Find DUI Records in Yuma County

Yuma County maintains DUI records through its Superior Court and Sheriff's Office. The county sits in the southwest corner of Arizona along the Colorado River. Searching for DUI records here involves checking court case files, arrest logs, and jail booking data. You can access many of these records online or request them in person at the courthouse in Yuma. The county processes DUI arrests from Highway 8, Interstate 95, and local roads throughout the area. Most cases start in justice court for misdemeanor charges, while felony DUI matters go to Superior Court.

Yuma County Superior Court DUI Cases

The Superior Court handles felony DUI cases in Yuma County. Aggravated DUI charges come here. Third offense DUI within eighty-four months goes to Superior Court as well. The court keeps records of all filings from start to finish. Case files include the charging document, plea deals, and sentencing orders.

Under A.R.S. 28-1383, aggravated DUI is a felony. This includes driving on a suspended license due to prior DUI. It also covers having a child under fifteen in the car during the offense. Wrong-way driving while impaired counts as aggravated too. All these cases land in Yuma County Superior Court rather than justice court. The Yuma County Clerk of Superior Court maintains the official case files and provides copies upon request.

Getting copies costs fifty cents per page. Certified copies run thirty-five dollars per document. You can request records in person at the courthouse located at 168 South Second Avenue in Yuma. Phone requests go through the clerk's office at (928) 817-4210. Staff can tell you what documents exist and how to get them.

Yuma County Justice Court DUI Records

Most misdemeanor DUI cases in Yuma County go through justice court. First offense DUI starts here. Second offense within eighty-four months often stays in justice court too. Extreme DUI with a blood alcohol level between 0.15 and 0.199 is also a misdemeanor under A.R.S. 28-1382. Super extreme DUI at 0.20 or above is still a misdemeanor but carries harsher penalties.

Yuma County has justice court precincts that cover different parts of the county. The main precinct in Yuma handles the bulk of cases from the city and nearby areas. Each precinct keeps its own case records. You can search for case information by contacting the specific court where the case was filed.

Standard DUI under A.R.S. 28-1381 involves a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. It also applies if someone is impaired to the slightest degree by alcohol or drugs. These Class 1 misdemeanors carry jail time, fines, and license suspension. All of this shows up in Yuma County court records.

Yuma County Sheriff DUI Arrest Records

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office handles arrests in unincorporated areas. Deputies patrol the highways and rural roads outside city limits. When they make a DUI arrest, the record goes through the sheriff's system. The Yuma County Sheriff Records Department processes requests for arrest reports and incident records.

The screenshot above shows the sheriff's records page where you can find information on how to request DUI arrest records in Yuma County.

Contact the records unit at (928) 329-2254 for questions about specific reports. You can request records in person at the main office or by mail. Some records are available through public records requests under A.R.S. 39-121. Processing times vary based on the complexity of your request. Most simple arrest report requests take a few business days.

Note: DUI arrest records in Yuma County are retained for eight years after final adjudication, which is longer than the standard five-year retention for most criminal records.

Yuma County Jail Inmate Search

People arrested for DUI in Yuma County go to the county jail for booking. The sheriff operates the jail and maintains inmate records. You can search for current and recent inmates through the Yuma County Sheriff Inmate Search Portal.

The inmate search portal lets you look up someone by name. Results show booking charges including DUI charges. You can see bail amounts and next court dates. The system updates regularly as people are booked in and released.

Booking records differ from court records. They show when someone came into custody and what charges they faced at arrest. Court records show how the case progressed and ended. For a full picture of a DUI case in Yuma County, you may need both types of records.

Yuma County DUI Record Retention

Arizona has specific rules about how long courts keep records. DUI cases in Yuma County have an eight-year retention period after final adjudication and completion of sentence. This is longer than the five-year standard for many other criminal matters. The extended period reflects the serious nature of DUI offenses and repeat offense tracking.

After eight years, records may be destroyed or archived. If you need older records, contact the Clerk of Superior Court directly. They can tell you if records still exist. Some very old cases may have been destroyed under prior retention schedules. Records from before modern digital systems may require additional research time to locate.

Yuma County DUI Record Sealing

Arizona allows people to petition for record sealing under A.R.S. 13-911. This law took effect in December 2022. It does not erase records. Instead, it limits who can see them. Sealed records do not show up on most background checks.

Not all DUI convictions can be sealed. Certain offenses are excluded. The waiting period depends on the offense type. You must complete your sentence fully before applying. Yuma County Superior Court handles sealing petitions. The Arizona Courts Self-Service Center provides forms and instructions for the sealing process.

Sealing is different from expungement. Arizona does not expunge criminal records. A set-aside order under A.R.S. 13-907 is another option. It shows you completed your sentence and the conviction was set aside. But the record still exists. Sealing provides more privacy than a set-aside alone.

Yuma County DUI Record Fees

Fees vary by record type. Court records have different costs than sheriff records.

Superior Court and justice court records cost fifty cents per page for copies. Certified copies cost thirty-five dollars per document. This certification fee applies when you need an official court seal on the document. Research fees may apply if you ask staff to search without providing specific case information. The research fee is thirty-five dollars per year searched.

Sheriff records have their own fee schedule. Contact the records division for current fees on arrest reports and incident records. Most standard reports cost between five and fifteen dollars. Complex requests with many pages cost more based on copy fees.

Arizona MVD DUI Driving Records

DUI convictions appear on driving records maintained by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division. Court records and driving records are separate systems. A DUI case in Yuma County creates a court file. The conviction also goes to MVD for your driving record.

You can request your own driving record through ServiceArizona. The record shows license suspensions from DUI convictions. Admin Per Se suspensions under A.R.S. 28-1385 appear too. These happen when someone fails or refuses a breath test at the time of arrest. The ninety-day admin suspension is separate from any court-ordered suspension.

Employers and insurance companies often check MVD records. A DUI on your driving record affects insurance rates. Commercial drivers face additional consequences. MVD records complement the court records available in Yuma County.

City in Yuma County

The City of Yuma has its own municipal court that handles DUI cases from city police arrests. Cases in city limits often go through the municipal court system rather than county justice court.

Yuma is the county seat and largest city. Most DUI activity in the county happens in or near the city. The Yuma Police Department makes arrests within city limits. Those cases typically go to Yuma Municipal Court for misdemeanor charges.

Nearby Arizona Counties

DUI cases near county borders may involve courts in neighboring counties. The arresting agency determines which county handles the case. Check these areas if you cannot find records in Yuma County.

La Paz County sits directly north of Yuma County along the Colorado River. Maricopa County is to the northeast and includes the Phoenix metro area. Pima County lies to the east and includes Tucson. An arrest on the highways between these counties could end up filed in any of them depending on exact location.