Search McLennan County DWI Records

McLennan County DUI and DWI records are on file at the District Clerk and County Clerk offices in Waco, Texas. This page covers how to find DWI cases in McLennan County, which offices manage different types of charges, and what Texas law sets as the penalties for impaired driving.

McLennan County District and County Clerk

The McLennan County District Clerk at mclennancounty.com/district-clerk manages felony criminal records for six district courts. Felony DWI cases -- third offense and above, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter -- go through these courts. You can search court records online through the district clerk's portal at mclennancounty.com/court-records. Searches can be done by name or cause number.

The County Clerk at mclennancounty.com/county-clerk handles two County Courts at Law that take misdemeanor DWI cases. First and second offense DWI records are here. Both offices are at 501 Washington Ave. in Waco. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for standard copies and $5.00 extra for certification.

Waco Police Department Records

The Waco Police Department at 721 N. Fourth St., Waco, TX 76707, handles records requests for incidents within city limits. The records line is (254) 750-7500. Submit open records requests online through the WPD portal. Reports cost $5.00. Body and in-car video is also available with additional fees. Standard reports process within 10 business days. DWI arrest reports contain the stop narrative, field sobriety test observations, and any chemical test data collected.

The Waco Municipal Court at waco-texas.com/municipal-court is at 201 S. Second St., Waco, TX 76701, phone (254) 750-8600. This court handles Class C misdemeanors including minor in possession and public intoxication. The municipal court offers online payment and case search. Deferred disposition is available for qualifying offenses.

DWI Law and Penalties in McLennan County

All DWI cases in McLennan County follow Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. Section 49.04 defines DWI as operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Intoxication is defined two ways: BAC of 0.08 or more, or loss of normal mental or physical faculties from alcohol or drugs. Both definitions allow prosecution, and impairment evidence can carry a case even when BAC is low.

A first DWI offense is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours in jail, up to 180 days, and fines up to $2,000. An open container in the car raises the minimum to six days. A BAC of 0.15 or above changes the charge to a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and fines up to $4,000. See TxDOT's impaired driving page for the full list of penalties.

Second offense carries a 30-day mandatory minimum. Third offense is a third-degree felony: two to ten years in prison, fines up to $10,000. Annual state surcharges run from $3,000 to $6,000 per year on top of court fines. Driving with a child under 15 is a state jail felony under Section 49.045 regardless of prior history. Intoxication assault under Section 49.07 and intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 bring felony charges when injuries or deaths result from DWI crashes.

Zero tolerance for under-21 drivers applies under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. Any detectable alcohol is enough for a DUI by minor charge. A first offense carries a fine, community service, and a 30-day license suspension.

Administrative License Revocation in Waco

A DWI arrest in McLennan County triggers the ALR process under Transportation Code Chapter 524. The officer takes your license at arrest and issues a 40-day permit. You have 15 days to request an ALR hearing. No request means automatic suspension on day 40. The hearing is a civil proceeding before the State Office of Administrative Hearings and is separate from the criminal case.

Refusing a test: 180-day first-offense suspension or two years for a second refusal within ten years. Failing the test: 90-day first-offense suspension or one year with a prior. Reinstatement costs a $125 fee to Texas DPS. You can order your driving record through the DPS driver record portal for $4 to $22. The ALR outcome does not guarantee any particular result in the criminal DWI case or vice versa.

Crash Reports and State Resources

DWI crashes in McLennan County generate Peace Officer's Crash Reports (CR-3) filed with TxDOT. Officers submit within 10 days of crashes with injury, death, or damage over $1,000. Standard copies cost $6.00, certified copies cost $8.00 through the CRIS system. Only parties directly involved can access these reports.

The DPS Crime Records Division holds statewide criminal history data. Conviction records are searchable online. Full records requests go through DPS Public Information. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission also enforces alcohol-related laws and can be a resource for questions about liquor liability and dram shop cases connected to DWI incidents.

The Texas DPS Public Information office handles records requests under the Texas Public Information Act.

DPS accepts requests online, by email at publicrecords@dps.texas.gov, or by mail to Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773.

Cities in McLennan County

Waco is the largest city in McLennan County and the primary location for county court filings. All DWI cases in the county go through the McLennan County court system.

Nearby Counties

McLennan County is in Central Texas. These counties border or are near McLennan County.