Ector County DWI Records

Ector County DUI and DWI records are on file at the District Clerk and County Clerk offices in Odessa, the county seat. Ector County is one of West Texas's larger counties, home to Odessa and a significant portion of the Permian Basin. The county handles a substantial volume of DWI cases through its county and district courts. If you need to find DUI or DWI records in Ector County, the courthouse in Odessa and the Odessa Police Department are your main sources.

Ector County District Clerk

The Ector County District Clerk in Odessa maintains felony DWI records. The two district courts serving Ector County are the 70th and 161st District Courts, both located at the Ector County courthouse. These courts handle third or more DWI convictions, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter cases. Records can be requested in person during business hours or by mail.

Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.09, a third DWI is a felony of the third degree. The penalty range is two to ten years in state prison with a fine up to $10,000. Intoxication assault under Penal Code Section 49.07 is also a third-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 is a second-degree felony with a range of two to twenty years in prison. All of these serious charges are handled by the Ector County district courts.

Document copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies require a $5.00 certification fee. E-filing is available for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. Felony criminal records are maintained permanently in accordance with Texas state law.

Ector County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Ector County Clerk at 300 N. Grant Avenue in Odessa maintains misdemeanor DWI records. Phone: (432) 498-4295. The County Court at Law handles first and second offense DWI cases. Misdemeanor DWI records are a matter of public record. Staff can search by defendant name or case number. The County Clerk website is co.ector.tx.us/county-clerk.

First offense DWI in Ector County follows the same rules as statewide law. Under Penal Code Section 49.04, a standard first DWI with a BAC between 0.08 and 0.14 is a Class B misdemeanor. If the BAC is 0.15 or higher, it is upgraded to a Class A misdemeanor. Second offense DWI is always a Class A misdemeanor regardless of BAC. Deferred adjudication may be available for first-time DWI offenders who qualify. Records of deferred cases still appear in the court system but show a different status than a conviction.

Ector County is also home to Odessa Police Department and the Ector County Sheriff's Office, both of which make DWI arrests and maintain their own incident and arrest records separate from the court files.

Odessa Police and Sheriff DWI Arrest Records

The Odessa Police Department handles DWI arrests within the city of Odessa. Their records division is at 205 N. Grant Avenue in Odessa. The records phone number is (432) 333-3640, and the department's website is odessatexpolice.com/records. Reports including arrest reports and accident reports can be requested online. Processing time is typically 5 to 10 business days. Reports cost $5.00 each.

The Ector County Sheriff's Office handles DWI arrests in unincorporated areas of the county. Arrest records are available through the Sheriff's records division. The Odessa Municipal Court at 201 N. Grant Avenue handles Class C misdemeanor alcohol offenses including public intoxication and minor in possession. Odessa Municipal Court can be reached at (432) 335-3221, and their website is odessatex.com/departments/municipal-court. They accept online ticket payments and allow case searches through their system.

Crash reports for DWI incidents in Ector County must be requested from TxDOT's CRIS system. Standard crash report copies cost $6.00. Certified copies are $8.00. TxDOT keeps crash records for 10 years. TxDOT stopped accepting mail requests for crash reports in January 2025, so all purchases must be made online.

Note: Odessa is in the Permian Basin and sees active DWI enforcement due to heavy oilfield traffic and late-night commercial activity on the area highways.

Texas DWI Penalties Applied in Ector County

Texas sets DWI penalties in Penal Code Chapter 49. First-offense DWI is 72 hours to 180 days in jail, a fine up to $2,000, and driver's license suspension for up to one year. The state also assesses a $3,000 surcharge at sentencing for a first offense. A second conviction adds a $4,500 state surcharge on top of the fine and mandatory 30 days in jail. Third and subsequent DWI convictions add a $6,000 surcharge and two to ten years in state prison.

TxDOT's impaired driving page gives an overview of how Texas DWI penalties are structured and what drivers can expect. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at tabc.texas.gov enforces alcohol laws including sales to minors and dram shop liability, which affects civil cases that may arise from DWI accidents.

For drivers under 21, Texas uses zero tolerance under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. Any detectable alcohol while driving results in a DUI charge. First offense DUI by a minor is a Class C misdemeanor. Courts in Ector County are required to order an alcohol awareness program for minors convicted of or placed on deferred disposition for alcohol-related offenses.

License Suspension for Ector County DWI Arrests

A DWI arrest in Ector County triggers the Administrative License Revocation process under Transportation Code Chapter 524. The arresting officer takes the driver's license at the time of arrest and gives the driver a temporary permit valid for 40 days. The driver has just 15 days to request an ALR hearing. If no request is made, suspension begins automatically on day 40.

ALR hearings are conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. They use a preponderance of the evidence standard. The issues at the hearing are limited to whether the officer had proper grounds to stop and arrest the driver, and whether the driver refused or failed chemical testing. Suspension periods are 90 days for failing (0.08+) and 180 days for refusing. Both periods increase if there are prior suspensions within 10 years.

After the suspension period, a $125 reinstatement fee must be paid to DPS before a new license is issued. Pay and check status at dps.texas.gov. Ignition interlock devices may be required for a restricted license during the suspension for repeat offenders or those with high BAC readings.

The Odessa Police Department Records Division processes DWI arrest reports and other incident records for Odessa and can be accessed online or in person at 205 N. Grant Avenue.

Arrest and incident reports from the Odessa Police Department provide details of DWI stops including field sobriety test results, BAC readings, and charge information.

Cities in Ector County

Odessa is the major city in Ector County. All DWI court cases from Ector County go through the county and district courts in Odessa.

Nearby Counties

Ector County borders several other Permian Basin counties. Check the incident location to confirm which county's court has jurisdiction.