Knox County DUI and DWI Records

Knox County DUI and DWI records are held by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Benjamin, Texas. The Knox County courthouse on Main Street is where all criminal filings are kept. DWI case records, arrest details, and court outcomes are public in Texas and can be accessed by request. Benjamin is the county seat and the only place in Knox County where these records are filed and stored.

Knox County District Clerk

The Knox County District Clerk maintains felony DWI records filed in the 50th Judicial District. This district is shared with neighboring West Texas counties. Felony DWI charges in Knox County include a third or higher DWI offense, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. A third DWI is a third-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony and carries a possible sentence of two to twenty years in state prison.

Online records access in Knox County is very limited. Records requests require an in-person visit or written mail request to the courthouse in Benjamin. Documents cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies add $5.00. E-filing is available for attorneys. Call (940) 459-2211 before making the trip to Benjamin to confirm the clerk is available and what you will need to bring to complete the request.

Knox County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Knox County Clerk at 107 S. Main Street keeps misdemeanor DWI records. First and second DWI offenses go through the county court. A first offense under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours in county jail. A second offense under Section 49.09 is a Class A misdemeanor with a minimum 30-day jail requirement. Records show charges, pleas, and sentences. The County Clerk phone number is (940) 459-2212.

Knox County is small and rural. The courthouse operates during regular business hours, but services may be limited. If you plan to request records in person, call ahead to make sure the office will be staffed and that the records you need are accessible on-site. Some older files may require additional notice to retrieve. In-person service is the most reliable way to get records from Knox County.

DWI Arrests and State Records in Knox County

DWI arrests in Knox County are handled by the Knox County Sheriff's Office and Texas DPS troopers. Knox County has no city police department with significant resources. The Sheriff handles most law enforcement in the county, while DPS covers state highway enforcement. Highway 283 runs through the county, and DPS makes regular stops there. Trooper arrest records are filed with the DPS system and can be requested through the DPS Public Information Center.

For a statewide criminal history, use the DPS Crime Records Service. This database pulls from all law enforcement agencies in Texas that report to DPS. Knox County agencies are required to report, so both county and state arrest records should appear there. Requests can be submitted by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or by mail. Processing typically takes 10 business days, though complex requests may take longer.

Crash-related DWI cases in Knox County result in a peace officer crash report filed with TxDOT. These can be ordered through the CRIS online system. Standard copies cost $6 and certified copies cost $8. Reports are kept for 10 years.

Texas DPS records provide the most accessible route for anyone looking up DWI cases in Knox County without making a trip to Benjamin.

DPS criminal records cover all agencies in Knox County and can serve as a supplement to local courthouse records in Benjamin.

Texas DWI Laws in Knox County

Knox County prosecutes DWI under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. Section 49.04 sets the core DWI offense: operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Intoxication means a BAC of 0.08 or above or loss of normal mental or physical faculties due to alcohol or drugs. Texas uses both standards, and a prosecutor can prove the case with either. A driver does not need to be above 0.08 to be convicted of DWI if the jury finds impairment was present.

Texas has no deferred adjudication for DWI cases. A defendant who takes a plea deal receives a conviction, not a dismissal. The only ways out of a DWI conviction are to win at trial or get the case dismissed before a plea is entered. A dismissal may allow an expunction of the arrest under Texas law. For a successful expunction, no court can share the record afterward. All of these rules apply to Knox County cases the same as anywhere else in Texas.

For commercial vehicle DWI, the legal limit in Texas is 0.04 BAC. A commercial driver with a DWI conviction in Knox County also faces federal disqualification rules that can mean losing the commercial license permanently. These cases show up in district court records in Benjamin under the same chapter 49 statutes.

Driver License Suspension After a Knox County DWI

The Administrative License Revocation process begins with any DWI arrest in Knox County. The Texas DPS Driver License Division manages this process. The officer confiscates the physical license at the time of arrest and gives a temporary permit. The driver has 15 days to request an ALR hearing or the suspension takes effect automatically on day 41. The ALR hearing is conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings, not the local court in Benjamin.

Failing the chemical test on a first offense means a 90-day suspension. Refusing the test means 180 days. Both penalties double for anyone who had a prior ALR within 10 years. Winning the ALR hearing does not affect the criminal DWI case, and winning the criminal case does not affect the ALR suspension. They are fully independent. After the suspension expires, a $125 reinstatement fee must be paid. The legal basis is Transportation Code Chapter 524.

Get a certified driving record at dps.texas.gov. The Type 3A record costs $10 online. It shows all suspensions, violations, and reinstatements. This is the record attorneys need for DWI defense and the one courts accept as official.

Nearby Counties

Knox County is in North Texas near the Oklahoma border. DWI cases from nearby areas may be filed in the adjoining county's court system.