Lee County DWI Records Search

Lee County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Giddings. This Central Texas county processes DWI cases through the 155th District Court for felonies and the County Court at Law for misdemeanor charges. Records are available in person at the courthouse on South Main Street or by contacting the clerk offices directly.

Lee County District Clerk

The Lee County District Clerk keeps all felony DWI records for the county. The 155th District Court, which is a shared district court, handles third or higher DWI offenses, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter cases filed in Lee County. Under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49, a third DWI is a third-degree felony with 2 to 10 years in prison. Intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony that can carry 2 to 20 years. All felony DWI records are kept permanently.

Online access to Lee County court records is very limited. The main way to find DWI filings is to visit the clerk office at 200 S. Main Street, Giddings. You can also call to ask about specific cases. Bring the defendant's full legal name and an approximate time period for the arrest or case filing. Records cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. E-filing is available for attorneys through the state system.

Lee County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Lee County Clerk maintains misdemeanor DWI records for the County Court at Law. A first DWI under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum 72-hour jail term and fines up to $2,000. A BAC of 0.15 or above at the time of testing upgrades the charge to a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail. A second DWI is a Class A with a mandatory 30-day minimum jail term under Section 49.09. Records show the charge, BAC data, plea, and final disposition.

In-person visits are the primary way to access Lee County misdemeanor DWI records. The county clerk office is at the same address as the district clerk on South Main Street in Giddings. Bring identification and know the person's full legal name and an approximate date range. Standard copy fees apply for any documents pulled from the file.

The Killeen Police Department, shown below, is based in nearby Bell County and illustrates how regional law enforcement agencies in the Central Texas area connect to broader DWI records systems.

Law enforcement records from regional agencies in the Central Texas area can supplement Lee County DWI case information for researchers and attorneys.

Lee County Sheriff DWI Arrest Records

The Lee County Sheriff's Office handles DWI arrests in unincorporated parts of Lee County. Arrest reports, booking records, and jail logs are maintained by the sheriff. These are separate from the court case records at the clerk offices. Requests for these records are processed under the Texas Public Information Act.

Report copies typically cost $5.00. Processing takes up to 10 business days for standard requests. Arrest reports contain the deputy's account of the stop, observations of impairment, standardized field sobriety test scores, chemical test data, and the formal charge level. Booking records show bond amount and prior history noted at intake. Video evidence may require separate requests and additional processing time.

Note: DWI arrests made within the city limits of Giddings are handled by the Giddings Police Department, whose records are separate from the county sheriff's files.

License Suspension After a Lee County DWI Arrest

Every DWI arrest in Lee County triggers the Administrative License Revocation process through Texas DPS. The officer takes the physical license and provides a 40-day temporary permit. The driver has 15 days to request an ALR hearing. If no hearing is requested, the suspension takes effect automatically when the permit expires. The ALR hearing is a civil proceeding that is entirely separate from the criminal DWI case going through the county or district court.

For adults, refusing a chemical test on a first offense leads to a 180-day suspension. Failing the test at 0.08 or above results in a 90-day suspension. Prior ALR suspensions within 10 years double each period. A $125 reinstatement fee must be paid to DPS before a new license is issued. The full ALR process is in Transportation Code Chapter 524.

Texas DWI Law and Lee County Courts

Lee County DWI prosecutions follow Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The core offense under Section 49.04 requires only that the person was intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place. Texas defines intoxication as either a BAC of 0.08 or above or the loss of normal mental or physical faculties due to alcohol, drugs, or both. You can be charged under either standard even if the other does not apply.

Intoxication assault under Section 49.07 is a third-degree felony when it causes serious bodily injury. If the victim is a peace officer or firefighter on duty, the charge escalates to a second or first degree felony. These cases are prosecuted in the 155th District Court rather than the county court. Crash records for any DWI-related accident in Lee County can be requested from TxDOT through the CRIS Request system for $6 regular or $8 certified.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Service holds statewide criminal conviction data. DWI conviction history for individuals can be searched online for a fee. This is useful when prior conviction records are needed for sentencing purposes in current Lee County DWI cases.

Nearby Counties

Lee County is in Central Texas between Austin and the Brazos Valley. DWI cases in neighboring counties are handled by their own courts.