Aransas County DWI Records Search

Aransas County DUI and DWI records are held by a combined County and District Clerk office in Rockport, Texas. This coastal county is part of the 36th Judicial District and has records going back to 1871. If you need to look up a DWI case or get court documents, you can visit the clerk's office at the courthouse in Rockport. The same office handles both misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Records are open to the public during business hours.

Aransas County Clerk

The Aransas County Clerk office is at 301 N. Live Oak, Room 101, Rockport, TX 78382. The main phone number is (361) 790-0122. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is a combined office serving both county and district court functions. E-filing is available through eFileTexas.gov. Standard copy fees are $1.00 per page, with a $5.00 certification fee per document.

The Aransas County Clerk's official page has contact information and office details. Because this is a combined clerk office, it handles both the County Court at Law records for misdemeanor DWI cases and the 36th District Court records for felony DWI cases. Grand jury proceedings happen quarterly. Appeals from the district court go to the 13th Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi.

Aransas County Sheriff's Office

The Aransas County Sheriff is William C. Mills. The Sheriff's Office is at 2841 SH 35 Bypass, Aransas Pass, TX 78336. The phone number is (361) 790-2200. The office provides full-service law enforcement and operates a county jail. Arrest records are maintained here, and open records requests are accepted in writing.

One thing that makes Aransas County unique is the marine patrol division. Because the county is on the Texas coast, the Sheriff's Office also enforces laws on the water. DWI laws in Texas apply to boats as well as cars. Operating a watercraft while intoxicated is Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) under Penal Code Section 49.06, and a BWI conviction can count as a prior offense when calculating penalties for a later DWI arrest.

The Aransas County Sheriff's Office page provides more information on available services and how to contact the records division.

Aransas County Court at Law

The Aransas County Court at Law handles Class A and B misdemeanor DWI cases. That covers first and second offense DWI. The court also has probate and civil jurisdiction for cases under $250,000. Community service programs and pretrial diversion programs are available for eligible defendants. Payment plans are offered for fines and court costs. Online ticket payment is available for some citations.

For first offense DWI, defendants are often required to complete a DWI education program and attend a victim impact panel. Deferred adjudication is available for some first-time offenders. If the defendant successfully completes probation, the case may be dismissed. This does not affect the ALR suspension from the DPS, which is a separate process.

Note: Even with a deferred adjudication or dismissed criminal case, the ALR license suspension from DPS can still remain in effect.

DWI Laws and Penalties

Under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49, a first DWI conviction carries up to 180 days in jail with a mandatory three days, a fine up to $2,000, and up to a one-year license suspension. Second offense adds a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail and a fine up to $4,000. Third offense becomes a felony. The TxDOT impaired driving page has a clear breakdown of all penalties by offense level.

Texas also adds state fines on top of court fines. You can be assessed an additional $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 depending on the offense. These are separate from the base fine and apply upon sentencing. Open container violations add a minimum six days in jail even on a first offense. A BAC of 0.15 or higher upgrades the charge to a Class A misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

For drivers under 21, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Section 106.041 applies the zero tolerance rule. Any detectable amount of alcohol means a DUI charge, not a DWI. The penalties are lighter but still include license suspension, community service, and an alcohol awareness program.

License Suspension After DWI Arrest

After a DWI arrest in Aransas County, the officer will give you a Notice of Suspension. This starts the ALR process. You get a 40-day temporary driving permit. If you do not request an ALR hearing within 15 days, the suspension takes effect automatically on day 40.

Refusing a chemical test results in a 180-day suspension for a first offense, and 2 years if there was a prior refusal within 10 years. A failed test with a BAC of 0.08 or higher results in a 90-day suspension for first offense and 1 year with a prior. A $125 reinstatement fee is required. Contact the Texas DPS to check your license status or to start the reinstatement process. The law governing this process is Transportation Code Chapter 524.

Aransas County Official Resources

The Aransas County Clerk's official page shows office details for the combined County and District Clerk serving the 36th Judicial District.

The combined clerk's office handles misdemeanor and felony DWI records, court filings, and certified copy requests for Aransas County.

The Aransas County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services including a marine patrol division that patrols coastal waterways.

The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and jail records, and can be contacted for open records requests related to DWI incidents in the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Aransas County along the Texas coast.