Towns County DUI Record Search

Looking for DUI records in Towns County starts at the courthouse in Hiawassee. The Clerk of Superior Court handles all case files for DUI charges heard in this county. Georgia state agencies also keep DUI data. The Department of Driver Services tracks convictions on driving history reports. The GBI stores DUI arrests in the criminal history database. You can search Towns County DUI records through several methods. This guide walks through each option and tells you what to expect.

Towns County DUI Records Office

The Towns County Clerk of Superior Court in Hiawassee is the main source for DUI case records. This office keeps all files from DUI cases heard in Towns 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 Towns County Clerk of Superior Court can be reached at (706) 896-2130. The mailing address is P.O. Box 208, Hiawassee, GA 30546.

Under O.C.G.A. § 15-6-77, standard copies of DUI records in Towns County cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 for the first page and $0.50 for each page after that. Certified copies carry the court's official stamp. You may need certified copies for legal proceedings or official business.

DUI Driving History in Towns County

Georgia DDS keeps records of all DUI convictions on driving history reports. If you live in Towns County and hold a Georgia license, you can pull your own driving record through DDS Online Services. Reports cost $6 for three years and $8 for seven years or a lifetime report. A DUI stays on your Georgia driving record for 10 years. These reports show violations, suspensions, and DUI entries.

You can also get a driving history in person at any DDS Customer Service Center or by mail. Mail requests go to P.O. Box 80447, Conyers, GA 30013. You need your full name, license number, and date of birth. Non-certified reports are view-only and last 30 days. Certified copies are stamped by DDS and mailed to your address. The DDS MVR request page has full details.

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.

Georgia Criminal History for Towns County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the criminal history database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. DUI convictions in Towns County appear in this system as criminal offenses. Unlike driving records, criminal history data stays on file permanently unless a court grants record restriction. You can request a criminal background report at any local police station or sheriff's office in Towns County. Reports cost about $15.

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.

How to Get Towns County DUI Records

You can search Towns 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 Towns 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.

Under Georgia's Open Records Act, DUI case files are available to anyone. You can request them without being involved in the case. No reason is needed. Courts may redact sensitive details like account numbers from copies they give out.

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

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

DUI Penalties in Towns County

Georgia DUI law is defined in O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391. This statute applies to all DUI cases in Towns County. It covers driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, toxic vapors, or any mix of these. The legal limit is 0.08 BAC for regular drivers, 0.04 for commercial drivers, and 0.02 for anyone under 21.

Penalties for a first DUI in Towns 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 Towns 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.

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 Towns County may qualify for record restriction through the GBI. Repeat DUI convictions generally cannot be restricted.

Nearby Counties

Browse DUI records in counties near Towns County.