Frio County DWI and DUI Records

Frio County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Pearsall. The county uses the 81st Judicial District Court for felony DWI cases, a court shared with neighboring Atascosa County. The County Court at Law handles first and second offense misdemeanor charges. Both offices are at 500 E. San Antonio Street in Pearsall.

Frio County District Clerk

The Frio County District Clerk handles all felony DWI records filed through the 81st District Court. This court is shared with Atascosa County and sits in Pearsall when hearing Frio County cases. Felony DWI charges include third and subsequent DWI convictions, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child under 15 in the vehicle.

The District Clerk's office is at 500 E. San Antonio Street, Pearsall, TX 78061. Phone is (830) 334-2114. Document copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies carry an extra $5.00 fee. E-filing is available for attorneys through eFileTexas.gov. Online access is limited. In-person and mail requests are the primary methods for getting case documents. Have the defendant's full name and approximate case date ready when you contact the office.

Frio County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Frio County Clerk maintains misdemeanor DWI records for first and second offense cases. Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, a first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum 72-hour jail sentence. Second DWI is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory 30-day minimum in county jail. Both levels are handled by the County Court at Law in Pearsall. A BAC of 0.15 or higher on a first offense also triggers the Class A range.

The County Clerk's office is at 500 E. San Antonio Street, phone (830) 334-2115. Service is in-person. Records from the county court include the charge type, bond information, court dates, plea, and final case outcome. Standard copy fees apply. Misdemeanor DWI convictions in Frio County are permanent public records. Call ahead to confirm hours and what you'll need to bring to locate the file.

For a statewide criminal history search that includes Frio County convictions, Texas DPS Crime Records maintains a central database covering all Texas courts.

How to Find Frio County DWI Records

Frio County does not have a full public online case search portal. Records are accessed in person at the courthouse in Pearsall or through written mail requests. Both clerk offices share the same address on East San Antonio Street, which makes a single visit workable if you're checking both courts. If you know it's a felony case, go to the District Clerk. Misdemeanor cases go to the County Clerk.

The 81st District Court also covers Atascosa County. If a Frio County felony DWI case is difficult to locate, it's worth confirming that the case wasn't assigned a cause number that links it to the Atascosa County side of the shared district. This is less common but possible when judges or case assignments rotate between the two counties.

Crash reports from DWI accidents along Interstate 35 or county roads in Frio County are available through TxDOT's CRIS request system. These peace officer crash reports document what happened at the scene and cost $6 standard or $8 certified. They're separate from the court case records.

Note: I-35 runs through Frio County and is a major DWI enforcement corridor. Traffic stops on the interstate by state troopers are processed through the Frio County court system.

DWI Law in Frio County, Texas

Frio County prosecutes all DWI cases under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. To support a DWI conviction, the state must prove the person operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Intoxication is a BAC of 0.08 or above or loss of normal mental or physical faculties due to alcohol, drugs, or both.

Third DWI conviction is a third-degree felony under Section 49.09, punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000. DWI with a child in the vehicle is charged as a state jail felony under Section 49.045 starting at the first offense. Intoxication assault under Section 49.07 is a third-degree felony when serious bodily injury results. Intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 is a second-degree felony when a death occurs.

The Texas Office of Court Administration oversees all state courts including the 81st District that serves Frio County. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at tabc.texas.gov handles alcohol licensing and enforcement that can intersect with DWI cases in county businesses along the I-35 corridor.

License Suspension After DWI Arrest in Frio County

A DWI arrest in Frio County triggers the Administrative License Revocation process with Texas DPS. The officer takes the physical license at arrest and gives a 40-day temporary permit. The driver has 15 days to request a hearing or the suspension takes effect automatically once the permit expires.

Refusing the breath or blood test brings a 180-day suspension on the first offense. Failing at 0.08 or above means a 90-day suspension. Prior ALR actions within 10 years double both of those periods. The governing statute is Transportation Code Chapter 524. The ALR process runs separate from the criminal DWI case. A not-guilty verdict in court does not cancel the ALR suspension.

A $125 reinstatement fee must be paid to DPS before driving privileges are restored after the suspension ends. Driving records showing suspension history and conviction dates are available from dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22 depending on the record type.

Texas DPS and Frio County DWI Records

Statewide DWI records covering Frio County cases can be requested through the Texas DPS public information portal.

DPS state records are useful when you need to verify prior out-of-county DWI convictions or license status after a Frio County DWI arrest.

Nearby Counties

Frio County is in south Texas along I-35 between San Antonio and Laredo. Neighboring counties process their own DWI cases through separate courts.