Find Apache County DUI Records
Apache County DUI records are kept by the Clerk of the Superior Court in St. Johns. This large rural county in northeastern Arizona handles DUI cases through its court system. Most cases start in justice court or the Superior Court. Apache County shares borders with New Mexico and parts of the Navajo Nation. DUI arrests here come from the sheriff's office, tribal police, and state troopers working the highways. You can search Apache County DUI records by visiting the clerk's office in person. The county does not have the same online tools that bigger Arizona counties use. Phone calls and mail requests work best for getting the records you need.
Apache County DUI Records Quick Facts
Apache County Clerk of Court DUI Records
The Apache County Clerk of the Court is your main source for DUI court records. The clerk's office sits in the county courthouse in St. Johns. They keep all case files, court orders, and judgments from DUI cases. You can ask for copies of documents in person or send a written request by mail.
The clerk can help you find case numbers and pull files. Bring a name and date of birth if you have it. The more info you give them, the faster they can find what you need.
Apache County is one of the smaller counties in Arizona by population, even though it covers over eleven thousand square miles of land. The clerk's office handles fewer cases than urban counties. This can mean faster service when you call or visit. Staff know many of the local cases and can point you in the right direction. Court record copies cost fifty cents per page, which is standard across Arizona. Certified copies run thirty-five dollars per document when you need an official court seal on the paperwork.
The clerk's office hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Call ahead if you plan to visit since rural county offices sometimes have limited staff.
Apache County Superior Court DUI Cases
Felony DUI charges in Apache County go to Superior Court. This includes aggravated DUI under A.R.S. 28-1383. Third offense DUI within eighty-four months lands here too. Wrong-way driving while impaired and DUI with a child in the car are also felonies that Superior Court handles.
The Superior Court building is at 75 West Cleveland Street in St. Johns. This is where judges hear serious DUI cases. Trials happen here. Sentencing for felony DUI takes place in this court. The clerk maintains records of all proceedings. You can request transcripts, minute entries, and copies of filed documents through the same clerk's office that handles all court records in the county.
Apache County sits in a judicial district that serves a large rural area. One or two judges may handle most of the criminal docket. This means DUI cases can move through the system differently than in busy urban courts. Some defendants find it easier to get hearing dates. Others face delays when the judge has conflicts. Each case is different based on the charges and the court calendar at the time.
Apache County Sheriff DUI Arrest Records
The Apache County Sheriff's Office makes DUI arrests in the unincorporated parts of the county. Deputies patrol the highways and rural roads. They respond to calls and conduct traffic stops. When someone gets arrested for DUI by a deputy, the sheriff's office creates arrest records and incident reports.
You can request arrest records from the sheriff by contacting their office. Give them the date, location, and name of the person involved. They will search their files and provide copies if the records exist and are public. Some DUI arrest information stays restricted during active investigations. Once a case closes, more records become available to the public.
Apache County has a jail where people arrested for DUI may be held. The booking process creates records too. Jail records show when someone came in, the charges at booking, and bail information. The sheriff's office can tell you if someone is currently in custody on DUI charges. They keep logs of everyone who passes through their facility.
Arizona DUI Laws in Apache County
DUI laws are the same across all Arizona counties. Apache County follows state law. Standard DUI under A.R.S. 28-1381 applies when someone drives with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher. Impairment to the slightest degree can also lead to charges even with lower BAC levels. First offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Extreme DUI kicks in at 0.15 BAC. Super extreme is 0.20 and above. These carry harsher penalties under A.R.S. 28-1382. More jail time. Higher fines. Longer license suspensions. The charges show up in court records the same way as standard DUI, but the case file will reflect the elevated charge level.
The MVD handles license suspensions separate from court. An Admin Per Se suspension can start just fifteen days after a DUI arrest regardless of what happens in criminal court. This ninety-day suspension is automatic when BAC hits 0.08 or higher. Apache County residents deal with the same MVD rules as everyone else in Arizona. You can request a hearing to challenge the suspension, but you must act fast.
Note: Arizona does not expunge DUI records, though record sealing became available in late 2022 under A.R.S. 13-911 for eligible cases.
How to Get Apache County DUI Records
Getting DUI records from Apache County takes a few steps. First, figure out what kind of record you need. Court records come from the clerk. Arrest records come from the sheriff. Driving records come from the Arizona MVD. Each agency has its own process.
For court records in Apache County, you have three options. Visit the clerk's office at the courthouse in St. Johns during business hours. Call them to ask about a case and request copies be mailed. Or send a written request by mail with payment for copies. Include as much detail as you can about the case you want. Name, date of birth, case number if you have it, and approximate dates all help the staff find the right file.
Sheriff records work similarly. Contact the Apache County Sheriff's Office directly. Explain what you need. Incident reports, arrest records, and booking information all come from law enforcement rather than the courts. If the DUI arrest happened within city limits anywhere in the county, you may need to contact that city's police department instead. St. Johns has its own police force for calls inside town.
Apache County DUI Record Fees
Court record fees in Apache County match the standard Arizona rates. Copies cost fifty cents per page. Certified copies are thirty-five dollars per document. You pay these fees when you pick up the records or include payment with a mail request. The clerk's office can tell you the total cost once they find the file.
Sheriff's office fees vary. Incident reports typically have a set fee. Complex requests may involve research time charges. Call ahead to ask what your request will cost before they start pulling files.
Arizona Statewide DUI Record Resources
The Arizona Courts Public Access portal lets you search case records from courts around the state. Not all Apache County cases appear here, but it is worth checking when you start a search. The system is free to use and available around the clock.
You can also use Arizona eAccess for court document retrieval in some jurisdictions. Registration is required. Once you set up an account, you can view and download documents from participating courts. Check if Apache County files are available through this system before making a trip to St. Johns.
For driving records that show DUI convictions, the Arizona MVD is the source. Visit AZMVDNow.gov to request your own record online. Third-party requests require a form and payment mailed to the MVD office. The Arizona DPS handles criminal history checks that may include DUI arrest information from across the state.
Nearby Arizona Counties
DUI cases near county borders may end up filed in a different county. Apache County borders Navajo County to the west and Greenlee County to the south. If you cannot find a record in Apache County, check these nearby areas.
Navajo County handles cases from Show Low, Holbrook, and Winslow. Greenlee County is Arizona's smallest county by population and covers Clifton and Morenci. Both counties have their own clerk of court offices and sheriff's departments where DUI records are kept.