Dallam County DWI Records

Dallam County DUI and DWI records are held by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Dalhart. Located in the Texas Panhandle corner of the state, Dallam County processes DWI cases through the 100th Judicial District Court. Records are accessible in person at the Dalhart courthouse or through written mail requests. Online access is limited for this rural Panhandle county.

Dallam County District Clerk

The Dallam County District Clerk at 101 E. 5th Street, Dalhart, TX 79022 handles all felony DWI records for the county. Phone is (806) 249-4751. The 100th Judicial District Court is a shared district serving several Texas Panhandle counties. Felony DWI cases filed here include DWI third offense (a third-degree felony), intoxication assault (third-degree felony), intoxication manslaughter (second-degree felony), and DWI with a child passenger under 15 (state jail felony).

Records from the District Clerk include the charge, offense degree, bond details, court assignment, all scheduled hearing dates, and the final outcome. E-filing is available for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. In-person access is the primary way for the public to search records. Copy fees are $1.00 per page, and certified copies add $5.00 per document. All felony DWI records are kept permanently and never destroyed.

The Texas Judicial Branch provides information on court structure and case statistics for all Texas counties. Appeals from Dallam County cases go to the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo.

Dallam County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Dallam County Clerk, also at 101 E. 5th Street, handles all misdemeanor DWI records and can be reached at (806) 249-4752. The County Court at Law handles first and second DWI offenses. A first offense 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 fines up to $2,000. A BAC of 0.15 or above makes it Class A with up to one year and fines up to $4,000.

A second DWI under Section 49.09 is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum jail term. Misdemeanor records show the charge, plea, sentence, and supervision conditions. Copy fees are standard at $1.00 per page. Convictions are permanent. Dismissed cases are retained for five years. Walk-in access during business hours is the main way to view records at the Dalhart courthouse.

Texas DWI Law in Dallam County

Dallam County enforces Texas DWI law under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. Section 49.04 defines the offense as operating a motor vehicle in any public place while intoxicated. Texas uses two definitions of intoxicated: impaired mental or physical faculties from any substance, or a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. A driver can be prosecuted under either definition alone.

Dallam County is in the far northwest corner of Texas near New Mexico and Oklahoma. US 87 and US 54 run through the county, and DPS Troopers enforce DWI law on these highway corridors. All law enforcement officers conducting DWI investigations in Texas must hold proper training and certification under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701 through TCOLE, including standardized field sobriety testing and Intoxilyzer operation.

For DWI crashes in Dallam County, the peace officer crash report is filed with TxDOT within 10 days. These CR-3 reports are available for purchase through TxDOT's CRIS online system at $6 standard or $8 certified. TxDOT retains crash records for 10 years plus the current year.

Minors in Dallam County face the zero tolerance DUI standard under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. Any detectable alcohol in a driver under 21 is a Class C misdemeanor DUI offense regardless of impairment level. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission enforces alcohol laws statewide and monitors licensed alcohol retailers for sales violations that may connect to DWI incidents.

Administrative License Revocation in Dallam County

Every DWI arrest in Dallam County triggers the Texas DPS Administrative License Revocation process. The arresting officer takes the physical driver's license and issues a 40-day temporary driving permit. The driver has exactly 15 days to request an ALR hearing. Miss the deadline and the suspension takes effect automatically on day 40.

Suspension periods under Transportation Code Chapter 524 are clear: refusing a chemical test brings 180 days for a first offense and two years if there was a prior 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 at the State Office of Administrative Hearings, completely separate from the criminal DWI case.

After the suspension, a $125 reinstatement fee is owed to DPS before a new license can be issued. Driving records are ordered online at dps.texas.gov, from $4 to $22. You cannot order driving records at DPS offices in person or by phone.

Searching Dallam County DWI Records

Visit the Dallam County Courthouse at 101 E. 5th Street in Dalhart to search DWI records in person. Bring a valid government-issued ID. For mail requests, include the subject's full name, approximate incident date, your return address, and payment for copy fees. The Texas Public Information Act gives agencies up to 10 business days to respond.

Texas DPS statewide databases hold criminal history and driving records that supplement the local court records maintained in Dallam County.

DWI arrest reports from the Dallam County Sheriff's Office cover incidents in unincorporated county areas. Written public information requests to the Sheriff should include the date of incident, subject name, and your contact details. For statewide DPS records, contact the DPS Public Information Center online, by email at publicrecords@dps.texas.gov, or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0140. Fax requests to DPS are no longer accepted as of September 1, 2019.

Nearby Counties

Dallam County is in the far northwest corner of the Texas Panhandle. These adjacent counties have their own DWI court systems.