El Paso County DUI Records

El Paso County DWI records are maintained at the District Clerk and County Clerk offices at 500 E. San Antonio Avenue in El Paso, Texas. The county is home to over 800,000 residents and has one of the most active court systems in the state for DWI and criminal matters. El Paso County has multiple district courts and county courts at law. The county's online portal provides free public access to criminal case records. If you need to find DWI records in El Paso County, start with the courthouse portal or visit in person.

El Paso County District Clerk

The El Paso County District Clerk at 500 E. San Antonio Avenue is the official custodian of felony DWI records for the county. El Paso County has over a dozen criminal district courts including the 34th, 41st, 65th, 168th, 171st, 205th, 243rd, 346th, 384th, 409th, 448th, and others. These courts handle third or more DWI convictions, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter cases. An online case search portal provides free public access at epcounty.com/dc.

Felony DWI is governed by Texas Penal Code Section 49.09. A third DWI conviction is a felony of the third degree with two to ten years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Intoxication manslaughter under Penal Code Section 49.08 is a second-degree felony with two to twenty years. If the victim is a peace officer or firefighter on duty, the charge can be elevated to a first-degree felony with up to 99 years in prison.

Documents are available online at $1.00 per page. Certified copies require a $5.00 certification fee per document. The courthouse also has self-service kiosks for accessing records. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in El Paso County.

El Paso County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The El Paso County Clerk handles misdemeanor DWI records. Phone: (915) 546-2071. Website: epcounty.com/cc. Three County Courts at Law in El Paso County handle first and second offense DWI cases. The county clerk's office is at the same 500 E. San Antonio address as the District Clerk. Online case search is available through the same portal as the District Clerk.

First offense DWI in El Paso County follows Penal Code Section 49.04. Standard first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor. If BAC is 0.15 or higher, it becomes Class A. Second offense is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum jail term. Deferred adjudication may be available for first-time offenders who qualify under local court guidelines. Records of deferred cases are still maintained in the court system.

El Paso County also has Justice of the Peace courts that handle Class C misdemeanor offenses including public intoxication. These records are separate from the county and district court files but are public records accessible at the respective JP court offices.

El Paso Police Department DWI Records

The El Paso Police Department handles DWI arrests within the city of El Paso. The records division is at 911 N. Raynor Street, El Paso, TX 79903. Records can be requested online through elpasotexas.gov/police/records or by calling (915) 564-7200. Reports include incident reports, accident reports, and arrest records. Standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days. Reports cost $5.00. Video records carry additional fees and require separate requests.

El Paso Municipal Court at 810 E. Overland Avenue handles Class C misdemeanor DWI-related offenses and can be reached at (915) 541-4000. The municipal court website at elpasotexas.gov/municipal-court provides online ticket payment, case search functions, and deferred disposition options for eligible offenses. El Paso Municipal Court has multiple branch locations throughout the city to serve the large population.

Crash reports for El Paso County DWI incidents are maintained by TxDOT. Standard copies cost $6.00. Certified copies are $8.00. All purchases must be made through TxDOT's CRIS online system. TxDOT no longer accepts mail requests for crash reports as of January 2025.

Note: El Paso County borders New Mexico and Mexico. DWI incidents on border highways may involve multiple law enforcement agencies including Border Patrol. Records from federal agencies are requested separately from state and county records.

DWI Penalties in El Paso County

Texas DWI law under Penal Code Chapter 49 applies in El Paso County. First offense carries up to 180 days in jail with a 3-day minimum, a fine up to $2,000, and license suspension for up to one year. State surcharges of $3,000 are added at sentencing. Second offense brings mandatory 30 days in jail, a fine up to $4,000, and a $4,500 state surcharge. Third offense is a felony with 2 to 10 years in prison and a $6,000 state surcharge.

El Paso County sees significant commercial vehicle traffic on US I-10 and other major highways. Commercial drivers face stricter standards. Federal regulations set the BAC threshold for commercial vehicle operators at 0.04 rather than 0.08. A DWI conviction while operating a commercial vehicle can result in CDL disqualification, which is handled at the federal level through FMCSA.

For minors, Texas zero tolerance applies under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. Any detectable alcohol while driving is a DUI charge for drivers under 21. First offense is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500, 8 to 12 hours community service, and a mandatory alcohol awareness program. For defendants under 18, the court may require parents to attend the program as well.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission enforces alcohol laws and maintains records of license violations at tabc.texas.gov. TABC can be relevant in DWI cases involving dram shop liability, where a bar or restaurant may have served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who later caused a DWI accident.

Administrative License Revocation in El Paso County

A DWI arrest in El Paso County activates the Administrative License Revocation process under Transportation Code Chapter 524. At the time of arrest, the officer takes the driver's license and issues a 40-day temporary permit. The driver has 15 days to request an ALR hearing. Failure to request a hearing within 15 days results in automatic suspension starting on day 40.

ALR hearings are administrative proceedings held by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. They are not held at the El Paso County Courthouse. The hearing addresses whether the stop, arrest, and request for chemical testing were procedurally correct. Suspension for failing a test is 90 days for a first offense. Suspension for refusing a test is 180 days for a first offense. Prior suspensions within ten years double these periods.

After serving the suspension, the driver must pay DPS a $125 reinstatement fee before getting a new license. Check status and pay fees at dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license. Ignition interlock devices may be required for a restricted license during the suspension period. The DPS driver license office in El Paso can also provide in-person assistance with reinstatement.

The El Paso Police Department handles DWI arrests in the city and provides public access to incident reports and arrest records through its online portal.

EPPD records requests can be submitted online at elpasotexas.gov/police/records, by phone at (915) 564-7200, or in person at the department's records division at 911 N. Raynor Street in El Paso.

Cities in El Paso County

El Paso is the main city in El Paso County. All DWI court cases from the county go through the El Paso County courthouse unless handled by municipal courts for Class C offenses.

Nearby Counties

El Paso County is at the far western tip of Texas, bordering New Mexico and Mexico. These are the nearby Texas counties for reference.