Public Information

September 4, 2020

PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER ANNOUNCEMENT

In early April, you will be able to submit a public information request to DPS through the agency’s new Public Information Center.

With the creation of a portal account, a requestor will be able to:

  • Submit a request and receive correspondence and records for that request, regardless of the size of the records
  • Track the status of the request
  • Access previous and current requests, as well as the responses and records produced
  • See records produced to other requestors that have been made available by DPS

 

How To Access DPS Records

Open Records Requests are normally processed by the office that maintains the requested records. 

For example, records related to a crash investigation should be directed to the Highway Patrol office which did the investigation. 

Record Type Division
Personnel Records Human Resources
Complaint/Discipline Records Office of Inspector General
Vehicle Inspection Records Vehicle Inspection
Driver License Records Driver License Division
Criminal History Records Crime Records
Private Security Records Regulatory Service
Concealed Handgun Records Regulatory Service
Commercial Motor Vehicle Records Motor Carrier
Breath Test Records Breath Alcohol Testing

 

Note:  All requests can be mailed to the following address:

Texas Department of Public Safety
Office of General Counsel
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, Texas 78773

Please make sure to include the appropriate division in the Attention line. 

Also, you may e-mail your request to OGC.Webmaster@dps.texas.gov

What Your Request Should Include

Requests for records under the Public Information Act must be in writing.  Including the following information in your request will help ensure that you receive the information you want:

  • Your name and mailing address (so that we can send you a response)

  • Your phone number (so that we can contact you if we have questions about how to respond to your request)

  • A list or description of the specific information you are interested in, including time periods.  Try to be as specific as possible about the information you are seeking.  (Include dates, names of individuals, location of incident including county or city)

    Sample Written Request for Information -  DOC | PDF

Costs & Billing

Charges for copies of public information are set by the Office of the Attorney General.  If the records responsive to your request are less than 50 pages, the charge will be $0.10 per page plus the cost of postage (or other delivery method, at your request). If the responsive records are more than 50 pages, the charge will be $0.10 per page plus personnel costs for the time necessary to locate, compile and copy the documents as well as the cost of postage. 

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 the Department 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.

Non-Public Information

Some of the records maintained by DPS are, in whole or in part, excluded from public disclosure. These include the following:

If you request access to or copies of information, subject to an exception to disclosure DPS may seek a ruling from the Attorney General’s office regarding disclosure of the information.  Information submitted to the Attorney General's office for a ruling will not be available for review until after the Attorney General's office makes a decision as to whether the information can be withheld.  The Attorney General’s office has about 9 weeks to make a decision.

If the records responsive to your request encompasses both public and non-public documents, the public documents will be made available to you even if DPS is waiting for a ruling on disclosure of other records.  If public information and non-public information are both included in a single document, the document will normally be provided to you; however, the information believed to be excepted from required disclosure will be redacted (marked out) pending a ruling from the Attorney General's office.

A request specifically limited to only the kind(s) of information the Attorney General's office has previously determined cannot be withheld from public disclosure can reduce or eliminate the need for DPS to seek a ruling on disclosure. Simply state in your request that you are seeking only information that is not subject to any exception to disclosure. DPS will make available appropriately redacted copies of the responsive records.

The Attorney General's office has issued a previous determination (Open Records Letter Ruling 2001-2047) authorizing DPS to withhold the following records or information without obtaining permission from the Attorney General's office each time: criminal history records and personal information in motor vehicle records.

Public Information Handbook

The Public Information Handbook (PDF) can be found at the Office of the Texas Attorney General.

Where To Send Your Public Information Request

Requests can be mailed, hand-delivered, or sent by electronic mail. Electronic mail requests must be sent to OGC.Webmaster@dps.texas.gov. Please note that a request sent to any other Department email address does not trigger the requirements of the PIA.

Electronic Mail address
OGC.Webmaster@dps.texas.gov

Physical Address for Office of General Counsel
Texas Department of Public Safety
Office of General Counsel
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, Texas 78773-0170

Office of General Counsel
(512) 424-2890