Lamar County DWI Records

Lamar County DUI and DWI records are kept by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Paris, Texas. All criminal court filings, including DWI arrests, case charges, pleas, and outcomes, are public records in Texas. If you need to search for a DWI case filed in Lamar County, both clerk offices on Main Street in Paris hold the records and can assist with requests in person or by mail.

Lamar County District Clerk

The Lamar County District Clerk maintains all felony DWI records filed in the 6th and 62nd District Courts. Both courts are based in Paris at the Lamar County Courthouse on Main Street. Felony DWI cases include DWI third offense or higher, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49, these are serious charges. A third DWI is a third-degree felony with a sentence range of two to ten years in state prison.

You can search Lamar County court records online at lamarcountytx.org/court-records. The search tool allows you to look up cases by defendant name or case number. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys. Documents cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies add $5.00. The District Clerk office is at 119 N. Main Street, Paris. Call (903) 737-2425 for help with a specific case or to ask about record availability before your visit.

Lamar County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Lamar County Clerk at 119 N. Main Street maintains misdemeanor DWI records. Lamar County has two County Courts at Law, which handle first and second offense DWI cases. A first offense under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor. A second offense under Section 49.09 is a Class A. Records are available in person and some may be available online. The County Clerk's office number is (903) 737-2420. Standard document fees apply.

Lamar County borders Oklahoma to the north. DWI arrests in the area sometimes involve drivers from both states. For Texas court records, the county clerk in Paris is the right place. For Oklahoma criminal history, a separate search through Oklahoma courts would be needed. Texas records and out-of-state records do not automatically combine, so two separate searches may be needed to get the full picture of a person's DWI history in the region.

Paris Police Department and Lamar County Sheriff Records

The Paris Police Department at 1310 Clarksville Street handles DWI arrests within Paris. Records can be requested from their Records Division at (903) 784-6688. Reports cost $5.00 and processing takes about 10 business days. Arrest reports include officer observations, field sobriety test results, BAC readings, and booking information. The Lamar County Sheriff handles DWI arrests in unincorporated parts of the county.

For statewide criminal history records, use the DPS Crime Records Service. Texas DPS troopers on US-82 and other state highways in Lamar County also make DWI arrests. Those records go to the state DPS system. You can request them through the DPS Public Information Center by email or mail. Processing takes roughly 10 business days.

For crash-related DWI cases in Lamar County, the peace officer crash report (CR-3) is filed with TxDOT. Use the CRIS online system to order. Reports are $6 standard or $8 certified and are kept for 10 years. The TxDOT impaired driving page has general information on Texas DWI laws and statistics.

The Paris Police Department provides records for DWI arrests made within Lamar County's largest city.

For DWI cases involving Texas DPS troopers on area highways, state records from the DPS system should be checked in addition to local court records in Paris.

Texas DWI Laws and Lamar County Cases

Lamar County prosecutes DWI under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The definition of intoxication under that chapter covers both a per se BAC of 0.08 or higher and impairment of normal faculties by any substance. Texas does not limit DWI to alcohol. Prescription drugs, marijuana, and other controlled substances can lead to a DWI charge in Lamar County if the driver's faculties were impaired. The prosecutor can pursue a DWI conviction without a chemical test if other evidence is strong enough.

Lamar County DWI records include the full case file from the date of filing to final resolution. This includes the charge, all court dates, bond conditions, plea entered, and final sentence. Bond conditions in DWI cases often include no alcohol consumption, no driving without a valid license, and sometimes an ignition interlock device. All of these details appear in the publicly available court records at the courthouse in Paris. If a case is still active, the docket sheet shows upcoming hearing dates.

Note: Texas DWI law under Section 49.045 makes driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 in the vehicle a state jail felony on the first offense. This charge bypasses the misdemeanor level and goes directly to the district court in Lamar County.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest in Lamar County

Every DWI arrest in Lamar County triggers the Texas Administrative License Revocation process. The Texas DPS Driver License Division runs this program. The officer takes the license at the scene and gives a temporary permit valid for 40 days. The driver has 15 days to request a hearing with the State Office of Administrative Hearings. If no request is made, the suspension takes effect on day 41. The ALR is entirely separate from the criminal case in Lamar County's courts.

Failing the chemical test on a first offense results in 90 days suspended. Refusing the test means 180 days. Both periods double if the driver had a prior ALR within 10 years. A $125 reinstatement fee is due to DPS after the suspension ends. Drivers who need to drive for work or school can petition for an occupational license. That requires a court order, a statement of need, and an SR-22 insurance filing. The ALR is governed by Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524.

Order a certified driving record at dps.texas.gov. The Type 3A record costs $10 online. It shows the full suspension and violation history. Attorneys and courts typically need the certified version, not a standard printout.

Nearby Counties

Lamar County is in Northeast Texas near the Oklahoma border. DWI cases from bordering areas may be filed in a neighboring county's court system.