Public Information Act

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.

Requests for public information must be made in writing. Your request should include your name, address, and as much description as you can provide regarding the records you are requesting.


Emailed requests will be accepted only if they are sent through our website. To send an open records request now, please use our Public Information Request page.


Telephone requests are not considered public information requests.


To request a driving record, you must submit the required information and pay the applicable fee.

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.
  • Public CHRI may also be obtained by submitting a request containing as much identifying information as possible, along with a check or money order in the amount of $10 made out to TxDPS, to Crime Records Service, PO Box 15999, Austin, TX 78761-5999.

Requests for information may be mailed to Open Records, Box 4087, Austin, TX 78773-0140; faxed to (512) 424-5716; dropped off in person at 5805 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin; or emailed via the Public Information Request page.


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.


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