Uintah County DUI Records
Uintah County DUI records are public documents created when someone is arrested for, charged with, or convicted of driving under the influence in this northeastern Utah county. These records come from the Uintah County Sheriff, the Vernal City Police, and the 8th District Court in Vernal. The court handles all criminal cases, including DUI charges filed in Uintah County. This page explains how to find DUI records, where they are stored, and what options you have for searching cases online or in person.
Uintah County Quick Facts
Uintah County DUI Records Overview
DUI records in Uintah County are created at several points in the legal process. An arrest record is made when a law enforcement officer takes someone into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. A court record is created when charges are filed with the 8th District Court. A conviction record results when the court enters a guilty verdict or accepts a guilty plea. Each of these documents is part of the public record in Uintah County and can be accessed through the proper channels.
Uintah County sits in the Uinta Basin region of northeastern Utah. The county covers a large area, and Vernal serves as the county seat. Law enforcement agencies in Uintah County include the Uintah County Sheriff's Office and the Vernal City Police Department. The Utah Highway Patrol also covers roads in Uintah County, including US-40, which is a major corridor through the region. DUI arrests in this county can result from traffic stops on state highways, city streets, and county roads.
Utah had approximately 10,923 DUI arrests statewide in fiscal year 2025. Uintah County contributes to that total. The county's population of about 36,000 means that DUI enforcement is spread across a relatively small community, and records from this area are held at the 8th District Court in Vernal.
Note: DUI records in Uintah County include both misdemeanor and felony charges depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Searching Uintah DUI Records Online
The most direct way to search DUI records in Uintah County online is through the Utah Courts XChange system. This system holds court case records from across the state, including the 8th District Court in Vernal. You can search by name or case number to find DUI cases filed in Uintah County. XChange charges a monthly subscription fee of $30, plus small per-search and per-document fees. Visit utcourts.gov/xchange to set up an account.
If you are a party to a DUI case in Uintah County, you can use the free MyCase portal at mycase.utcourts.gov to view your own case records without any subscription cost. This portal lets defendants and their attorneys view case documents, hearing dates, and case status. The Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) also holds statewide criminal history records, including DUI convictions. BCI is located at 3888 W 5400 S, Taylorsville, UT 84129, and can be reached at (801) 965-4445. A name-based background check through BCI costs $15.
The Utah Driver License Division (DLD) maintains a separate record of DUI-related license actions. Their DUI tracking system at dld.utah.gov/dui covers administrative license suspensions and ignition interlock requirements. These records relate to driving privileges rather than criminal cases, but both sets of records connect to the same DUI event in Uintah County.
Note: XChange search results reflect the court's electronic records, which generally go back many years in Uintah County.
DUI Enforcement in Uintah County
Several agencies handle DUI enforcement in Uintah County. The Uintah County Sheriff's Office patrols county roads and unincorporated areas. The Vernal City Police Department handles DUI stops within Vernal city limits. The Utah Highway Patrol covers major highways including US-40 through the Uinta Basin. Each of these agencies submits DUI arrest data to the state within five workdays under Utah's reporting requirements.
Officers in Uintah County use standard field sobriety tests and chemical testing during DUI investigations. Utah's implied consent law under Utah Code section 41-6a-520 means that drivers in Uintah County agree to chemical testing by operating a vehicle on public roads. Refusing a test has consequences for your driver's license separate from any criminal charges. DUI arrests in Uintah County are logged by the arresting agency and then forwarded to the 8th District Court when charges are filed.
The Uintah County Sheriff's Office is located at the county building in Vernal. Their arrest records and booking information can be a starting point when looking for recent DUI arrests in Uintah County before those cases reach the court system.
Uintah Court Records and DUI Cases
The 8th District Court in Vernal handles all felony and misdemeanor DUI cases filed in Uintah County. The court is located at 920 US-40, Vernal, UT 84078, and can be reached at (435) 781-9300. Court staff can help you search for DUI case records by name or case number. You can visit in person during business hours or use online tools to access case information remotely.
DUI court records in Uintah County include the criminal complaint or information, arrest affidavits, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and any probation terms imposed by the judge. These documents are part of the public court file. The 8th District Court maintains electronic records accessible through XChange. Older paper records may require an in-person visit to the Vernal courthouse. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the 8th District Court to search Uintah County DUI records.
Note: Court records show charges and outcomes. An arrest record alone does not mean a conviction occurred in Uintah County.
Utah DUI Laws Applied in Uintah County
Utah has the strictest DUI laws in the country by blood alcohol concentration standard. Under Utah Code section 41-6a-502, a driver is legally impaired at a BAC of .05 or higher. This threshold is lower than the .08 limit used in most other states. In Uintah County, officers enforce this standard on all public roads. A first DUI conviction in Utah carries a minimum fine of $700, mandatory jail time, and an ignition interlock device requirement.
Utah also has a metabolite DUI law under Utah Code section 41-6a-517. This law makes it illegal to drive with any measurable amount of a controlled substance in your body, even if you feel unimpaired. In Uintah County, this rule applies to both prescription and illegal drugs. The standard is one of strict liability, meaning the prosecution does not need to prove actual impairment in many cases. Sentencing under Utah Code section 41-6a-505 sets minimum penalties that courts in Uintah County must follow.
Utah's 24/7 Sobriety Program is available for repeat DUI offenders in Utah, including those sentenced in Uintah County. This program requires participants to submit to frequent alcohol testing as a condition of release or probation. It is one tool judges use in the 8th District Court when handling DUI cases in Uintah County.
License Actions and IID Requirements
A DUI arrest in Uintah County triggers two separate processes: a criminal case in the 8th District Court and an administrative license action through the Utah Driver License Division. The DLD can suspend your license even if you are not convicted of a crime. This is known as an Admin Per Se action. Drivers have the right to request a hearing with the DLD to challenge the suspension.
Ignition interlock device (IID) requirements in Utah are set by law. A first DUI conviction requires an IID for 18 months. If the driver is under 21, the IID period extends to three years. A second or subsequent DUI requires an IID for three years. A felony DUI brings a six-year IID requirement. If the DUI involved a death (automotive homicide), the IID requirement is ten years. Drivers who refuse chemical testing face an 18-month IID requirement for a first refusal, and 36 months for each refusal after that. Uintah County DUI defendants must comply with these IID terms through DLD-approved providers listed at dld.utah.gov/iid.
Note: An IID requirement is separate from any jail, fine, or probation ordered by the 8th District Court in a Uintah County DUI case.
Requesting Uintah County DUI Records
You can request DUI records from Uintah County through several methods. For court records, the 8th District Court at 920 US-40, Vernal, UT 84078 is the primary source. You can appear in person, call (435) 781-9300, or use the XChange system online. In-person requests allow you to review the full case file and get certified copies. Copy fees and other court costs apply.
For arrest records held by the Uintah County Sheriff's Office, you can submit a written public records request under Utah's Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). GRAMA requests must be answered within 10 business days. Agencies may charge $0.25 per page for copies and $20 per hour for staff research time beyond the first 15 minutes. The Utah BCI also processes statewide criminal history requests for $15 per name check at bci.utah.gov.
Written requests sent to the Uintah County offices should include the full name of the subject, an approximate date range for the DUI incident, and your contact information. The Uintah County Clerk's office is located at 152 E 100 N, Vernal, UT 84078, and can be reached at (435) 781-5360.
Cities in Uintah County
Uintah County includes several communities in the Uinta Basin. DUI cases from all of these areas are filed at the 8th District Court in Vernal. Vernal is the county seat and the largest city in Uintah County.
All DUI cases in Uintah County are handled by the 8th District Court in Vernal regardless of which city or area the arrest occurred in.
Nearby Counties
Uintah County borders several other Utah counties. DUI cases must be filed in the county where the arrest took place. If you are unsure which county applies, check the location of the traffic stop.