The Public Information Act guarantees the public access to information maintained by a government agency. It is our policy to provide you with the fullest possible access to public information. If you wish to request records under the Texas Public Information Act, please refer to the following requirements and guidelines.
How To Submit Your Request
To request public information from DPS, you may send your request:
- Through the DPS Public Information Center
- By email to publicrecords@dps.texas.gov
- Please note that electronic requests will only be accepted if submitted through the DPS Public Information Center or to this designated email address.
- By mail to:
- Texas Department of Public Safety, Office of General Counsel – Public Information, Box 4087, Austin, Texas 78773-0140
- In person at:
- 5805 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas 78756
- Please note that as of September 1, 2019, requests for information sent via fax are no longer be accepted.
- Telephone requests are not considered public information requests.
What Your Request Should Include
Please include as much specific information as possible, including your contact information.
Commonly Requested Records
Crash Report: You may obtain a Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3) (regular or certified) from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Report Online Purchase System.
Driving Record: To request a driving record, you must submit the required information and pay the applicable fee.
- You may obtain your own driving record online.
- You must submit the appropriate form to the Driver Record's Bureau to obtain another's driver record. DR-1, Application for Copy of Driver Record (PDF)
Criminal History Record: To request a criminal history record, you must submit the required information and pay the applicable fee.
- You may obtain your own criminal history record by following the procedure set forth in CR-63, Procedure for Review of Personal Criminal History Record Information (PDF).
- Criminal history record information pertaining to a conviction of or a grant of deferred adjudication to a person for any criminal offense is available online.
- Please consult Crime Records Services FAQs for additional information: Crime Records Services FAQ's
Costs and Billing
Charges for copies of public information are set by the Office of the Attorney General.
If we anticipate the charge to fulfill your request will exceed $40.00, we will provide you with an itemized written estimate of the charges and indicate if a less costly alternative is available.
You must respond in writing within 10 days after the estimate is sent that you will accept the costs, or that you desire any stated alternative. If no written response is received in the time allowed by law, your request will be considered withdrawn.
If the anticipated charges for a particular request are more than $100.00. DPS will generally require a prepaid deposit or bond in the amount of the estimated cost before compiling the responsive records. Also, if you have an unpaid balance of more than $100.00 for previous requests, a prepaid deposit or bond may be required.
To pay costs by credit card, please submit your request via the DPS Public Information Center.
DPS is under no legal obligation to respond if the requirements of the Public Information Act are not followed. For questions about the Public Information Act, please consult the Office of Attorney General, Open Government Division.
Legal Notices: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)