Nolan County DUI and DWI Records

Nolan County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Sweetwater. This West Texas county processes DWI cases through its District Court and County Court at Law. You can search for case details, charges, and court outcomes by reaching the courthouse directly or through the search tool below.

Nolan County District Clerk

The Nolan County District Clerk handles felony DWI records at the courthouse in Sweetwater. Felony DWI cases include third or more DWI convictions, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. A third DWI charge under Section 49.09 is a third-degree felony with 2 to 10 years in state prison. Intoxication assault under Section 49.07 is also a third-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 is second-degree, carrying 2 to 20 years.

Online records access for Nolan County is limited. The best way to search is to contact the District Clerk directly by phone or in person. Copies of court documents cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an extra $5.00 fee. Attorneys can file electronically through eFileTexas.gov. Bring or provide the defendant's full name and approximate case dates when making a request. Public records requests are handled under the Texas Public Information Act.

Nolan County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Nolan County Clerk handles misdemeanor DWI records from the County Court at Law. These include first offense DWI under Penal Code Section 49.04, a Class B misdemeanor, and second offense DWI under Section 49.09, a Class A misdemeanor. A first DWI carries 72 hours to 180 days in jail and fines up to $2,000. A second carries a mandatory 30 days minimum and fines up to $4,000.

Records requests are made in person or by mail. Include the defendant's name and approximate case date in any written request. Standard copy fees apply. For legal purposes like appeals or expunction hearings, certified copies with the clerk's seal cost $5.00 extra. The county clerk office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

State-level DWI conviction records can also be checked through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. This is useful if you need to know about prior DWI convictions from other counties as part of a Nolan County case.

DWI Charges and Penalties in Nolan County

All DWI cases in Nolan County follow Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The standard for intoxication in Section 49.01 includes both a BAC of 0.08 or higher and the impairment standard, meaning a driver who cannot safely operate a vehicle due to alcohol or drugs can be charged even if their BAC is below 0.08. Officers in Nolan County use both standards when making DWI arrests on state highways and county roads.

A driver with a BAC of 0.15 or above on a first offense faces a Class A charge rather than Class B. The minimum jail term stays at 72 hours but the maximum jumps to a year, and fines can reach $4,000. Open container of alcohol in the car at the time of the DWI bumps minimum jail to six days on any first offense. For minors under 21, any detectable alcohol while driving is a Class C offense under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041.

When a DWI results in a crash that injures or kills someone, the charges escalate significantly. Intoxication assault is a third-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter is second-degree. These cases are handled in the 32nd District Court in Sweetwater. Crash reports for such incidents can be purchased through the TxDOT CRIS system for $6.00 regular or $8.00 certified.

Administrative License Revocation in Nolan County

A DWI arrest anywhere in Nolan County triggers the Administrative License Revocation process administered by Texas DPS. The officer takes the physical license and gives the driver a 40-day temporary permit along with a Notice of Suspension. From that point, the driver has 15 days to contact DPS and request a formal ALR hearing. Missing this window means the suspension becomes final without any contest.

Failing the breath or blood test at 0.08 or above brings a 90-day first-offense suspension. Refusing the test altogether brings 180 days. Both periods double if there was a prior ALR suspension within the past 10 years. A $125 reinstatement fee is required after the suspension period ends before DPS will restore the license. This process is governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524. Driving records can be ordered from dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22 depending on record type.

Note: The ALR suspension is civil. It runs completely separate from the criminal DWI court case in Nolan County and must be contested through a separate DPS hearing process.

Nearby Counties

Nolan County is in West Texas between Abilene and Lubbock. DWI cases in nearby counties go through separate court systems.