Potter County DUI and DWI Records

Potter County DUI and DWI records are held by the District Clerk and County Clerk at the courthouse in Amarillo, Texas. You can search for a DWI case, find court filings, or request certified copies from either office. The District Clerk runs four district courts that handle felony DWI cases. The County Clerk oversees two County Courts at Law that handle misdemeanor DWI charges. Both offices maintain public access to case records, and e-filing is mandatory for attorneys in the district courts.

Potter County District Clerk and County Clerk

The Potter County District Clerk handles all felony DWI records for the county. Felony DWI charges including third offense DWI, DWI with a child passenger under 15, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter go through one of the four district courts: the 47th, 108th, 181st, and 320th. The District Clerk's office uses the Odyssey case management system, which provides online access to many case records.

The Potter County District Clerk is at 501 S. Fillmore Street, Amarillo, TX 79101. The phone is (806) 379-2300. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys in the district courts. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. For the public, in-person visits and mail requests are both available.

The Potter County Clerk is at 900 S. Polk Street, Amarillo, TX 79101 and can be reached at (806) 379-2200. This office handles all Class A and B misdemeanor DWI cases through two County Courts at Law. First and second offense DWI records are kept here. In-person and online access are available for some records.

Searching Potter County DWI Records

Potter County gives you a few ways to find DWI records. Online access through the Odyssey system is available for many district court cases. You can also search in person at the District Clerk's office or the County Clerk's office. For older cases or records not yet in the online system, an in-person visit is the most reliable approach.

The Texas Judicial Branch also maintains the re:SearchTX statewide portal, which may have docket data for Potter County cases. For specific documents or certified copies, you will need to visit the courthouse in person or submit a mail request. Bring the full name and an approximate year when searching.

The Amarillo Police Department records division is at 200 SE 3rd Avenue, Amarillo, TX 79101. Police reports, arrest records, and incident reports cost $5.00 per report. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days. You can request records online through the department portal at amarillo.gov/police.

The Amarillo Municipal Court is at 200 SE 3rd Avenue, phone (806) 378-3021. The municipal court handles Class C misdemeanors, which includes minor DUI offenses for drivers under 21. Online case lookup and ticket payment are available at amarillo.gov/courts. Deferred disposition is available for eligible offenses.

Crash reports tied to DWI incidents are available through the Texas Department of Transportation. Standard copies are $6.00 and certified copies are $8.00.

Texas DWI Laws and Penalties

Texas DWI and intoxication offenses are all defined in Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. A first offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor. It carries up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. The mandatory minimum is 72 hours. An open container raises it to six days minimum.

A second DWI is a Class A misdemeanor: up to one year in jail and up to $4,000 in fines. The mandatory minimum is 30 days. If a BAC reading comes in at 0.15 or higher, the charge is elevated to Class A even for a first arrest. The TxDOT impaired driving page explains each penalty tier clearly.

Third offense DWI is a third degree felony: 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. DWI with a child passenger under 15 is a state jail felony. Intoxication assault is a third degree felony when someone suffers serious bodily injury. Intoxication manslaughter is a second degree felony, carrying 2 to 20 years in prison. All felony cases go through one of the four Potter County district courts.

Under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041, any driver under 21 with detectable alcohol in their system faces a DUI charge separate from DWI. Penalties include fines, license suspension, and alcohol education. This charge is separate from the adult DWI statute.

Administrative License Revocation

A DWI arrest in Potter County triggers the state's Administrative License Revocation process. The arresting officer takes the physical license and issues a Notice of Suspension. The Texas DPS manages ALR under Texas Transportation Code Chapter 524.

You have 15 days from the arrest to request an ALR hearing with the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Without a hearing request, the suspension starts automatically on day 40. The temporary permit in the notice is valid for 40 days. A first refusal results in a 180-day suspension. A failed test at or above 0.08 BAC results in a 90-day suspension. To get your license back, pay a $125 reinstatement fee to the Texas DPS.

Potter County Court System

Potter County has four district courts: the 47th, 108th, 181st, and 320th Judicial District Courts. All of them handle felony criminal cases, including felony DWI charges. The two County Courts at Law handle misdemeanor DWI cases. All courts are in Amarillo at the Potter County courthouse complex.

For defendants who may qualify, deferred adjudication and community supervision programs are available through the courts. These typically involve probation, fines, community service hours, and sometimes alcohol treatment. Check with the court clerk about program details and current eligibility requirements.

All DWI enforcement officers in Potter County are certified through TCOLE under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1701. The Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains statewide criminal history records that include arrest and disposition data submitted by Potter County agencies.

Driver Records and DPS

Order your Texas driving record through the Texas DPS driver record page. A Type 2 covers three years. A Type 3 covers your full history. Online orders cost $4.00 to $22.00. Mail requests go to Texas DPS, Box 149008, Austin, TX 78714-9008 and take up to three weeks to process.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission regulates alcohol licensing in Potter County and the Amarillo metro area. TABC compliance data flows into state records systems. For public information requests to DPS for DWI-related agency records, follow the process at dps.texas.gov.

The state-level image below shows the Texas DPS portal used across the state for accessing DUI and DWI records systems.

Texas DPS maintains statewide criminal history and driver records that supplement local Potter County DWI court records in Amarillo.

Cities in Potter County

Amarillo spans both Potter and Randall counties. DWI cases from Amarillo may be filed in either county depending on where the arrest occurred.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Potter County in the Texas Panhandle.