Martin County DUI Records

Martin County DUI and DWI records are on file at the District Clerk and County Clerk in Stanton, Texas. This page covers how to look up DWI cases filed in Martin County, which courts are involved, and what Texas law says about drunk driving offenses and penalties.

Martin County District and County Clerk

The Martin County District Clerk handles all felony criminal records under the 118th Judicial District, including third-offense DWI, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. The County Clerk manages first and second offense DWI misdemeanor records. Both offices are at the Martin County Courthouse in Stanton. This area of West Texas sits in the Permian Basin region, and all DWI cases filed in the county go through these offices.

Online access is very limited for Martin County. Most records requests are handled in person or by mail. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for standard copies and an additional $5.00 for certified documents. Staff can search by defendant name or case number. For mail requests, include a check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

DWI Penalties and Charges in Texas

Texas defines DWI in Penal Code Section 49.04. The charge applies when someone operates a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. "Intoxicated" means a BAC of 0.08 or more, or loss of normal mental or physical faculties from alcohol or drugs. Both definitions can apply, meaning impairment can be proven even if a chemical test shows a low BAC.

A first DWI offense is a Class B misdemeanor. Minimum sentence is 72 hours in jail. Maximum is 180 days. Fines go up to $2,000. If the driver had an open container, the minimum becomes six days. A BAC of 0.15 or above at arrest raises the charge to a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000. The TxDOT impaired driving page summarizes the penalty tiers for all DWI levels.

Second offense DWI is a Class A misdemeanor with a 30-day minimum. Third offense is a felony with two to ten years in prison. State annual surcharges of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 are assessed on top of fines. Driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 is a state jail felony under Section 49.045, with 180 days to two years in state jail regardless of prior convictions.

Searching DWI Records in Martin County

To access DWI records in Martin County, contact or visit the courthouse in Stanton. Provide the full legal name of the person and any case number or year you have. Staff will search the clerk's system and tell you what records are available. Small copy requests are often handled the same day. Larger requests may take additional time.

For broader searches, the Texas courts website provides access to the re:SearchTX portal, which covers felony cases in many Texas district courts. Criminal history data is maintained by the DPS Crime Records Division. Conviction records are available online. Full record requests go through DPS Public Information. Driving records are ordered through the DPS driver record portal.

Note: There is no walk-in DPS office at Martin County. Driving records must be ordered online or by mail.

ALR and License Suspension

After a DWI arrest in Martin County, the officer takes your license and issues a 40-day temporary driving permit. You have 15 days from the arrest to request an ALR hearing under Transportation Code Chapter 524. If you miss that window, the suspension starts automatically on day 40. Hearings are conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings and are civil proceedings separate from the criminal case.

Refusing a chemical test means a 180-day suspension for a first offense. A second refusal within ten years brings a two-year suspension. Failing the test at 0.08 or above results in a 90-day first-offense suspension or one year if there is a prior in the last decade. Reinstatement requires a $125 fee paid to Texas DPS.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission also enforces alcohol laws that can affect DWI-related cases, including rules on sales to minors and intoxicated persons that may relate to dram shop liability.

Crash Reports and Arrest Records

DWI incidents in Martin County that involve a crash generate a Peace Officer's Crash Report (CR-3) filed with TxDOT. Officers submit these within 10 days for crashes with injury, death, or damage over $1,000. A standard copy is $6.00, a certified copy is $8.00. Order through the TxDOT CRIS system. Access is limited to parties directly involved in the crash.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office holds arrest records for incidents in the county's jurisdiction. Contact the sheriff's office directly for open records requests for DWI arrest reports. These contain the stop narrative, field sobriety test observations, chemical test data, and booking information separate from the court case file.

The Texas DPS Public Information office processes records requests for criminal history and driving records statewide.

Mail requests go to Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773. Email requests go to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov.

Nearby Counties

Martin County is in West Texas in the Permian Basin. These neighboring counties may have related records.