Find Cottonwood Heights DUI Records
Cottonwood Heights DUI records are public documents held by law enforcement, the courts, and state agencies in Salt Lake County. The city has about 35,000 residents and sits in the eastern part of the Salt Lake Valley, near the mouths of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. DUI arrests by Cottonwood Heights Police Department officers are processed through the 3rd District Court. These DUI records include arrest reports, criminal charge filings, court dispositions, and license action records from the Utah Driver License Division. This page covers how to find and request DUI records connected to Cottonwood Heights cases.
Cottonwood Heights Quick Facts
Cottonwood Heights DUI Records
Cottonwood Heights generates DUI records across several agencies. The Cottonwood Heights Police Department handles DUI enforcement inside city limits. Officers patrol city roads and canyon access routes. The Utah Highway Patrol covers state routes and the canyon corridors. Each DUI arrest creates a police report that records the nature of the stop, any sobriety tests conducted, and chemical test results.
After charges are filed, the case moves to the 3rd District Court in Salt Lake County. That court holds all the criminal case records for Cottonwood Heights DUI defendants. Court records include the criminal complaint, bail records, plea filings, and the final case disposition. The Utah Driver License Division holds separate records of any administrative license action triggered by the arrest. The Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigation keeps statewide criminal history records that include DUI convictions from Salt Lake County courts.
Cottonwood Heights was incorporated as a city in 2006. It has its own police department and city government separate from Salt Lake County. However, DUI cases still go through the county's 3rd District Court system, the same court that handles cases from Salt Lake City, Murray, Midvale, and other Salt Lake County cities. The city's location near popular canyon recreation areas means DUI enforcement activity is a consistent part of local law enforcement work.
Keep in mind that an arrest record is not the same as a conviction. Always verify the court disposition before drawing any conclusions about a Cottonwood Heights DUI case.
Searching Cottonwood Heights DUI Records Online
The Utah Courts XChange portal at utcourts.gov/xchange is the primary tool for finding Cottonwood Heights DUI court records. XChange costs $30 per month for a subscription. You can search by name or case number to find DUI case records, including charges, hearing dates, and outcomes for defendants in the 3rd District Court.
The free MyCase portal at mycase.utcourts.gov lets defendants and others named in a case view their own records without cost. It does not allow access to other parties' records.
The Utah Driver License Division at dld.utah.gov/dui holds records of license actions tied to Cottonwood Heights DUI arrests. The Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigation at bci.utah.gov processes statewide name-based criminal history checks for $15. BCI is at 3888 W 5400 S, Taylorsville, UT 84129, and can be reached at (801) 965-4445. BCI records include all DUI convictions from the 3rd District Court.
Salt Lake County's GRAMA records portal at saltlakecounty.gov handles requests for county-level records. This includes records from the Salt Lake County Sheriff and other county agencies that may have DUI records tied to Cottonwood Heights cases.
Cottonwood Heights Police and DUI Enforcement
The Cottonwood Heights Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency within city limits. Officers patrol city roads and manage DUI enforcement on local streets and near canyon access points. Each DUI arrest generates an incident report held by the department's records division. These reports are subject to GRAMA and can be requested by the public.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff also operates in Salt Lake County, including areas near Cottonwood Heights. The sheriff can be reached through slco.org/sheriff. Sheriff records follow the same GRAMA rules as city police records. The Utah Highway Patrol covers state roads near the city, including the routes leading to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.
The Salt Lake County GRAMA page at saltlakecounty.gov provides a public records request process for county agency records. For Cottonwood Heights city police records specifically, contact the department through the city's website at cottonwoodheights.utah.gov.
The Salt Lake County public records portal is shown below. This system is used for GRAMA requests directed at county agencies that have DUI records connected to Cottonwood Heights and the surrounding Salt Lake County area.
The Salt Lake County GRAMA portal handles records requests for the sheriff, county attorney, and other county offices with DUI records related to Cottonwood Heights cases.
Court Records for Cottonwood Heights DUI Cases
DUI cases from Cottonwood Heights go through the 3rd District Court in Salt Lake County. This court handles all Salt Lake County criminal cases, from misdemeanors through felonies. Most first-offense DUI cases in Cottonwood Heights are Class B misdemeanors. Repeat charges or cases with serious injury can be elevated to felonies in the same court system.
| Court | Third Judicial District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 450 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 |
| Phone | (801) 238-7300 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Search | utcourts.gov/xchange |
Court records for Cottonwood Heights DUI cases include the criminal complaint, bail documents, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and any conditions of probation imposed. These records are public under Utah law except for sealed portions. They can be accessed through the XChange portal or at the courthouse in person. The Utah Courts self-help page at utcourts.gov provides guidance on navigating DUI court processes in Utah.
Utah DUI Laws in Cottonwood Heights
Cottonwood Heights DUI cases are governed by Utah state law. Utah holds the strictest DUI blood alcohol standard in the country. Under Utah Code section 41-6a-502, a BAC of .05 or above constitutes DUI. Most states use .08. Utah lowered the legal limit in 2018, and all Cottonwood Heights DUI arrests use the .05 threshold.
Utah Code section 41-6a-517 establishes the metabolite DUI law. This law makes it illegal to drive with any measurable controlled substance metabolite in the body, regardless of whether the driver appears impaired. Blood tests taken after a Cottonwood Heights DUI stop can reveal metabolites that support a separate metabolite DUI charge even when impairment was not obvious during the stop.
Implied consent under Utah Code section 41-6a-520 applies to all drivers in Utah. By driving in the state, a person has already consented to chemical testing if an officer suspects DUI. Refusing the test brings separate penalties tracked by the Driver License Division. Those penalties are in addition to any criminal charges that may be filed.
DUI sentencing under Utah Code section 41-6a-505 sets the minimums for Cottonwood Heights cases. A first conviction brings a minimum $700 fine and mandatory jail time, plus an 18-month ignition interlock device requirement. Drivers under 21 face 3 years of IID on a first offense. Second DUI convictions mean a 3-year IID term. Felony DUI requires a 6-year IID. DUI auto homicide requires 10 years with an IID. No DUI conviction in Utah can be held in abeyance.
License Actions and IID Requirements
A DUI arrest in Cottonwood Heights triggers two separate processes. The criminal case moves through the 3rd District Court. The administrative license action is handled by the Utah Driver License Division. These two processes run independently, and a driver can lose their license before the criminal matter is settled.
The DLD issues administrative license suspensions following a DUI arrest. A first-time refusal to take a chemical test brings an 18-month suspension. A subsequent refusal results in a 36-month suspension. A failed test at .05 BAC or higher triggers a suspension through the DLD's administrative hearing process. All DLD action records are at dld.utah.gov/dui.
IID requirements follow a court conviction. Approved providers are listed at dld.utah.gov/iid. Cottonwood Heights residents must install the device before license reinstatement. The IID provider sends compliance reports to the DLD. Driving on a suspended license after a DUI conviction adds new criminal charges under Utah law.
Requesting Cottonwood Heights DUI Records (GRAMA)
Utah's GRAMA law under Utah Code Title 63G Chapter 2 governs all public records requests. Both Cottonwood Heights city agencies and Salt Lake County agencies must follow GRAMA when responding to requests for DUI records.
To request Cottonwood Heights Police Department records, contact the city's police department through the city website at cottonwoodheights.utah.gov. Identify the record by incident date, name, or report number where possible. The agency sets police report fees under GRAMA guidelines.
For Salt Lake County agency records, including the county sheriff, submit requests through the county GRAMA portal at saltlakecounty.gov. Court records for Cottonwood Heights DUI cases are accessed through the 3rd District Court clerk or XChange. Statewide criminal history records are available from BCI at bci.utah.gov for $15 per name search.
Cottonwood Heights in Salt Lake County
Cottonwood Heights is part of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in Utah. The county includes Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy, Murray, Midvale, and South Salt Lake, all of which share the same 3rd District Court system for DUI cases. The county seat is Salt Lake City, where the main courthouse is located.
Salt Lake County criminal justice data is tracked by the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice at ccjj.utah.gov. Utah recorded approximately 10,923 DUI arrests statewide in fiscal year 2025. Salt Lake County contributes a significant portion of those numbers. The county sheriff, county attorney, and DLD all play roles in the DUI record system for Salt Lake County cities including Cottonwood Heights.
Nearby Salt Lake County Cities
Other Salt Lake County cities have DUI records that go through the same 3rd District Court and county system. Select a city below to learn about DUI records in that area.