Crane County DWI Records

Crane County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk offices located at the Crane County Courthouse. This West Texas oil country county handles DWI cases through the 112th Judicial District Court. Online access is very limited, so most record searches are done in person or through written mail requests to the courthouse in Crane.

Crane County District Clerk

The Crane County District Clerk at 201 W. 6th Street, Crane, TX 79731 handles all felony DWI records for the county. Phone is (432) 558-3581. The 112th Judicial District Court is shared across several West Texas counties. Felony DWI cases filed here include DWI third offense, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger under 15 years of age.

Case records from the District Clerk include the filed charge, offense degree, bond information, court assignment, all docket settings, and the final outcome. E-filing is available for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. Public access to records is available in person during business hours. Copy fees are $1.00 per page, and certified copies add $5.00 per document. All felony DWI records are permanent records that don't expire or get destroyed.

The Texas Judicial Branch provides information on how district courts operate across the state. Appeals from Crane County cases go to the Eighth Court of Appeals in El Paso.

Crane County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Crane County Clerk, also at 201 W. 6th Street, handles all misdemeanor DWI records through the County Court at Law. Phone is (432) 558-3582. First offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 with a minimum of 72 hours in jail and up to 180 days, plus a fine up to $2,000. A blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher at the time of arrest turns this into 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 carries a 30-day mandatory minimum. Records show the full case history from charge through sentencing, including any probation conditions. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Misdemeanor DWI convictions are kept permanently. Dismissed cases are retained for five years. Both offices accept written mail requests when in-person visits are not possible.

The TxDOT impaired driving summary explains the penalty ranges for each DWI offense level in Texas, including additional state fines assessed at sentencing on top of court-ordered fines.

Texas DWI Law in Crane County

All DWI charges in Crane County are prosecuted under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. Section 49.04 defines the offense as operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Texas law gives two definitions of intoxicated: lacking normal use of mental or physical faculties due to any substance, or having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. Either definition alone is enough to support a charge.

The most serious DWI charges are intoxication assault under Section 49.07 and intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08. Assault is a third-degree felony with two to ten years in prison. Manslaughter is a second-degree felony with two to twenty years. If the victim is a peace officer, firefighter, or EMS personnel on duty, the charge steps up significantly. Crane County District Clerk records show how all of these charges were resolved.

For DWI crashes, the peace officer crash report is filed with TxDOT. Officers have 10 days to submit the CR-3 form for crashes involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Copies cost $6 for standard or $8 certified, through TxDOT's CRIS Request online system.

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 14 sets the rules for warrantless DWI arrests. Officers can arrest without a warrant when a DWI offense is committed in their presence or in view, making DWI one of the offenses for which officers have broad warrantless arrest authority.

Administrative License Revocation in Crane County

Any DWI arrest in Crane County immediately activates the Texas DPS Administrative License Revocation program. The arresting officer takes the physical driver's license and gives a 40-day temporary permit. The driver has 15 days from the date the notice is served to request an ALR hearing, or the suspension takes effect automatically.

Suspension periods under Transportation Code Chapter 524 are: 180 days for refusing a chemical test on a first offense, two years for a second refusal within 10 years; 90 days for failing the test at 0.08 or above on a first offense, one year with a prior suspension. The ALR hearing is separate from the criminal case and is handled as a civil administrative matter. Winning the criminal case does not cancel the ALR suspension.

A $125 reinstatement fee is owed to DPS before a new license can be issued after any ALR suspension. Driving records are ordered online at dps.texas.gov, ranging from $4 to $22 depending on record type. DPS doesn't provide records at driver license offices.

Requesting Crane County DWI Records

The main way to get Crane County DWI records is to visit the courthouse at 201 W. 6th Street in Crane during business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. For mail requests, send a written letter with the subject's full name, approximate date of the incident, your return mailing address, and a check or money order for copy fees. Processing takes up to 10 business days under the Texas Public Information Act.

Texas DPS provides access to driving records and statewide criminal history data that can round out what the county clerk holds at the local level.

DWI arrest reports from the Crane County Sheriff's Office are available through written public information requests. Reports include the deputy's account of the stop, observations of impairment, field sobriety test results, chemical test data if taken, and arrest details. For DPS-held records, submit requests through the DPS Public Information Center online or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0140. Do not call DPS for records requests as phone requests are not valid under state law.

Nearby Counties

Crane County is in the Permian Basin region of West Texas. Adjacent counties handle DWI cases through their own court systems.