Wilkes County DUI Case Records

Looking for DUI records in Wilkes County starts at the courthouse in Washington. 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 Wilkes County DUI records through several methods. This guide walks through each option and tells you what to expect.

Where to Find Wilkes County DUI Records

All DUI case records in Wilkes County sit with the Clerk of Superior Court. The office is in Washington. Every filing from a DUI case ends up here. That means the arrest warrant, the charges, any plea deals, and the judge's final order. The public can ask for copies. The clerk's office handles requests in person and sometimes by mail.

The Wilkes County Clerk of Superior Court can be reached at (706) 678-2423. The mailing address is P.O. Box 289, Washington, GA 30673.

Copy fees for Wilkes 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

The Georgia Department of Driver Services tracks DUI convictions on driving history reports. Wilkes County residents with a Georgia license can request their own report online through DDS Online Services. A 3-year report costs $6. The 7-year version costs $8. These reports show every DUI conviction, traffic violation, and license action on your Georgia record. DUI convictions stay on the driving record for 10 years from the offense date.

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.

A first DUI conviction in Georgia leads to a one-year license suspension under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-75. Second offenses bring a three-year suspension. Third offenses mean five years without a license. These suspension records show on your driving history.

Georgia Criminal History for Wilkes County

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation runs the criminal history database through the Georgia Crime Information Center. DUI convictions in Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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.

Search Wilkes County Court Records

The GSCCCA search portal lets you look up court records from Superior Courts across Georgia, including Wilkes County. You can search by name or case number to find DUI case filings. This is a free tool run by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.

Some Georgia counties also use the eCertification portal for certified document requests. Check if Wilkes 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 Wilkes County residents to access DUI record data.

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

DUI Penalties in Wilkes County

Georgia DUI law is defined in O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391. This statute applies to all DUI cases in Wilkes 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.

First DUI convictions in Wilkes County carry fines from $300 to $1,000 and up to 12 months of probation. Community service runs 40 hours. DUI school is required. Second offenses within 10 years raise the fine floor to $600, add 30 days of community service, and require a clinical evaluation. A third conviction pushes fines to $1,000 through $5,000 and brings at least 15 days in jail. Georgia also requires a newspaper notice after second and third convictions.

Under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-55, Georgia's implied consent law, refusing a chemical test during a DUI stop in Wilkes 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.

A DUI stays on your driving record for 10 years in Georgia. Criminal records do not expire. Wilkes County residents can apply for record restriction through the GBI for some first-time offenses. The process requires court approval and a review by the prosecutor.

Nearby Counties

Browse DUI records in counties near Wilkes County.