DWI Records in Loving County

Loving County DUI and DWI records are on file at the county courthouse in Mentone. This is the least populous county in Texas, but state DWI law applies here the same as it does anywhere else in the state. This page covers how to access those records, which courts handle them, and what penalties apply under Texas law.

Loving County Clerk and District Clerk

Loving County is notable for being the least populated county in the entire country. Because of its small size, the clerk offices handle a very low volume of cases. DWI misdemeanor records go through the County Clerk. Felony DWI cases, which include third-offense DWI and intoxication assault or manslaughter, go to the 143rd District Court through the District Clerk.

Online access to Loving County court records is very limited. In most cases, you will need to contact the clerk's office directly or visit in person. Staff can search by name or case number. Mail requests are accepted when you include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for any copy fees.

Texas DWI Law and Penalties

Texas DWI law is set out in Penal Code Chapter 49. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor. Penalties include a minimum of 72 hours in jail, up to 180 days total, and a fine up to $2,000. A blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher makes it a Class A misdemeanor. That means up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000.

A second DWI conviction is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum in jail. By the third offense, it becomes a third-degree felony. Felony DWI carries two to ten years in prison and fines up to $10,000. The TxDOT impaired driving page breaks down these penalty tiers in clear terms. On top of those, the state adds annual surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 depending on the conviction.

Intoxication assault under Section 49.07 applies when a driver causes serious bodily injury while intoxicated. It is a third-degree felony. If the victim is a peace officer or firefighter on duty, the charge can go up to a first- or second-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 is a second-degree felony when death results, carrying two to twenty years in prison.

Texas also has a child passenger law. Driving while intoxicated with a passenger under 15 years old is a state jail felony under Section 49.045, regardless of prior convictions. It carries 180 days to two years in state jail and fines up to $10,000.

Searching Loving County DWI Records

Because Loving County is so small, the best way to access DWI records is to call or write the clerk's office directly. Staff can confirm if a record exists and let you know what you need to submit a request. For name searches, provide the full legal name and an approximate year if you have it. For case lookups, a case number is helpful.

Copy fees run $1.00 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost an extra $5.00 per document. You can pay by check or money order. The 143rd District Court is shared with Ward County, so felony cases may involve coordination between the two county clerk offices depending on where the case was filed.

For statewide searches, the Texas courts website offers links to the re:SearchTX portal, which covers many counties. You can also request criminal history information from the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. Conviction records are available online. For more complete records, you will need to submit a written request through the DPS Public Information process.

Administrative License Revocation

A DWI arrest in Loving County triggers the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process, which runs separately from the criminal case. Under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524, the officer takes your license at the time of arrest and gives you a 40-day temporary permit. You have 15 days to request a hearing to contest the suspension. If you miss that window, the suspension goes into effect automatically.

Refusal to take a breath or blood test means a 180-day suspension for a first offense, or two years if there is a prior refusal within ten years. Failing the test (0.08 BAC or more) means a 90-day suspension for a first offense or one year with a prior suspension. Getting your license back requires paying a $125 reinstatement fee to Texas DPS.

The ALR hearing is handled by the State Office of Administrative Hearings. At the hearing, the judge looks at whether the stop was legal, whether there was probable cause to arrest, and whether the test refusal or failure was properly documented. The criminal case and the ALR process are handled independently, so outcomes in one do not automatically affect the other.

Note: Driving records for DPS purposes can be ordered online through the DPS driver record system. Online ordering requires your Texas license number, date of birth, and audit number.

Crash Reports and DWI Records

If a DWI arrest in Loving County involved a crash, a Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3) is likely on file with TxDOT. Officers must file these reports within 10 days for crashes with injury, death, or damage of $1,000 or more. You can order a copy through the TxDOT CRIS online system. A regular copy is $6.00 and a certified copy runs $8.00. Reports are only available to those with a direct interest in the crash, including drivers, owners, and insurers.

Arrest records from the Loving County Sheriff's Office may also be relevant. The sheriff maintains records for incidents in the county. Contact the sheriff's office for records not held by the clerk. DWI arrest reports contain the officer's probable cause statement, field sobriety test notes, and any chemical test results.

For broader records checks, Texas law enforcement agencies report arrest data through the DPS Crime Records Division. This division operates as the state control terminal for criminal justice programs and compiles data from local agencies into statewide databases.

The Texas DPS Public Information portal handles requests for criminal history and driving records under the Texas Public Information Act.

Requests can be emailed to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or mailed to Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773.

Nearby Counties

Loving County is in far West Texas. The counties below border or are near Loving County. Use these links if you need records from a neighboring jurisdiction.