Cottle County DUI and DWI Records

Cottle County DUI and DWI records are held by the District Clerk and County Clerk at the courthouse in Paducah. This small Texas Panhandle county processes DWI cases through the 50th Judicial District Court. Records are handled in person or by mail, as online access is very limited. Both offices maintain full case files from initial filing through final disposition.

Cottle County District Clerk

The Cottle County District Clerk at 811 Justice Street, Paducah, TX 79248 maintains all felony DWI records. Phone is (806) 492-3451. Felony cases filed here include DWI third offense, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger under 15. All of these are handled through the 50th Judicial District Court, which serves several rural counties in this area of Texas.

Records from the District Clerk show the charge, degree of offense, bond amount, court settings, attorney of record, and the final outcome. E-filing is available for attorneys. The public can access records in person during regular business hours. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $5.00 fee. Felony DWI records are kept permanently under Texas state retention rules.

The Texas Judicial Branch provides information on court operations statewide. Cottle County is a very small county, and the district court shares its judge with several other West Texas counties under the 50th Judicial District.

Cottle County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Cottle County Clerk, also at 811 Justice Street, handles all misdemeanor DWI records and can be reached at (806) 492-3452. First offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, carrying a minimum of 72 hours and up to 180 days in jail plus fines up to $2,000. A blood alcohol level of 0.15 or above at the time of arrest raises this to a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000.

A second DWI offense under Section 49.09 is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum. Misdemeanor records show the charge, plea, sentence, and any conditions of probation or community supervision. Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page. Misdemeanor DWI convictions are permanent records. Dismissed misdemeanor cases are kept for five years. In-person access is the primary method at the Paducah courthouse.

DWI Law and Cottle County Cases

Cottle County prosecutes DWI under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The core statute is Section 49.04, which makes it illegal to operate a motor vehicle in any public place while intoxicated. Texas uses a dual test: either impaired mental or physical faculties from any substance, or a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. Prosecution can go forward under either standard on its own.

For minors, the standard is tougher. Under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041, any detectable amount of alcohol in a driver under 21 is an offense. Zero tolerance means even a trace level is enough. A first DUI by minor is a Class C misdemeanor requiring community service and alcohol awareness education. License suspension applies regardless of whether the minor already has a license.

When a DWI involves a crash, TxDOT holds the peace officer crash report. These cost $6 for a standard copy or $8 for certified, ordered through TxDOT's CRIS Request online system. Officers must submit crash reports within 10 days for any incident involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. As of January 1, 2025, TxDOT no longer accepts subpoenas by mail.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division collects DWI arrest data from all Texas counties including Cottle and forwards it to national databases maintained by the FBI. A DWI arrest in Cottle County becomes part of a permanent statewide and national criminal history record.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest

A DWI arrest in Cottle County activates the Texas DPS Administrative License Revocation program right away. The officer takes the physical driver's license and issues a 40-day temporary driving permit. You have exactly 15 days from the date of the arrest notice to request an ALR hearing. If you don't, the suspension kicks in automatically.

Suspension lengths are governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524. Refusing a chemical test brings 180 days for a first offense and two years for a second refusal within 10 years. Failing the test at 0.08 or above means 90 days for a first offense and one year with a prior suspension. The ALR hearing is a civil administrative proceeding run by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. It is entirely separate from the criminal DWI case. You can win one and still lose the other.

After the suspension ends, a $125 reinstatement fee is required before DPS will issue a new license. Driving records can be ordered at dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22 depending on type. They are not available at driver license offices in person.

How to Get Cottle County DWI Records

Visit the Cottle County Courthouse in Paducah to search records in person. Bring a valid photo ID. For mail requests, write a letter that includes the subject's full legal name, the approximate date of the incident, your name and address, and payment for any copy fees. All requests are handled under the Texas Public Information Act, which requires a response within 10 business days.

The Texas DPS maintains statewide criminal history and driving records that supplement the case-level records held by the Cottle County clerk offices.

Arrest records from the Cottle County Sheriff's Office cover DWI stops in the unincorporated parts of the county. Written requests to the Sheriff's Records Division should include the date, location, and name involved. DPS public information requests can go to the DPS Public Information Center online, by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov, or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0140.

Nearby Counties

Cottle County is a small rural county in Northwest Texas. These neighboring counties each handle their own DWI cases.