Piute County DUI Cases and Records
Piute County DUI records are generated by one of the smallest sheriff offices in Utah in one of the state's most rural and sparsely populated counties. Junction serves as the county seat. The 6th District Court handles DUI cases filed in Piute County. With a resident population of only about 1,500 people, Piute County relies heavily on state-level systems for tracking DUI arrests and managing records. The Utah Driver License Division, Bureau of Criminal Identification, and Utah Courts XChange all hold records relevant to Piute County DUI cases. This page explains where those records are and how to access them.
Piute County Quick Facts
Piute County DUI Records and How They Are Created
A DUI arrest in Piute County creates the same set of official records as it does anywhere else in Utah. The arresting officer files an incident report and citation. Chemical test documentation is attached to the file. The Piute County Sheriff books the suspect and creates a booking record. These documents move to state agencies within five workdays of the arrest.
Piute County is one of the smallest counties in the United States by population. Only about 1,500 people live in this high-elevation, remote county in central Utah. The communities of Junction, Circleville, and Kingston are spread across rugged terrain along the Sevier River drainage. The county has very limited local infrastructure compared to larger Utah counties, which makes state-level records systems particularly important for anyone trying to access Piute County DUI information. The Piute County Sheriff's Office in Junction is a small operation that handles the full range of law enforcement responsibilities for the county. Utah Highway Patrol troopers also work state routes through Piute County. Every DUI arrest made in the county is submitted to state databases regardless of the small local scale of operations.
The Piute County Clerk can be reached at PO Box 99, Junction, UT 84740. Records requests for local documents go to this office or to the sheriff in Junction.
Where to Search Piute County DUI Records
Because Piute County is so small and rural, state-level systems are the most reliable way to find DUI records from the county. Three main resources cover the primary categories of records.
The Utah Driver License Division holds every license action connected to a DUI arrest in Piute County. Citations are submitted to the DLD within five workdays. The site at dld.utah.gov/dui shows current license status and suspension history. This is the most efficient starting point for anyone trying to verify whether a license was affected by a Piute County DUI arrest.
The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification at 3888 W 5400 S, Taylorsville, UT 84129, phone (801) 965-4445, provides name-based criminal history checks for $15. A BCI report covers DUI arrests and convictions from Piute County along with the rest of Utah. The report shows charge dates, case outcomes, and conviction records. Given the county's small size, a BCI check is often the most practical way to access Piute County DUI records without traveling to Junction.
For 6th District Court records from Piute County, Utah Courts XChange is the main search tool. Subscriptions are $30 per month or $240 per year, with per-search fees of $0.15 to $0.35 and document fees of $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Free public access to XChange terminals is available at the Utah State Law Library for those who prefer not to subscribe.
XChange at utcourts.gov/xchange covers the 6th District Court, which handles all DUI cases filed in Piute County, making it the most complete source for court-level records from this remote county.
DUI Arrests in Piute County
The Piute County Sheriff handles DUI enforcement across the entire county. The sheriff's office in Junction is one of the smallest in Utah by staff size. Utah Highway Patrol supplements coverage on state routes through the county. Both agencies submit DUI records to state systems after each arrest.
Piute County's very low population means the total number of DUI arrests each year is small by any measure. This is a high-elevation county with long stretches of remote highway between communities. State Route 89 runs through the county, connecting it to the broader southern Utah highway network. The Sevier River valley communities of Junction, Circleville, and Kingston each have small resident populations. DUI enforcement in Piute County focuses on county roads and state highways serving those communities. Statewide, Utah logged 10,923 DUI arrests in FY2025 at a rate of about 31.1 per 10,000 residents. Piute County's total is among the smallest in the state given its population, but each arrest is processed through the same state systems as every other Utah county. Chemical test refusal results in an 18-month license suspension for a first offense and 36 months for any subsequent refusal.
Piute County Court Records for DUI Cases
DUI cases filed in Piute County are heard in the 6th District Court. Court records include the charging document, any motions, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings. These are public records under court access rules.
Utah Courts XChange is the primary way to search 6th District Court DUI records from Piute County. Search by defendant name or case number to find case status, charges, and hearing dates. Document viewing requires the per-page fee. Case parties can use the free MyCase portal to view their own records without a subscription fee. MyCase help is available at selfhelp@utcourts.gov or by texting 801-742-1898.
In-person access to Piute County court records requires visiting the courthouse in Junction. Given the county's remote location, using XChange online is often more practical. The Utah State Courts traffic page explains how DUI cases move through the 6th District Court that serves Piute County.
Utah DUI Laws in Piute County
Utah DUI laws apply fully and equally in Piute County, the same as in every other county in the state. Under Utah Code section 41-6a-502, the legal BAC limit is .05. This is the lowest legal threshold in the United States. The law makes no allowance for county size or remoteness. A DUI arrest in Junction carries the same legal weight as one in Salt Lake City.
The metabolite DUI law at Utah Code section 41-6a-517 makes it illegal to drive with any detectable controlled substance in the system. No showing of impairment is needed. This is a strict liability offense, and it applies in Piute County's remote mountain communities just as it does statewide. Implied consent under Utah Code section 41-6a-520 means every driver in Piute County has consented to chemical testing by virtue of operating a vehicle on Utah roads. Refusing a test does not prevent charges and results in a separate license suspension.
Utah shares DUI records with all states and Canadian provinces. A conviction in Piute County follows the driver wherever they go.
License Penalties and IID in Piute County
A DUI arrest in Piute County triggers two separate processes. The 6th District Court handles the criminal case. The Utah Driver License Division manages the license action. Both proceed independently. A person can lose their license even if criminal charges are later reduced or dismissed.
Under Utah Code section 41-6a-505, a first DUI conviction requires a minimum $700 fine, jail time or home confinement, and an ignition interlock device for 18 months. Drivers under 21 at the time of a first offense face a 3-year IID requirement. A second DUI conviction requires the IID for 3 years. Felony DUI brings a 6-year IID requirement. Auto homicide while impaired results in 10 years of IID. These are statewide rules that apply fully in Piute County.
A license hearing must be requested within 10 days of the DUI arrest to contest the suspension. The DLD schedules hearings within 29 days of a timely request. Missing the 10-day window means the suspension proceeds automatically. IID providers approved under Utah law are listed at dld.utah.gov/iid. The Utah Highway Safety Office provides statewide DUI resources applicable to Piute County residents.
Requesting Piute County DUI Records via GRAMA
Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act applies in Piute County as it does everywhere in the state. The full GRAMA statute is at the Utah Legislature website. For Piute County DUI records, GRAMA requests go to the Piute County Sheriff in Junction or to the Piute County Clerk at PO Box 99, Junction, UT 84740.
A GRAMA request should describe the record with enough detail for the agency to locate it. Include the full name of the person, the date of the arrest, and the document type you are requesting. The agency has 10 business days to respond. Responses may approve the request, deny it with an explanation, or ask for more time. Given Piute County's small staff, it is worth calling ahead to confirm the best way to submit your request.
Booking records and arrest logs from the Piute County Sheriff are generally public under GRAMA. Court records from the 6th District Court are governed by court access rules, and most DUI case documents are publicly accessible. XChange is the most practical way to search those records remotely without making the trip to Junction.
The annual DUI report from the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice covers statewide DUI data and is required by Utah Code section 41-6a-511. Piute County data is included in the statewide totals published in this public report.
Cities in Piute County
Piute County has three main communities: Junction, Circleville, and Kingston. All are small, rural towns at high elevation in central Utah. DUI cases for all Piute County communities are handled through the 6th District Court.
Junction is the county seat of Piute County and the location of the sheriff's office and county clerk. DUI arrests anywhere in Piute County are processed in Junction and through the 6th District Court.
Nearby Counties
Piute County borders four other Utah counties in the central and southern parts of the state. Each county operates its own records system through local agencies while connecting to the same state databases.