Wichita County DWI Records

Wichita County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Wichita Falls, the county seat. You can search these records to find DWI case filings, arrest details, charges, court outcomes, and related documents for cases in Wichita County.

Wichita County District Clerk

The Wichita County District Clerk maintains records for all felony DWI cases in the county. Wichita County has three District Courts: the 30th, 78th, and 89th. These courts handle third and higher DWI offenses, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger. Felony DWI records show the full case history including charges, bond conditions, hearing dates, and final dispositions. Third offense DWI is a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code Section 49.09, carrying 2 to 10 years in prison.

You can request Wichita County District Clerk records in person at the courthouse in Wichita Falls or by mail. Document copies are $1.00 per page and certified copies add $5.00. The county seat has more resources than smaller rural counties, and some records may be accessible through the state's Texas Courts portal. Call the office to confirm current access options and processing times before making a trip.

Wichita County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Wichita County Clerk handles misdemeanor DWI records. Wichita County has two County Courts at Law, which handle first and second DWI offenses. A first offense is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 with a minimum of 72 hours in jail. A second offense is a Class A misdemeanor under Section 49.09 with a 30-day minimum. All misdemeanor DWI case records, including pleas, sentences, and probation terms, are maintained by the County Clerk.

Records can be requested at the Wichita County Courthouse in Wichita Falls. The County Clerk office is in the same general courthouse complex as the District Clerk. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies. Certified copies are $5.00 extra. Records go back many years in Wichita County. If you know the approximate date and the defendant's name, staff can usually locate the case quickly.

Note: A first offense DWI with a BAC of 0.15 or higher is a Class A misdemeanor under Section 49.04 and goes through the County Court at Law rather than the Justice of the Peace.

Wichita County Sheriff - Arrest Records

The Wichita County Sheriff's Office handles DWI arrests in unincorporated areas of the county. The Sheriff's records include incident reports, officer observations, field sobriety test results, BAC readings, and booking records. These are separate from court records. The Wichita Falls Police Department handles DWI arrests within city limits. Both agencies submit data to the Texas DPS Crime Records Division, which compiles all DWI arrests into the state criminal history system.

For a complete DWI history, the DPS is the most thorough source. You can submit a public information request to DPS online, by email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov, or by mail to their Austin office. Driving records, including DWI convictions, can be ordered at dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22 depending on the type.

The Texas DPS official records portal is shown below. All Wichita County DWI arrests flow through this statewide system.

The DPS Crime Records Division receives DWI arrest data from the Wichita County Sheriff's Office and Wichita Falls Police Department. This statewide system provides criminal history records for all counties.

DWI Cases and Records in Wichita County

Wichita County courts process DWI cases under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. The basic offense of DWI under Section 49.04 covers all motor vehicle operation while intoxicated in any public place. Legal intoxication is a BAC of 0.08 or above, or impaired use of mental or physical faculties from alcohol or drugs. Both standards are used in Wichita County prosecutions.

Wichita County, being one of the larger North Texas counties, sees a significant volume of DWI cases each year. Records from both the District Clerk and County Clerk are permanently retained for all DWI convictions. Dismissed cases are kept for 5 years. Deferred adjudication records are kept for 2 years after the case is discharged. Under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 14, officers can arrest without a warrant for DWI because it is an offense against public peace that may be committed in an officer's presence.

Intoxication assault cases in Wichita County go through the District Courts. Under Section 49.07, causing serious bodily injury while driving drunk is a third-degree felony. If the victim is a peace officer, firefighter, or EMS worker, it can be elevated to a second-degree felony. Intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 is a second-degree felony and becomes first-degree if the victim is a peace officer in the line of duty.

License Suspension After DWI in Wichita County

After a DWI arrest in Wichita County, the Administrative License Revocation process begins immediately. The arresting officer takes the driver's license and issues a 40-day temporary permit. You have 15 days to request a hearing with the Texas DPS. The ALR case is handled separately from the criminal DWI matter. Losing the ALR hearing or not requesting one means your license will be suspended when the temporary permit expires.

First offense adults: refusing the chemical test means 180-day suspension; failing at 0.08 or above means 90-day suspension. A prior ALR suspension within the past 10 years doubles these periods. Even if you win the criminal DWI case in court, the ALR suspension can still stand. To get your license back after an ALR suspension, you must pay a $125 reinstatement fee to DPS. The process is governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524.

The TxDOT impaired driving page summarizes all first, second, and third offense DWI penalties in Texas. These penalties apply to all Wichita County DWI convictions. Additional state fines of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 are assessed at sentencing on top of the standard fine amounts.

Nearby Counties

Wichita County is in North Texas near the Oklahoma border. DWI cases from nearby counties go through their own courts.