Chattooga County DUI Case Records

DUI records in Chattooga County are public documents. The Clerk of Superior Court in Summerville stores all case files from DUI proceedings in the county. You can get copies of these records by visiting the office, sending a mail request, or using state online tools. Georgia also tracks DUI convictions through the Department of Driver Services and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Both agencies keep their own records. This page explains how to search Chattooga County DUI records and what you need to know before you start.

Chattooga County DUI Records Office

The Chattooga County Clerk of Superior Court in Summerville is the main source for DUI case records. This office keeps all files from DUI cases heard in Chattooga County. That includes the original charges, any motions filed, plea agreements, and the final court order. You can ask for copies of any document in a case file. Staff can search by name or case number.

The Chattooga County Clerk of Superior Court can be reached at (706) 857-0704. The mailing address is P.O. Box 159, Summerville, GA 30747.

Copy fees for Chattooga County DUI records follow state law. O.C.G.A. § 15-6-77 sets the rate at $0.50 per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost $2.50 for the first page, then $0.50 each after. Most people who need DUI records for legal use will want the certified version.

Georgia Driving Records and DUI

Every DUI conviction in Chattooga County gets reported to the Georgia Department of Driver Services. DDS puts it on your driving history report, also called a Motor Vehicle Report. You can check your own record through DDS Online Services. A 3-year report is $6, and a 7-year or lifetime report is $8. DUI entries remain on Georgia driving records for 10 years from the date of the offense.

Besides the online portal, Chattooga County residents can request driving records in person at a DDS office or by mail to P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013. Bring your license number and date of birth. Certified copies get stamped and mailed. Non-certified versions are for viewing only. Check the DDS driving history page for forms and instructions.

Georgia suspends your license after a DUI conviction. The first time brings one year. The second adds three years. A third offense results in five years. O.C.G.A. § 40-5-75 covers these penalties. All of this shows on your DDS record.

DUI Criminal Records in Chattooga County

DUI arrests in Chattooga County also create entries in the state criminal history system. The Georgia Crime Information Center at the GBI maintains this database. Criminal records from DUI cases include arrest data, charges, and the court's final ruling. These records do not expire on their own. A report costs around $15. You can request one through local law enforcement in Chattooga County or by mail to GCIC in Decatur.

For fingerprint-based checks, Georgia uses the IdentoGO system. You go to an enrollment center, get fingerprinted, and results go to GCIC. The GCIC criminal history page explains what you need to bring and how to submit a request by mail to P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30037.

Search Chattooga County Court Records

You can search Chattooga County DUI court records through the GSCCCA search portal. This statewide tool covers Superior Court filings across Georgia. Search by the name of the person charged or by case number. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority maintains this database.

Some Georgia counties also use the eCertification portal for certified document requests. Check if Chattooga County participates. If it does, you can order certified copies of DUI case documents online and receive them as secure PDFs by email. This works around the clock.

Georgia DUI records are public under the state Open Records Act. You do not need to be a party in the case to request copies. You do not need to give a reason. Some details like financial account numbers may be redacted from public copies.

The state portal shown below is one way for Chattooga County residents to access DUI record data.

This Georgia resource helps Chattooga County residents search for DUI records at the state level.

DUI Penalties in Chattooga County

All DUI cases in Chattooga County fall under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391. This is Georgia's main DUI statute. It defines DUI as driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher, or while impaired by drugs or other substances. The limit drops to 0.04 for commercial vehicles and 0.02 for drivers under 21.

Penalties for a first DUI in Chattooga County include fines of $300 to $1,000, up to 12 months probation, and 40 hours of community service. DUI school is mandatory. A second offense within 10 years bumps fines to $600 minimum and adds a clinical evaluation requirement. Third convictions carry fines up to $5,000 and a minimum of 15 days in jail. Georgia law also requires a published newspaper notice for second and third offenses.

Under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-55, Georgia's implied consent law, refusing a chemical test during a DUI stop in Chattooga County results in a one-year license suspension. This is separate from any court penalties. The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety has a full list of DUI-related statutes.

• Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Driving under the influence of toxic vapors
• Driving with any mix of alcohol and drugs
• Commercial driving with a BAC of 0.04 or higher

DUI convictions stay on Georgia driving records for 10 years. Criminal history records at GCIC last forever unless restricted by court order. Some first-time offenses in Chattooga County may qualify for record restriction through the GBI. Repeat DUI convictions generally cannot be restricted.

Nearby Counties

Browse DUI records in counties near Chattooga County.