Zapata County DWI Records

Zapata County DUI and DWI records are maintained by the District Clerk and County Clerk in the city of Zapata. This South Texas county sits along US-83 on the Rio Grande, and DWI cases here go through the 49th District Court, which Zapata County shares with Webb County. This page covers where to find those records and how to request them from county courts and state agencies.

Zapata County District Clerk

The Zapata County District Clerk handles felony DWI records through the 49th District Court, shared with Webb County. This court handles the more serious DWI charges: DWI third or more offense, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger under 15. The District Clerk office is at the Zapata County Courthouse in Zapata.

Case records include the charge, filing date, bond conditions, court hearings, and final outcome. Copies cost $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certified copies. E-filing is available for attorneys through the statewide system. Online records access in Zapata County is limited, and most requests require direct contact with the clerk's office by phone or in person. All felony DWI conviction records are kept permanently under state retention requirements.

Intoxication assault under Texas Penal Code Section 49.07 is a third-degree felony with 2 to 10 years in prison. Intoxication manslaughter under Section 49.08 is a second-degree felony with 2 to 20 years. DWI with a child passenger under Section 49.045 is a state jail felony with 180 days to 2 years in state jail. All three are filed at the District Clerk level.

Zapata County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI

The Zapata County Clerk handles all misdemeanor DWI records through the County Court. First-offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor under Section 49.04 with a minimum of 72 hours in jail. Second offense is a Class A misdemeanor with 30 days mandatory minimum. A first offense with a BAC of 0.15 or above is elevated to Class A. The County Clerk office is at the Zapata County Courthouse.

Records are available in person or by written request. Files show the charge, arrest date, hearing dates, plea, and sentence. All DWI convictions are kept permanently. Zapata County has no significant online portal for misdemeanor records, so in-person visits or direct calls to the clerk's office are needed. Staff can search by defendant name or case number during regular hours.

DWI Arrests and Enforcement in Zapata County

DWI arrests in Zapata County are made by the Zapata County Sheriff's Office, the Zapata Police Department, and Texas DPS troopers. US-83 is the main highway through the county and sees regular DPS patrol enforcement. The county is also subject to Border Patrol activity near the Rio Grande, though Border Patrol does not handle state DWI charges. DWI arrests go to county court after initial processing.

The Sheriff's Office handles arrests in unincorporated Zapata County. Booking records and arrest reports are maintained at the Sheriff's office. For copies of reports, contact the Sheriff directly. Report fees are around $5.00. Written requests by mail are accepted. Video from DWI arrests can be requested through formal public information requests under Texas law. DPS records can be requested by emailing publicrecords@dps.texas.gov or through the DPS portal.

Crash reports from accidents in Zapata County are processed by TxDOT. Reports are purchased through TxDOT's CRIS online system for $6 standard or $8 certified. TxDOT retains crash records for 10 years. Subpoena requests as of January 2025 go through CRIS only.

License Suspension After DWI in Zapata County

A DWI arrest in Zapata County starts the Texas DPS Administrative License Revocation process immediately. The officer takes the physical license and issues a 40-day temporary permit. The driver has 15 days to request an ALR hearing or the suspension becomes automatic. This civil process is governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524 and runs separate from the criminal court case.

Refusing a chemical test leads to a 180-day suspension for a first-offense adult. Failing the test at 0.08 or above brings 90 days. Prior ALR suspensions within 10 years double both periods. Under-21 drivers face stricter rules for any detectable alcohol. A $125 reinstatement fee must be paid to DPS before a new license is issued. Driving records are available at dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22 depending on type. The Type 3A certified record is $10 online.

Note: The ALR process can result in a suspension even if criminal DWI charges in Zapata County court are dismissed or resolved in the defendant's favor. The two proceedings are independent.

DWI Law in Zapata County

Zapata County courts apply Texas Penal Code Chapter 49 to all DWI prosecutions. The base first offense under Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor. The open container enhancement raises the minimum from 72 hours to six days. A third DWI is a third-degree felony under Section 49.09, carrying 2 to 10 years and a fine up to $10,000. Prior DWI, BWI, or FWI convictions count toward that enhancement.

Zapata County DWI records include filings, bond conditions, hearings, pleas, verdicts, and sentences. Dismissed case records are retained for five years. Deferred adjudication records are kept two years after discharge. Conviction records are permanent. Appellate records for Zapata County cases go through the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio and can be searched at txcourts.gov. Statewide criminal history including Zapata County DWI convictions is available through DPS Crime Records Services.

Because Zapata County shares the 49th District Court with Webb County, some felony cases from Zapata may have hearings scheduled in Laredo at the Webb County courthouse. Court records for those cases remain on file at the Zapata County District Clerk regardless of where the hearing was held.

Texas DPS Records and Zapata County DWI

Texas DPS maintains driving and criminal history records for Zapata County residents. The official Penal Code Chapter 49 statutes page shows the DWI laws applied in Zapata County courts.

All DWI convictions from Zapata County courts are reported to DPS and included in the statewide database. Driving records and criminal history for Zapata County residents are available through the DPS online portal.

Nearby Counties

Zapata County is along the Rio Grande in South Texas. Neighboring counties each handle their own DWI cases through separate courts.