Fort Bend County DUI and DWI Records

Fort Bend County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Richmond. As one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, Fort Bend processes a significant volume of DWI cases through its 8 district courts and multiple county courts at law. Both clerk offices are at 301 Jackson Street in Richmond, and online record access is available for many case types through the county's court records portal.

Fort Bend County District Clerk

The Fort Bend County District Clerk handles all felony DWI cases filed in the county's 8 district courts. Felony DWI charges include third and subsequent DWI offenses, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger. The district clerk's office maintains these records permanently. With 8 district courts, Fort Bend handles a large and growing criminal docket.

The District Clerk's office is at 301 Jackson Street, Richmond, TX 77469. Phone is (281) 341-8600. You can search case records online at fortbendcountytx.gov/court-records. The online portal lets you search by defendant name, case number, or attorney. Document copies are $1.00 per page online and $5.00 for certified versions. E-filing has been mandatory for attorneys. Records from DWI arrests begin the moment the case is filed after booking at the Fort Bend County Jail.

Fort Bend County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Fort Bend County Clerk at 301 Jackson Street maintains all misdemeanor DWI records. First and second offense DWI cases go through the county courts at law. Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, a first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor carrying 72 hours to 180 days in jail. Second offense is Class A with a mandatory 30-day minimum. A BAC of 0.15 or higher on a first offense upgrades to Class A as well.

The County Clerk's direct line is (281) 341-8608. Records are available in person and through the online court records portal. Misdemeanor DWI records show charge details, bond conditions, court dates, plea, and sentence. The county clerk also processes the paperwork when defendants are required to install ignition interlock devices as a bond condition.

The Fort Bend County Clerk makes official government records searchable online.

The Fort Bend County Clerk portal at fortbendcountytx.gov/county-clerk lets you access misdemeanor criminal cases including DWI first and second offenses filed through the county courts at law.

City Police Records in Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County includes several large cities with their own police departments. DWI arrests made by city officers follow the same court path through Fort Bend County, but the initial arrest report comes from the city police department.

The Sugar Land Police Department at 1200 State Hwy 6 handles records for Sugar Land arrests. Their records division is reachable at (281) 275-2500. Reports cost $5.00 per copy. The department uses an online records request system. Processing typically takes 10 business days for standard requests.

The Missouri City Police Department at 3849 Cartwright Road can be reached at (281) 403-8700. Their records system accepts online report requests. Reports cost $5.00 each. Missouri City spans both Fort Bend and Harris counties, so some Missouri City arrests may be prosecuted in Harris County courts depending on where the offense occurred.

Note: Pearland is located primarily in Brazoria County, not Fort Bend County. DWI arrests in Pearland are processed through Brazoria County courts, not Fort Bend County.

Texas DWI Law in Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County prosecutes all DWI cases under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The DWI statute covers operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated by alcohol, drugs, or both. The legal limit for adults is a BAC of 0.08 or above, or the loss of normal use of mental or physical faculties.

When a DWI involves a serious crash, the charges can escalate quickly. Intoxication assault under Section 49.07 is a third-degree felony when serious bodily injury results. Intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 is a second-degree felony when a death occurs. These are among the most serious charges that go through the Fort Bend County District Courts.

Crash reports for DWI accidents in Fort Bend County are available through TxDOT's CRIS system. These peace officer crash reports cost $6 standard or $8 certified. Involved parties, attorneys, and insurers can request them through the CRIS online portal. TxDOT no longer accepts subpoena requests by mail as of January 2025.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at tabc.texas.gov handles licensing and enforcement for alcohol-related businesses in Fort Bend County and may have relevant records when commercial alcohol service contributed to a DWI case.

License Suspension After a Fort Bend DWI Arrest

A DWI arrest anywhere in Fort Bend County starts the Administrative License Revocation process through Texas DPS. The arresting officer takes the physical license and gives a 40-day temporary permit. The driver must request an ALR hearing within 15 days or the suspension becomes automatic once that permit expires.

Refusing the chemical test leads to 180 days of suspension on the first offense. Failing at 0.08 or above means 90 days. Prior ALR actions within 10 years can double those periods. The full rules are in Transportation Code Chapter 524. The ALR suspension is a civil administrative matter and runs separately from the criminal DWI case. Winning in criminal court does not stop or reverse the ALR suspension.

After the suspension ends, a $125 reinstatement fee is due to DPS. Driving records showing suspension history can be ordered from dps.texas.gov. A Type 3A certified complete record is $10 and is the most common type requested for legal and insurance purposes.

Cities in Fort Bend County

Fort Bend County includes several large cities. DWI cases from all of them go through the Fort Bend County courts in Richmond.

Other communities in Fort Bend County include Stafford, Rosenberg, and Richmond. All DWI cases go through the Fort Bend County court system.

Nearby Counties

Fort Bend County is in the Greater Houston area southwest of the city. DWI cases from neighboring counties are handled in their own courts.