useful if someone has DWI charges in multiple counties.

Texas DWI Law Applied in Comal County

Texas law under Penal Code Chapter 49 defines DWI as operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Intoxication is defined two ways: having a BAC of 0.08 or above, or not having normal use of mental or physical faculties due to alcohol or drugs. Either definition can support a conviction. Comal County prosecutors use both pathways depending on the evidence.

Third offense DWI is a third degree felony with 2 to 10 years in state prison and fines up to $10,000. DWI with a child under 15 is a state jail felony. Intoxication assault involving serious injury is a third degree felony. If the victim was a police officer, firefighter, or EMS worker on duty, it becomes a second degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony. Texas imposes additional state surcharges ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 on convicted DWI defendants.

For minors, any detectable alcohol results in a DUI charge under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. First offense is a Class C misdemeanor. That includes a fine up to $500, community service, and mandatory alcohol education. The TxDOT impaired driving summary covers all Texas DWI penalty ranges in one place.

License Suspension and the ALR Process

Any DWI arrest in Comal County starts the Administrative License Revocation process. The arresting officer takes your license and issues a 40-day temporary permit. You must request an ALR hearing within 15 days of the arrest or the suspension goes into effect automatically. This is a civil process handled by Texas DPS and is entirely separate from the criminal court case.

A refusal to submit to a chemical test leads to a 180-day suspension for first offense or two years if there was a prior refusal in the last decade. A failed test at 0.08 or above means 90 days for first offense, one year with a prior. Getting your license back requires a $125 reinstatement fee paid to DPS. The ALR rules are in Transportation Code Chapter 524. Even if the DWI criminal case is dropped, the ALR suspension can remain in place unless separately challenged and won.

Crash reports from DWI incidents in Comal County can be purchased from the Texas Department of Transportation CRIS system at $6.00 for a regular copy or $8.00 for a certified copy. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission handles alcohol enforcement for licensed businesses in Comal County, which becomes relevant in dram shop liability cases tied to DWI incidents.

Texas DPS and TxDOT maintain state-level databases used in Comal County DWI cases, including driving records and crash report archives.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are near Comal County in Central Texas.