Henderson County DWI Records

Henderson County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Athens, the county seat located in East Texas. The county has three district courts and an active DWI docket. You can request records in person or by mail at the courthouse on E. Tyler Street, and state tools provide additional paths to find case and driving history data for DWI offenses in Henderson County.

Henderson County District Clerk

The Henderson County District Clerk at 100 E. Tyler Street in Athens holds all felony DWI records. Three district courts serve Henderson County: the 3rd, 173rd, and 392nd District Courts. Felony DWI cases processed through these courts include third or subsequent DWI offenses, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter as defined under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The phone number is (903) 675-6115.

Online record access is limited in Henderson County. Most requests go through in-person visits or mail. Bring the defendant's full legal name and date of birth, or a case number if you have one. Document copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 certification fee per document. E-filing for attorneys is available through the state portal at txcourts.gov. Felony criminal records are retained permanently per Texas retention rules.

Henderson County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Henderson County Clerk at 100 E. Tyler Street, reachable at (903) 675-6110, maintains misdemeanor DWI records through the County Court at Law. A first DWI offense with a BAC below 0.15 is a Class B misdemeanor under Penal Code Section 49.04. A first offense at 0.15 or above, or a second offense, is a Class A misdemeanor under Section 49.09. The second offense carries a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail. All misdemeanor DWI cases in Henderson County are filed with the County Clerk.

Records at the county clerk's office include the initial charge, pleas, hearing dates, and final disposition including any probation or sentence details. DWI case records may also contain bond conditions such as ignition interlock requirements. Services are handled primarily in person. Standard document copy fees apply.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Service can provide statewide conviction data that complements local Henderson County court records.

Athens Police Department Records

The Athens Police Department handles DWI arrests within Athens city limits. The Records Division is at 508 E. Tyler Street and can be reached at (903) 675-5131. Record requests can be submitted online or in person. Report fees are $5.00 per report. Processing takes about 10 business days. The department handles all types of incident, arrest, and accident reports including DWI arrests.

For DWI arrests in unincorporated parts of Henderson County, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office processes those cases. All arrests, whether by the city police or the sheriff's office, result in case filings with the Henderson County District Clerk or County Clerk depending on whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor. The Henderson County jail holds defendants during the booking and initial appearance process.

Note: Arrest records under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 14 cover warrantless DWI arrests made when the officer directly observes the offense. These reports form the foundation of the DWI case file at the local level.

Texas DWI Law Applied in Henderson County

Henderson County DWI prosecutions follow Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The legal limit is 0.08 BAC. Standard first offense is a Class B misdemeanor. A first offense at 0.15 or above becomes a Class A. Third and later offenses are third-degree felonies. DWI with a child passenger under 15 is a state jail felony under Section 49.045. Intoxication assault is a third-degree felony and intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony.

Henderson County has three district courts capable of handling DWI felony cases. Records from these courts show the full case history including the indictment, any motions, hearing dates, and the final judgment and sentence. Bond records often show conditions imposed, especially in repeat offense cases. If a defendant was placed on community supervision (probation), that information also appears in the case file at the district or county clerk's office.

For DWI-related traffic crashes in Henderson County, the crash report (CR-3) is available from Texas Department of Transportation through the CRIS Request system. Standard copies are $6 and certified copies are $8. TxDOT retains these reports for 10 years.

License Suspension in Henderson County DWI Cases

An arrest for DWI in Henderson County triggers the Texas Administrative License Revocation process run by Texas DPS. The arresting officer takes the physical license and provides a 40-day temporary permit. The driver must request an ALR hearing within 15 days to contest the suspension. If no request is made, the suspension automatically takes effect after the temporary permit expires.

Under Transportation Code Chapter 524, failing a chemical test on a first offense results in a 90-day suspension. Refusing the test adds up to a 180-day suspension. Both periods double when a prior ALR suspension was issued within the last 10 years. The civil ALR proceeding and the criminal DWI case run on separate tracks. A $125 reinstatement fee is required after the suspension ends. Driver records can be ordered from dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22.

Nearby Counties

Henderson County is in East Texas. DWI cases in nearby counties go through their own courts.