Brazos County DWI Court Guide

The operational environment for a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) defendant in Brazos County, Texas, constitutes a complex, multi-layered logistical ecosystem that imposes significant, non-judicial penalties immediately upon arrest.

DWI Court Procedures in Brazos County, Texas: A Local Guide

Brazos County operates effectively as a permanent "No Refusal" jurisdiction. Refusal of a breath test routinely triggers an application for a blood search warrant. Officers in Brazos County are equipped to draft probable cause affidavits in the field. These are transmitted electronically to an on-call magistrate (often a Justice of the Peace from Precincts 1-4) for immediate review and digital signature.

The Arrest and Booking Process

A DWI arrest is not a generic event; its logistical trajectory is entirely determined by the agency that initiates the stop. The density of law enforcement agencies operating within Brazos County includes the College Station Police Department (CSPD), the Bryan Police Department (BPD), the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD), and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Understanding which agency initiated the sequence is the first step in unwinding the logistical knot.

If a blood warrant is obtained, the defendant is transported to a designated medical facility—typically St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital or a contract phlebotomy site—for the blood draw. This detour adds approximately 90 to 120 minutes to the pre-booking timeline. For a defendant arrested at 11:00 PM, this pushes their arrival at the jail to 1:00 AM or later, impacting their eligibility for the morning magistration docket.

At the time of arrest, the officer initiates the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process. Upon refusal or failure of the test, the officer confiscates the physical driver’s license and issues the DIC-25. This distinct piece of paper serves as the defendant's "Temporary Driving Permit" for 40 days. Losing this document creates an immediate crisis.

When the arrest occurs, the vehicle is not merely parked; it is seized via a "non-consent tow." The defendant's car could be at any one of a dozen different private lots scattered across the industrial zones of Bryan and College Station. Common operators on the rotation include J.D.'s Wrecker Service, College Station Wrecker, Precision Towing, and Texas Ave Towing.

Detention and Release

The Brazos County Detention Center (BCDC), is located at 1835 Sandy Point Road, Bryan, Texas 77807. The facility is situated in a semi-industrial/rural zone north of the Bryan city center, approximately 5 miles from the Brazos County Courthouse and over 8 miles from the Texas A&M campus area. There is limited to no public transit connectivity to this location during night and weekend hours.

A defining operational feature of DWI booking in Brazos County is the "Sobering Period," requiring an intoxicated individual cannot be released until they are deemed safe, even if bond is posted.

Bail Bonds in Brazos County

The Brazos County Bail Bond Board regulates the market. Approved surety agents are almost exclusively located in Downtown Bryan, along North Washington Avenue and William J. Bryan Parkway. A family member must drive to the bondsman in downtown Bryan to sign paperwork and pay the fee, then drive to the detention center on Sandy Point Road to deliver the bond.

Common bail bond agencies include: *Gage Gandy Bail Bonds *Aggieland Bail Bonds / Chris Spears *Brazos Valley Bail Bonds *Sonny Ellen Bail Bonds

The standard bond for a Class B Misdemeanor (DWI 1st) typically ranges from $500 to $2,500.

Vehicle Impound Recovery

The defendant must call the non-emergency line of the arresting agency (BPD or CSPD) to obtain the name and phone number of the tow company to locate their vehicle.

The standard non-consent tow fee for a light-duty vehicle is typically around $255 - $272, with daily storage fees capped at $22.85 per day. Storage fees accrue on a calendar day basis. If a car is towed at 11:30 PM on Friday and picked up at 8:00 AM on Saturday, the operator can legally charge for two days of storage.

The VSF (Vehicle Storage Facility) must verify the identity of the person picking up the car. Since the defendant’s license is at the police station (seized for ALR), the defendant effectively cannot pick up their own car.

The Brazos County Detention Center is located at 1835 Sandy Point Road, Bryan, Texas 77807.