Ochiltree County DWI Records

Ochiltree County DUI and DWI records are held by the District Clerk and County Clerk at the courthouse in Perryton. This Panhandle county handles DWI cases through the 100th District Court and its County Court at Law. Contact the courthouse directly to request records or use the search tool below to get started.

Ochiltree County District Clerk

The Ochiltree County District Clerk at 511 S. Main Street in Perryton handles felony DWI records for the county. The 100th District Court is a shared court that covers several Texas Panhandle counties. Felony DWI offenses fall under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49 and include third or more DWI offenses, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. A third DWI under Section 49.09 is a third-degree felony carrying 2 to 10 years in state prison.

Online records access is very limited for Ochiltree County. The best approach is to contact the District Clerk at (806) 435-8001 directly. Bring the defendant's name and approximate case date, or a case number if you have one. Document copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an extra $5.00 fee. E-filing is available for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. All public records requests are handled under the Texas Public Information Act.

Ochiltree County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Ochiltree County Clerk at 511 S. Main Street handles misdemeanor DWI records. This covers first DWI offenses as Class B misdemeanors and second offenses as Class A misdemeanors under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 and 49.09. A first offense carries 72 hours to 180 days in jail and fines up to $2,000. A second offense carries a 30-day minimum and fines up to $4,000.

Records requests are handled in person or by mail. Call (806) 435-8002 to ask about current procedures and any specific instructions for mail requests. Include the defendant's name, approximate case dates, and payment for copy fees when submitting by mail. Standard copy fees apply. For certified copies, add $5.00 to the base per-page cost of $1.00.

State-level criminal history records for DWI convictions in Ochiltree County and other counties can be checked through the Texas DPS Crime Records Division. This is useful when verifying prior convictions that might affect the charge level in a current case.

DWI Law and Ochiltree County Cases

Texas DWI law applies the same standards in Ochiltree County as anywhere else in the state. Under Penal Code Section 49.01, intoxication means either a BAC of 0.08 or above, or not having normal use of mental or physical faculties due to alcohol or drugs. Officers can arrest on either basis, which means impairment charges can occur even when a driver's BAC comes back below the per se threshold.

In rural Panhandle counties like Ochiltree, open container violations are common alongside DWI charges. If a driver has an open container of alcohol in their immediate possession, the minimum jail time for a first DWI increases from three to six days. A BAC of 0.15 or above on a first arrest bumps the charge from Class B to Class A misdemeanor. Driving with a child under 15 in the vehicle while intoxicated is a state jail felony under Section 49.045, regardless of any prior record.

For younger drivers, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041 sets a zero-tolerance standard. Any detectable alcohol for a driver under 21 is a Class C offense. Courts can order alcohol awareness programs, community service, and license suspension. Parents or guardians of minors under 18 may be ordered to attend programs with their child.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest in Ochiltree County

A DWI arrest in Ochiltree County triggers the Administrative License Revocation process through Texas DPS. The arresting officer takes the physical license and gives a 40-day temporary permit. Within 15 days, the driver must contact DPS and request a formal ALR hearing. Missing that deadline means the suspension takes effect automatically with no contest.

Suspension periods depend on whether the driver passed or refused the chemical test. A failed test at 0.08 or above means 90 days for a first offense. Refusing the test means 180 days. Both periods double if there was a prior ALR suspension in the last 10 years. The ALR process is entirely civil and runs separately from the criminal DWI case. A $125 reinstatement fee is required before DPS restores the license. This is governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524. Driving records can be ordered from dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22 depending on the record type.

Note: The Panhandle region of Texas has a high rate of DWI arrests on long rural highways. Many Ochiltree County DWI cases involve stops on US 83 or US 270.

Nearby Counties

Ochiltree County is in the northern Texas Panhandle near the Oklahoma border. DWI cases in neighboring counties go through separate courts.