Tarrant County DWI Records

Tarrant County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Fort Worth. Both offices have online search tools and in-person access at the courthouse. Tarrant County is home to Fort Worth, Arlington, and dozens of other cities, making it one of the busiest court systems in Texas for DWI case filings.

Tarrant County District Clerk - Criminal Division

The Tarrant County District Clerk's office handles felony criminal records including DWI 3rd or more offenses, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter. Tarrant County has 17 criminal district courts numbered from the 213th through the 432nd. Given the county's population of over 2 million, these courts handle a very large volume of felony DWI cases.

The online criminal case search portal lets you search by name or case number at no cost. Case details include the defendant's information, the charge and degree of offense, the bond amount, court assignments, and docket settings. Most documents are also available for online purchase at $1.00 per page with immediate download. Certified copies cost $1.00 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee, and are available in person or by mail.

The District Clerk's criminal case search is at tarrantcounty.com/en/district-clerk/criminal-case-records.html. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. Record retention for felony cases is permanent.

The Tarrant County District Clerk criminal case search portal provides free public access to case records.

The District Clerk portal allows searching by defendant name, case number, or date range for all felony DWI cases filed in Tarrant County.

Tarrant County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Tarrant County Clerk handles records for the 10 County Criminal Courts, numbered Courts 1 through 10. These courts handle all Class A and B misdemeanor DWI cases, which means first and second offense DWI. Records include BAC levels, disposition outcomes, probation orders, and all court filings related to the case.

Online payment for fines is available through the county's system. Payment plans are offered for defendants who qualify. Community service alternatives to fines may also be available depending on the judge and the case facts. Conviction records are kept permanently. Dismissal records are kept for five years.

The Tarrant County Clerk criminal records division maintains all misdemeanor DWI case files.

Misdemeanor DWI records from Tarrant County's ten County Criminal Courts are searchable through the same portal as felony records by filtering for county court cases.

Fort Worth Police Department Records

Fort Worth Police handles DWI arrests within city limits. Their Records Division accepts open records requests online through the city portal. DWI arrest reports include the officer narrative, field sobriety test results, chemical test results, and arrest circumstances. Processing takes about 10 business days for standard requests. Video requests (body cam, dash cam) take longer and have additional fees.

Basic fees at FWPD: Police report $5.00, accident report $5.00, 911 audio $10 plus media, video $25 plus media, photos $5.00 each. Submit requests online or by mail to Fort Worth Police, Attn: Open Records, 505 W. Felix St., Fort Worth, TX 76115. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

DWI Law in Tarrant County

Texas DWI law is spelled out in Penal Code Chapter 49. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum 72 hours in jail and up to 180 days, plus a fine up to $2,000. If the driver had an open container at the time of arrest, the minimum jumps to six days. If BAC tests at 0.15 or higher, the charge upgrades to a Class A misdemeanor on the first offense.

A second DWI carries a 30-day mandatory minimum in Tarrant County courts. A third offense becomes a third-degree felony with 2 to 10 years in prison. Felony DWI cases go before one of Tarrant County's 17 criminal district courts. Beyond the fines and jail time, the state adds surcharges at sentencing: $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 depending on factors like BAC level and prior offenses.

Driving with a child passenger under 15 years old while intoxicated is a state jail felony under Section 49.045, regardless of prior record. It carries 180 days to 2 years in state jail and a fine up to $10,000. These cases also go before a district court in Tarrant County.

For minors under 21, the zero tolerance law under Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041 applies. Any detectable alcohol is an offense. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission also gets involved in cases with minors, and TABC enforces alcohol sales laws that can feed into related DWI incidents.

License Suspension and ALR in Tarrant County

After a DWI arrest in Fort Worth or anywhere in Tarrant County, DPS initiates the Administrative License Revocation process under Transportation Code Chapter 524. The officer takes the driver's physical license at the scene and issues a temporary driving permit good for 40 days. The driver has 15 days from the arrest to request an ALR hearing.

If no hearing is requested, the suspension starts automatically on day 40. For a first refusal, the suspension is 180 days. For a first failed test at 0.08 or above, the suspension is 90 days. These timelines are the same across all Texas counties including Tarrant.

ALR hearings are conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings, not by Tarrant County courts. The hearing examines four specific questions: whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the driver, whether there was probable cause for the DWI arrest, whether the driver was properly asked to submit to testing, and whether the driver refused or failed. The burden of proof is lower than in a criminal trial.

After any ALR suspension, a $125 reinstatement fee must be paid to DPS before the license is restored. Driving on a suspended license in Tarrant County leads to additional criminal charges.

Cities in Tarrant County

Tarrant County includes Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Mansfield among other cities. DWI cases from all these areas go through Tarrant County courts.

Nearby Counties

Tarrant County is surrounded by other major North Texas counties. Each maintains its own DWI records.