Palo Pinto County DUI and DWI Records

Palo Pinto County DUI and DWI records are kept by the County Clerk and District Clerk at the courthouse in Palo Pinto, Texas. If you need to search for a DWI case or get copies of court documents, you can visit in person or send a written request by mail. Misdemeanor DWI cases are handled by the County Clerk. Felony DWI cases, including third offense DWI, DWI with a child passenger, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter, go through the District Clerk. Both offices maintain public records during regular business hours.

Palo Pinto County Clerk and District Clerk

The County Clerk in Palo Pinto County handles Class A and Class B misdemeanor DWI records. First and second offense DWI cases go through this office. The District Clerk keeps all felony DWI records, which includes cases such as third offense DWI, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Both offices sit at the Palo Pinto County Courthouse.

The Palo Pinto County Clerk is at 520 Oak Street, Palo Pinto, TX 76484. The phone is (940) 659-1277. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You can walk in to search records or send a written mail request with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Copy fees are $1.00 per page, and a certified copy costs $5.00 per document.

The District Clerk is also at the county courthouse and can be reached at (940) 659-1278. This office serves the 29th Judicial District Court. Felony DWI cases require a grand jury indictment before they enter the district court. Records are open to the public during standard courthouse hours.

Search Palo Pinto County DWI Records

To look up a DWI record in Palo Pinto County, you can go to the courthouse in person or send a written request by mail. In-person visits let you search by name or case number at the clerk's counter. Staff will help you locate the file and make copies on request. Bring a photo ID when you visit.

Mail requests should include a short description of the record, the full name of the person involved, an approximate date or year, and a check or money order for the expected copy fee. The Texas Judicial Branch website provides guidance on how to access public court records statewide. For cases filed in district courts, the re:SearchTX system may have basic docket information available.

The Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and incident reports. Written open records requests under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure are the standard way to get arrest reports from law enforcement agencies. The Sheriff's Office is located in Palo Pinto and is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

For traffic crash records involving DWI arrests, those are kept by the Texas Department of Transportation. A standard copy of a crash report costs $6.00 and a certified copy is $8.00. You can order online through the TxDOT crash records system.

Note: Online case search tools for Palo Pinto County are limited. An in-person visit or a mail request is the most reliable way to get records from this county.

Texas DWI Laws and Charge Levels

Texas DWI law comes from Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. A first DWI offense is a Class B misdemeanor. It carries up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. There is a mandatory minimum of 72 hours in jail. If there was an open container in the car, that minimum rises to six days.

A second DWI is a Class A misdemeanor. That is up to one year in jail and a fine up to $4,000. The mandatory minimum jail time for a second offense is 30 days. If a blood or breath test shows a BAC at or above 0.15, even a first offense is charged as a Class A misdemeanor. The TxDOT impaired driving page summarizes all penalty levels in plain terms.

A third DWI conviction becomes a third degree felony, which means 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. DWI with a child passenger under the age of 15 is a state jail felony, no matter how many prior convictions you have. Intoxication assault is a third degree felony when someone is seriously hurt. Intoxication manslaughter, which is the most serious DWI charge in Texas, is a second degree felony carrying 2 to 20 years in prison.

Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041, drivers younger than 21 face a separate DUI charge if any detectable amount of alcohol is found in their system. This is not a DWI charge. It still results in fines, license suspension, and mandatory alcohol education programs.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest

When a driver is arrested for DWI in Palo Pinto County, the arresting officer will take the physical license and issue a Notice of Suspension. This is separate from the criminal case. The Texas DPS manages license suspensions under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524, which is the Administrative License Revocation program.

You have 15 days from the arrest date to request an ALR hearing. If you miss that deadline, your license is suspended automatically on the 40th day after notice. The temporary permit in the Notice of Suspension is good for 40 days. A first-time refusal to take a chemical test brings a 180-day suspension. A failed test with a BAC of 0.08 or higher results in a 90-day suspension. You will need to pay a $125 reinstatement fee to the Texas DPS before getting your license back.

Note: The ALR suspension is a civil matter. It can happen even if the criminal DWI charge is dismissed or results in a not guilty verdict.

Palo Pinto County Court System

The 29th Judicial District Court in Palo Pinto County handles all felony criminal cases, including felony DWI charges. The County Court at Law handles Class A and B misdemeanors, which covers first and second offense DWI cases. Both courts are at the county courthouse in Palo Pinto.

The County Court at Law also has jurisdiction over probate matters, civil cases, and juvenile matters. For DWI cases, this court may approve deferred adjudication, community supervision, or probation programs. Payment plans for fines and court costs may be available through the court clerk.

All law enforcement officers in Palo Pinto County who make DWI arrests are certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701. TCOLE sets training standards for field sobriety tests, breath testing equipment, and blood draw procedures used in DWI cases across the state.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains statewide criminal history data. Agencies in Palo Pinto County report arrest records to this centralized database. If you want your own criminal history record from the state, you can request it from DPS directly.

Texas Driver Records and DPS

A Texas driving record will show DWI convictions, license suspensions, and other violations. The Texas DPS driver record page explains the types of records available. A Type 2 record covers three years. A Type 3 record covers your full history. You can order online, by mail using Form DR-1, or by phone for some options.

Online records cost between $4.00 and $22.00 depending on the type. A complete certified history is $10.00. Mail requests go to Texas DPS, Box 149008, Austin, TX 78714-9008. Mail processing takes up to three weeks. Public information requests to DPS for records related to DWI cases must follow the same process as for other state agencies.

Official Records Resources

The Texas Penal Code Chapter 49 is the main law that defines DWI and related offenses in the state. You can read the full text of the statute at the Texas Legislature website. This includes all charge levels, legal definitions, and penalty ranges that apply in Palo Pinto County and across Texas.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission regulates alcohol sales and licenses across the state. The TABC website has information on Texas alcohol laws including age verification rules, hours of sale, and enforcement data. TABC agents conduct compliance checks in counties like Palo Pinto and report data to the state.

For public information requests related to DWI enforcement data or agency records, the Texas DPS public information page explains the process and required forms. You can also use the statewide open records request process under the Texas Public Information Act to request records from local agencies.

The state image below is a reference for Texas DUI and DWI records systems maintained at the state level. Use it alongside local county clerk resources when researching Palo Pinto County DWI cases.

Texas maintains multiple official record systems for DWI cases, including court records at the county level and criminal history data at the state level through DPS.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Palo Pinto County. Each has its own clerk's office for DWI records.