Culberson County DUI and DWI Records

Culberson County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Van Horn. This remote far West Texas county handles DWI cases through the 83rd Judicial District Court. Records are available in person at the Van Horn courthouse. Online access is very limited, and most requests are handled in person or by mail.

Culberson County District Clerk

The Culberson County District Clerk at 300 La Caverna Street, Van Horn, TX 79855 handles all felony DWI records for the county. Phone is (432) 283-2058. The 83rd Judicial District Court serves this area of West Texas and is a shared district court. Felony DWI charges here include DWI third offense, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger under 15.

Case records from the District Clerk include the charge, degree of offense, bond information, court assignment, all docket entries, and the final outcome. E-filing is available for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. In-person access during business hours is the primary way to search public records. Copy fees are $1.00 per page, and certified copies require an additional $5.00 per document. All felony DWI records are kept permanently under state retention rules.

The Texas Judicial Branch website provides information on district court operations throughout Texas. Appeals from Culberson County cases are heard by the Eighth Court of Appeals in El Paso.

Culberson County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Culberson County Clerk, also at 300 La Caverna Street, handles misdemeanor DWI records and can be reached at (432) 283-2059. A first DWI offense is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, with a mandatory minimum of 72 hours in jail and up to 180 days, plus fines up to $2,000. A BAC of 0.15 or higher raises the charge to Class A with up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000.

A second DWI under Section 49.09 is Class A with a 30-day mandatory minimum. Records from the County Clerk show the full case record: charge, plea, sentencing, and any conditions of supervision. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Misdemeanor DWI conviction records are permanent. Dismissed cases are kept for five years.

DWI Laws in Culberson County

Culberson County prosecutes DWI under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The core offense under Section 49.04 is operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Texas's dual definition of intoxicated covers both impaired faculties and a BAC of 0.08 or above. A person below the 0.08 threshold can still be charged if impairment is evident to the officer.

Culberson County is crossed by Interstate 10, one of the busiest highway corridors in Texas. DWI enforcement on major highways involves Texas DPS Troopers in addition to county and local law enforcement. Officers must be trained and certified under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701 through TCOLE before administering field sobriety tests or breath tests during a DWI investigation.

For crash-related DWI incidents on I-10 or other roads in Culberson County, the CR-3 crash report is held by TxDOT. Order copies at $6 standard or $8 certified through TxDOT's CRIS online system. Officers must file these reports within 10 days for crashes involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000.

Minors in Culberson County face the zero tolerance law under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. Any detectable alcohol in a driver under 21 is an offense. First offense is a Class C misdemeanor. License suspension applies even without a prior license. Courts must order completion of an alcohol awareness program for minors convicted or placed on deferred disposition.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest in Culberson County

A DWI arrest in Culberson County activates the Texas DPS Administrative License Revocation process immediately. The officer takes the physical license and issues a temporary permit good for 40 days. You have 15 days to request an ALR hearing. If no request is made, the suspension is automatic.

Under Transportation Code Chapter 524, refusing a chemical test means 180 days suspension for a first offense or two years for a second refusal within 10 years. Failing the test at 0.08 or above means 90 days for a first offense or one year with a prior suspension. The ALR hearing is civil and handled by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. It runs completely separate from the criminal case. You can beat the criminal charge and still lose your license through ALR, or win ALR and still be convicted criminally.

After the suspension ends, pay the $125 reinstatement fee to DPS before a new license can be issued. Driving records are ordered at dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22. They are not available at DPS offices.

Getting Culberson County DWI Records

To search Culberson County DWI records, visit the courthouse at 300 La Caverna Street in Van Horn during normal business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. For mail requests, write to the appropriate clerk office with the subject's full name, approximate incident date, your mailing address, and payment for copy fees. Expect a response within 10 business days under the Texas Public Information Act.

Texas DPS provides statewide criminal history and driving records that complement the local case records held by the Culberson County court offices.

The Culberson County Sheriff's Office handles DWI enforcement for unincorporated parts of the county. DPS Troopers cover the major highways. Arrest reports from either agency are available through written public information requests. For DPS-held records, contact the DPS Public Information Center online, by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov, or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0140.

Note: The DPS Crime Records Division compiles arrest records from all Texas counties including Culberson and submits them to national databases through the FBI CJIS system.

Nearby Counties

Culberson County is in far West Texas near the New Mexico border. Adjacent counties each manage their own DWI court records.