Dawson County DWI Records

Dawson County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the County and District Clerk in Lamesa, Texas. The county is served by the 106th Judicial District. If you need to find DWI case filings, court outcomes, or arrest information from Dawson County, the clerk's office in Lamesa is the primary source. Access is mainly in person or by written mail request, as online options are limited for this West Texas county.

Dawson County Clerk and District Clerk

The Dawson County Clerk and District Clerk office is at 400 S. 1st Street, Lamesa, TX 79331. Phone for the County Clerk is (806) 872-3778. This office maintains records for both the County Court (misdemeanor DWI) and the 106th District Court (felony DWI). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Copy fees are $1.00 per page with a $5.00 certification fee for certified copies.

Misdemeanor DWI cases including first and second offenses are kept with the County Court records. Felony DWI cases, meaning third offense and higher, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter, are under the district court. Both record types are open to public inspection during business hours. Written requests are the most practical option for people who cannot visit in person. Include the defendant's full name and the approximate year of the case in your request.

E-filing is available through eFileTexas.gov for attorneys. For the general public, the clerk does not offer a public online case search for this county, so in-person visits or mail requests are the main path to records. The 106th District Court is shared with other West Texas counties, and the district judge visits Lamesa on a rotating schedule.

Dawson County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Dawson County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated parts of the county, including DWI arrests, jail operations, and warrant service. You can reach the sheriff's office in Lamesa at (806) 872-2161. Arrest records include the deputy's account of the traffic stop, field sobriety test notes, chemical test results, and booking details. Written requests for copies are processed during business hours.

DWI arrests within the city of Lamesa are handled by the Lamesa Police Department. For those records, contact the Lamesa PD directly. Both agencies submit DWI arrest data to the statewide system maintained by the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. DPS maintains a complete history of all Texas criminal convictions and deferred adjudications, which is the best source for searching across multiple years or multiple counties.

For crash-related DWI incidents, the peace officer submits a CR-3 report to Texas Department of Transportation. You can purchase these reports through the CRIS online system for $6.00 standard or $8.00 certified. TxDOT keeps crash records for 10 years. As of January 2025, all subpoena requests for crash records must go through the CRIS system.

DWI Laws That Apply in Dawson County

Dawson County DWI cases are prosecuted under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The basic offense under Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor for a first offense. That means 72 hours to 180 days in county jail and a fine up to $2,000. If there was an open container in the vehicle, the minimum goes to six days. A BAC of 0.15 or above at a first offense makes it a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Second DWI is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum. Third DWI becomes a third degree felony, meaning 2 to 10 years in state prison and a fine up to $10,000. DWI with a child passenger under 15 is a state jail felony no matter how many prior offenses the driver has. Intoxication assault causing serious injury is a third degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony with 2 to 20 years. Texas state surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 are added on top of court-ordered fines.

Under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041, a minor with any detectable alcohol commits a DUI offense, which is a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense. The penalty includes a fine up to $500, community service hours related to alcohol education, and mandatory completion of an alcohol awareness program. The TxDOT impaired driving page summarizes all DWI penalty ranges for Texas.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest

A DWI arrest in Dawson County triggers the Administrative License Revocation process with Texas DPS. The arresting officer takes your license and gives you a 40-day temporary driving permit. You must contact DPS to request an ALR hearing within 15 days of the arrest. Miss that window and the suspension goes into effect automatically when the permit expires.

First offense refusal to take the chemical test leads to a 180-day suspension. A prior refusal in the last 10 years makes it two years. If you took the test and the BAC was 0.08 or above, the first offense suspension is 90 days. One year if there was a prior suspension within the last decade. A $125 reinstatement fee is required before DPS will restore your license after the suspension. The full ALR rules are in Transportation Code Chapter 524. This administrative process runs parallel to the criminal case and is not affected by what happens in court.

Driving records for Dawson County residents can be ordered from dps.texas.gov. Fees range from $4 to $22. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission enforces alcohol laws in Dawson County, including compliance monitoring of licensed businesses. The Texas Judicial Branch website provides information on how district courts operate across the state.

Texas DPS and TxDOT portals are key sources for Dawson County DWI records, driving history, and crash report documents.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or are near Dawson County in West Texas.