Washington County DUI and DWI Records

Washington County DUI and DWI records are kept by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Brenham, Texas. You can search these records to find case filings, charges, court dates, and final outcomes for DWI arrests that took place in Washington County.

Washington County District Clerk

The Washington County District Clerk handles felony DWI records in the county. The 21st District Court in Brenham has jurisdiction over third and higher DWI offenses, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger under 15. These are the most serious DWI charges under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. If you need a record of a felony DWI case in Washington County, the District Clerk is the right place to start.

The District Clerk office is at 100 E. Main Street in Brenham. Staff can help with in-person record requests during regular business hours. Document copies cost $1.00 per page, and certified copies carry an additional $5.00 fee. You can also submit written requests by mail. Processing times vary but most requests are handled within a few business days. Call ahead to confirm current fees and hours before you visit.

The official Texas Courts website lists the current judge and contact details for the 21st District Court. This is useful if you need to verify court dates or look up general case info before calling the clerk's office directly.

Washington County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

Misdemeanor DWI records in Washington County are handled by the County Clerk's office. First offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, and a second offense is a Class A misdemeanor under Section 49.09. These cases go through the County Court at Law in Brenham. The County Clerk keeps all case filings, docket entries, plea records, and judgments for misdemeanor DWI cases.

To get a copy of a misdemeanor DWI record, contact the Washington County Clerk at 100 E. Main Street in Brenham. Bring the defendant's full name and approximate date of the case if you have it. The clerk can search by name or case number. Copy fees are $1.00 per page. Certified copies are an extra $5.00. Written or mail requests are also accepted. The clerk office is typically open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

Note: A DWI with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or above is charged as a Class A misdemeanor under Section 49.04, even for a first offense. This makes it a County Court case rather than a Justice of the Peace matter.

Washington County Sheriff - DWI Arrest Records

The Washington County Sheriff's Office handles DWI arrests in unincorporated areas of the county. After a DWI arrest, the Sheriff creates an incident report that includes the deputy's observations, field sobriety test results, BAC information, and booking details. These reports are separate from the court records held by the District Clerk and County Clerk. You can request these arrest records from the Sheriff's office by phone or in writing.

The Texas Department of Public Safety also maintains statewide arrest records through the Crime Records Division. DPS compiles criminal history from local agencies and forwards information to the FBI's national database. If you need a full criminal history check, the DPS is the best source. You can submit a request online through their public information portal at dps.texas.gov.

The official Texas DPS portal for crime records provides information on how arrests are compiled statewide. The image below shows the DPS crime records system used across all Texas counties including Washington County.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division maintains statewide DWI arrest histories. All Washington County DWI arrests are submitted to this system and forwarded to the FBI's national criminal history database.

Texas DWI Law and Washington County Cases

Washington County prosecutes DWI cases under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The core offense is defined in Section 49.04: a person commits DWI by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in a public place. 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. Both standards can lead to prosecution in Washington County courts.

First offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours jail time and up to 180 days, plus fines up to $2,000. A second offense under Section 49.09 is a Class A misdemeanor with a 30-day minimum. Third offense or more is a third-degree felony carrying 2 to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Washington County courts also prosecute DWI with a child passenger as a state jail felony under Section 49.045, which applies whenever a child under 15 is in the vehicle.

Crash-related DWI cases may involve a separate crash report maintained by TxDOT. A peace officer crash report (CR-3) is filed for any crash with injuries, death, or damage over $1,000. Involved parties can get a copy for $6 (regular) or $8 (certified) through TxDOT's CRIS online system. TxDOT holds crash records for 10 years plus the current year.

License Suspension After a DWI Arrest in Washington County

After any DWI arrest in Washington County, the Administrative License Revocation process starts right away. The arresting officer takes your physical license and gives you a 40-day temporary permit. You have just 15 days to request an ALR hearing with the Texas DPS. If you miss that window, your license will be suspended automatically. The ALR process is civil, not criminal, and runs on a separate track from the court case.

For a first offense, refusing a chemical test results in a 180-day suspension. Failing the test at 0.08 or above brings a 90-day suspension. If there has been a prior ALR suspension within 10 years, both periods double. The suspension stands even if the criminal DWI charge is later dismissed. A $125 reinstatement fee is required before DPS will issue a new license. The full ALR process runs under Transportation Code Chapter 524.

Driving records can be ordered directly from dps.texas.gov. The Type 3A certified complete history is most commonly used for legal purposes and costs $10 online. Records cannot be requested by phone or at a driver license office.

Note: Drivers under 21 face stricter rules. Any detectable alcohol is a violation under the zero tolerance law in Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041. A first offense results in a 30-day license suspension plus mandatory alcohol awareness classes.

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders several other counties in the Brazos Valley region. DWI cases from those areas go through their own court systems.