Zavala County DUI and DWI Records

Zavala County DUI and DWI records are kept by the District Clerk and County Clerk in Crystal City. The county is in the Winter Garden region of Southwest Texas, and DWI cases here are handled through the 293rd District Court at the Zavala County Courthouse on Uvalde Street. This page explains how to find and request Zavala County DWI records from court offices and related Texas agencies.

Zavala County District Clerk

The Zavala County District Clerk handles all felony DWI records through the 293rd District Court. This includes DWI third or more offense, intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, and DWI with a child passenger. The District Clerk office is at 200 E. Uvalde Street in Crystal City and can be reached at (830) 374-2341.

Case files include the charge, filing date, bond information, hearing history, and final outcome. Document copies cost $1.00 per page plus $5.00 for certified copies. E-filing is available for attorneys through the state's system. Online records access is very limited in Zavala County, so direct contact with the office is usually needed for records requests. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday. All felony DWI conviction records are kept permanently.

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 under 15 is a state jail felony under Section 49.045 with 180 days to 2 years in state jail. All are filed at the District Clerk level.

Zavala County Clerk - Misdemeanor DWI Records

The Zavala County Clerk at 200 E. Uvalde Street manages all misdemeanor DWI records through the County Court at Law. Phone is (830) 374-2342. 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.

Records are available in person or by written request. Files include the charge, arrest date, court hearings, plea, and sentence. All DWI convictions, even first offense misdemeanors, are kept permanently under state policy. Zavala County has limited online record access, so calls or in-person visits to the clerk's office are typically needed. Staff can search by name or case number.

DWI Enforcement in Zavala County

DWI arrests in Zavala County are made by the Zavala County Sheriff's Office, the Crystal City Police Department, and Texas DPS troopers. US-83 and SH-117 run through Zavala County and are the main roads for DPS enforcement. Crystal City is the largest community and sees the most city-based DWI arrests. All arrests feed into the county court system for prosecution.

The Sheriff's Office handles arrests in unincorporated county areas. Booking records and incident reports are maintained at the Sheriff's facility. For copies of arrest or incident reports, contact the Sheriff directly. Report fees are typically $5.00. Written mail requests are accepted. Video footage from DWI arrests can be requested through formal public information requests. DPS records can be requested at dps.texas.gov or by emailing publicrecords@dps.texas.gov.

Crash reports from DWI accidents in Zavala County are filed with TxDOT. Officers must file the CR-3 crash report within 10 days for crashes with injury, death, or $1,000-plus in property damage. Those reports can be purchased through TxDOT's CRIS system for $6 (standard) or $8 (certified).

License Suspension After DWI in Zavala County

A DWI arrest in Zavala County triggers the Texas DPS Administrative License Revocation process. The arresting officer takes the driver's physical license and provides a 40-day temporary permit. The driver has 15 days to request an ALR hearing. If no request is made, the suspension takes effect automatically. This process is governed by Transportation Code Chapter 524 and is separate from the criminal DWI 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 those periods. A $125 reinstatement fee is required before DPS will issue a new license. Driving records can be ordered at dps.texas.gov for $4 to $22 depending on type. The certified Type 3A record is $10 online.

Texas DWI Law in Zavala County Cases

Zavala County courts apply Texas Penal Code Chapter 49 to all DWI cases. The standard first offense under Section 49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor. Having an open container in the vehicle raises the minimum from 72 hours to six days for a first offense. A third DWI under Section 49.09 is a third-degree felony carrying 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.

Zavala County DWI records show the complete case from filing through final disposition. Dismissed cases are kept five years. Deferred adjudication records are kept two years after discharge. Conviction records are permanent. Appellate records for Zavala County cases go through the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio, searchable at txcourts.gov. Statewide criminal history including Zavala County DWI convictions is accessible through DPS Crime Records Services.

Note: The 293rd District Court serves multiple Southwest Texas counties. Zavala County felony DWI cases may have some hearings in other counties depending on judge scheduling, but all records remain on file at the Zavala County District Clerk in Crystal City.

Texas DPS and Zavala County DWI Records

Texas DPS maintains driving and criminal history records for all Zavala County residents. The official Penal Code Chapter 49 statutes page is the authoritative source for DWI law in Zavala County prosecutions.

All DWI convictions from Zavala County are reported to DPS and appear in the statewide criminal history database. Driving records and conviction history for Zavala County residents can be accessed through the official DPS portal.

Nearby Counties

Zavala County is in the Winter Garden area of Southwest Texas. Each neighboring county handles DWI cases through its own district and county courts.