For a Texas state trooper phone number, the right line depends on what you need. Call 911 for any emergency. Call the DPS Motorists Helpline at 1-800-525-5555 for a roadside breakdown or to report a suspected drunk driver. Call Department of Public Safety headquarters in Austin at (512) 424-2000 for administrative questions, records, or to be routed to the right office.
When to Use 911 vs. the Motorists Helpline
Any crime in progress, a serious crash, or an immediate threat to life should go to 911. That routes you to the nearest emergency dispatch center, which can send a trooper, ambulance, or fire crew.
The Motorists Helpline at 1-800-525-5555 is the better line when nobody is hurt and nothing violent is happening. A live operator answers around the clock, and the line covers two main situations: your vehicle is disabled or you’re stranded on the roadside, and you want to report a suspected drunk driver.1Department of Public Safety. Travel Tips Using the helpline for a flat tire or an overheated engine keeps 911 open for medical crises and active crimes. A responding trooper can coordinate a tow or stand by for safety while you wait on a busy shoulder.
DPS Headquarters and Driver License Line
Headquarters handles administrative questions, records requests, and general inquiries that don’t involve an active roadside situation. The main office is at 5805 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78752, and the phone number is (512) 424-2000.2Texas Department of Public Safety. Contact Us For driver license questions specifically, a separate customer service line answers at (512) 424-2600.
Regional DPS Office Numbers
Texas organizes DPS into seven regional commands.3Texas Department of Public Safety. About DPS – Section: DPS Regions Calling the regional office nearest you is the right approach for following up on an investigation, asking about local traffic concerns, or reaching a duty officer without tying up emergency lines.
- Region 1 (North Texas): 350 West IH-30, Garland, TX 75043 — (214) 861-2240
- Region 2 (Southeast Texas): 12230 West Road, Houston, TX 77065 — (281) 517-1637
- Region 3 (South Texas): 2525 North International Boulevard, Weslaco, TX 78599 — (956) 565-7500
- Region 4 (West Texas): 11612 Scott Simpson, El Paso, TX 79936 — (915) 849-4135
- Region 5 (Northwest Texas): 1404 Lubbock Business Park Blvd., Suite 100, Lubbock, TX 79403 — (806) 740-8731
- Region 6 (Central Texas): 6502 South New Braunfels Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78223 — (210) 531-4303
- Region 7 (Capitol District): 1801 Congress Avenue, Suite 3.200, Austin, TX 78701 — (512) 936-2208
These numbers come from the DPS regional contact page.4Department of Public Safety. Regional Contact Information If you’re unsure which region covers your county, call headquarters at (512) 424-2000 and ask to be transferred.
What to Have Ready When You Call
A few details make any call go faster. For roadside situations, know the highway name or route number and the nearest mile marker, cross street, or exit. If you’re reporting another vehicle, note the color, make, and license plate. Mentioning visible hazards or weather gives the responding trooper a useful heads-up.
For calls about an existing case, the single most useful piece of information is your case number. Without it, the trooper’s name or badge number narrows the search. Your Texas driver’s license number can help staff pull up records quickly. None of this is required to make a call, but specifics cut hold time.
Filing a Complaint About a Trooper
Complaints about trooper conduct go to the DPS Office of Inspector General, not the regional dispatch line. Texas law requires that any complaint against a peace officer be submitted in writing and signed by the person making it.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code GOV’T 614.022 You can file by mail, email, fax, or through the online form on the DPS website. Include a clear narrative of what happened, the trooper’s name if you know it, and your contact information.6Texas Department of Public Safety. How to File a Complaint
The mailing address is Texas Department of Public Safety, Office of Inspector General, 13706 Research Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78750. You can call (512) 424-5017 with questions about the process, but a phone call alone won’t satisfy the written-and-signed rule; treat it as a preliminary step.6Texas Department of Public Safety. How to File a Complaint
If You Need a Crash Report, Don’t Call DPS
Even though a trooper wrote the report, DPS doesn’t distribute it. The Texas Department of Transportation handles crash report requests through its online purchase system at cris.txdot.gov. A regular copy costs $6 and a certified copy costs $8, plus a small credit card surcharge, and reports arrive by email. Texas Transportation Code Section 550.065 limits unredacted reports to people involved in the crash, their authorized representatives, insurers covering someone involved, and certain media outlets; anyone else receives a redacted version.7Texas Department of Transportation. Crash Reports and Records