Find Cochise County DUI Records

Cochise County DUI records are kept by the Superior Court and the Clerk of Court in Bisbee. The county sits in the far southeast corner of Arizona, next to the New Mexico state line and the Mexican border. Most DUI cases here go through the Superior Court or one of the justice courts spread across this large rural county. You can get copies of DUI case files by mail, in person, or through the Clerk of Court office. The county uses Point and Pay for online court payment services, which makes it easy to pay fees tied to record requests or court costs.

Cochise County Superior Court DUI Cases

The Superior Court in Bisbee handles all felony DUI cases for Cochise County. Aggravated DUI charges come here. So do cases where a person has two or more prior DUI convictions within eighty-four months. Under A.R.S. 28-1383, these offenses are Class 4 or Class 6 felonies depending on the facts involved. The court keeps files on every case, from the initial charging documents through the final judgment and sentencing order.

The Cochise County Clerk of the Superior Court runs the records office for all court filings in the county. This office is where you go to ask for copies of DUI case documents, look up case numbers, or check the status of a pending matter. The Clerk maintains physical files at the courthouse in Bisbee and can help you find records going back many years. Staff can pull files and make copies while you wait if you visit in person during business hours.

The Clerk of Court website gives basic information about services. You can call ahead to check if a file is available before making the trip to Bisbee.

How to Get Cochise County DUI Records

Cochise County has a formal process for requesting court documents. The court records request page explains what you need to do to get copies. You can submit requests in person at the courthouse or send them by mail. The county does not currently offer online access to search or view DUI case files directly, so you need to contact the Clerk of Court to find what you are looking for.

The page above shows what the county provides for record requests. Include as much detail as you can when asking for DUI records.

When you ask for DUI records, you should provide the defendant's full name, date of birth if known, and the approximate date of the arrest or case filing. A case number speeds things up if you have it. The more details you give, the faster the staff can locate the right files. For older cases, the records may take longer to pull from storage, so allow extra time if you need documents from several years back. Arizona law under A.R.S. 39-121 gives you the right to inspect and copy public records, including most court files from DUI cases.

Copy fees in Cochise County follow the state standard. Regular copies cost fifty cents per page. Certified copies cost thirty-five dollars per document. You pay these fees when you pick up the records or before they mail them to you. The county accepts cash, checks, and credit cards through Point and Pay for court-related payments.

Cochise County DUI Charges and Classifications

Arizona has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. These laws apply to every DUI case in Cochise County. A standard DUI under A.R.S. 28-1381 is a Class 1 misdemeanor. This covers drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher, or anyone impaired to the slightest degree by alcohol or drugs. First offense DUI cases usually go through the justice courts in Cochise County rather than Superior Court.

Extreme DUI charges apply when a driver's BAC measures 0.15 percent or above. Super extreme DUI means a BAC of 0.20 or higher. Both fall under A.R.S. 28-1382 and carry harsher penalties than standard DUI. These are still misdemeanors in most cases, but jail time and fines increase sharply. Records for these cases appear in the same court systems as regular DUI filings in Cochise County.

Aggravated DUI becomes a felony. This happens if a driver commits DUI with a suspended license, has a child under fifteen in the vehicle, or gets a third DUI within eighty-four months. Felony cases go to Superior Court, where the stakes and potential sentences are much higher than in justice court.

Cochise County Justice Courts

Cochise County has several justice court precincts that handle misdemeanor DUI cases. Which court gets your case depends on where the arrest took place. Justice courts can handle Class 1 misdemeanors like standard DUI, extreme DUI, and super extreme DUI charges. Each justice court keeps its own records, though the Clerk of the Superior Court can sometimes help locate files across different courts in the county.

The justice courts in Cochise County serve different parts of this large county. Sierra Vista has its own justice court that processes many DUI arrests from that area. Bisbee has another. Willcox and Douglas also have justice court precincts. When searching for DUI records, knowing where the arrest happened helps you figure out which court handled the case. Contact the specific justice court directly if you know the location, or ask the Superior Court Clerk for guidance.

Note: Justice court records may require separate requests from each precinct in some cases.

Sealing Cochise County DUI Records

Arizona does not allow expungement of criminal records. DUI convictions stay on your record permanently under state law. However, Arizona now allows some people to petition for record sealing under A.R.S. 13-911, which took effect on December 31, 2022. Sealing hides the record from most public searches but does not destroy it.

Not everyone qualifies for sealing. The law sets waiting periods based on the offense. DUI is typically a misdemeanor, so the waiting period is usually three years after you complete all terms of your sentence. This includes jail time, probation, fines, and any required treatment programs. Aggravated DUI is a felony and has longer waiting periods, often five to ten years depending on the class. You must have no pending charges and must have paid all restitution to be eligible.

The Arizona Courts self-service center has forms and instructions for filing a petition to seal. You file the petition in the court where the conviction happened. For Cochise County DUI cases, that means filing with the Superior Court in Bisbee or the justice court that handled your case. The judge reviews your petition and decides whether to grant it. If approved, the sealed record no longer shows up in standard public record searches.

Arizona MVD and Cochise County DUI Records

DUI convictions appear on your driving record as well as court records. The Arizona Motor Vehicle Division maintains driving records separately from court files. A DUI conviction in Cochise County shows up on your MVD record and affects your license status, insurance rates, and driving privileges. These records can be requested through ServiceArizona or by mail using Form 46-4416.

Admin Per Se suspensions happen automatically after a DUI arrest. If you fail or refuse a breath or blood test, MVD suspends your license for 90 days on a first offense under A.R.S. 28-1385. Refusing the test means a one-year suspension. These administrative actions are separate from criminal court proceedings in Cochise County. You can request a hearing to challenge the suspension within fifteen days of the arrest.

MVD records cost three to five dollars per record. Certified copies cost five dollars.

Cochise County Sheriff DUI Arrests

The Cochise County Sheriff's Office handles DUI arrests in unincorporated areas of the county. When a deputy makes a DUI arrest, that agency creates an arrest report and books the person into county jail. These records are separate from court records. To get a copy of an arrest report or incident report from the Sheriff's Office, you need to contact them directly. The Sheriff maintains records for all arrests made by their deputies throughout Cochise County.

City police departments in Cochise County handle DUI arrests within their own jurisdictions. Sierra Vista Police, Bisbee Police, and other local agencies keep their own arrest records. If a city officer made the DUI arrest, contact that police department for records instead of the Sheriff. The arresting agency determines who has the arrest report, not which court handles the case later.

Jail records show who is currently in custody. If you want to find out if someone was booked on DUI charges recently, the Sheriff can provide that information. Booking records include the charges, bail amount, and court dates. For historical arrest records not involving current inmates, you need to submit a formal records request to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Cochise County DUI Record Fees

Getting DUI records in Cochise County costs money. The court charges standard fees for copies and certification:

• Regular copies: $0.50 per page
• Certified copies: $35.00 per document
• Research fees: May apply for complex requests
• MVD driving records: $3-5 per record

Cochise County uses Point and Pay for processing credit and debit card payments. This system handles court fines, fees, and record request payments electronically. You can pay in person at the courthouse or by phone. Cash and checks are also accepted at the Clerk of Court window. If you mail a request, include payment by check or money order made out to the Cochise County Clerk of Court.

Cities in Cochise County

Cochise County includes several cities and towns. Sierra Vista is the largest, with about 45,000 residents. Bisbee serves as the county seat and has the main courthouse. Douglas sits near the Mexican border and has its own municipal court for city code violations. None of the cities in Cochise County have a population over 50,000, so DUI cases typically go through county courts rather than separate municipal court systems for most criminal matters.

Most misdemeanor DUI arrests in Cochise County cities go to the local justice court precinct. Sierra Vista has a busy justice court that handles many DUI cases from that part of the county. If you need DUI records from a case that happened in Sierra Vista, Bisbee, Douglas, or another Cochise County location, start by contacting the Superior Court Clerk or the justice court in that area.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Cochise County shares borders with several other Arizona counties. DUI arrests near these borders might end up in a neighboring county's court system depending on where exactly the arrest occurred. If you cannot find the records you need in Cochise County, try these nearby jurisdictions.