Kittitas County DUI Records

Kittitas County DUI records are filed through the Superior Court and District Court in Ellensburg, with case data available online via the Washington court search portals. Anyone can look up DUI cases by name, case number, or date using the public access tools described on this page.

Finding Kittitas County DUI Records Online

The primary tool for searching DUI records in Kittitas County is the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal. This statewide system covers both Superior Court and District Court filings in Kittitas County. You can search by full name, partial name, or case number. Results show case type, filing date, charge descriptions, hearing dates, and current case status. No account is needed to run a basic search.

For cases not yet loaded into Odyssey, the Washington Courts public search tool offers a second option. Both systems are maintained by the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts. DUI cases in Kittitas County are filed under charge codes tied to RCW 46.61.502, so searches using a person's name should return matching DUI filings if they exist.

If you want an official certified record of a DUI conviction, you have two main paths. First, you can contact the Kittitas County Superior Court Clerk directly in Ellensburg to request a certified copy. The cost is $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after that. Plain copies run about $0.50 per page. Second, you can use the WATCH system run by the Washington State Patrol. WATCH provides a full criminal history report, including DUI convictions, for a $10 fee. WATCH is often the faster option when you just need to confirm whether someone has a conviction on record.

The Odyssey Portal search returns case details including charge descriptions, hearing history, and current status for Kittitas County DUI cases filed in Superior Court and District Court.

Washington DUI Laws That Apply in Kittitas County

All DUI cases in Kittitas County are prosecuted under Washington state law. The core statute is RCW 46.61.502, which sets the legal limit at 0.08 BAC for adults and 5.00 nanograms per milliliter of THC for cannabis. A first, second, or third DUI within ten years is a gross misdemeanor. A fourth or subsequent DUI is a Class B felony. As of January 2026, the lookback period for felony DUI extends to fifteen years.

Kittitas County District Court handles misdemeanor DUI cases, while the Superior Court takes felony DUI charges. Penalties follow the schedule in RCW 46.61.5055. A first offense carries a minimum of 24 hours in jail and a fine of at least $350. A second offense requires 30 days in jail and 60 days of electronic home monitoring. A third offense means 90 days in jail plus 120 days of home monitoring. Felony DUI adds prison time and longer license consequences.

Washington also has a physical control law under RCW 46.61.504. This applies when someone is found behind the wheel while impaired, even if the vehicle is not moving. The penalties are the same as a standard DUI. One difference is the safe harbor defense, which allows a person to avoid conviction if they were parked off the roadway and not about to drive.

Drivers under 21 face a stricter rule. Under RCW 46.61.503, any BAC of 0.02 or above is enough for a minor DUI charge. The standard 0.08 threshold does not apply to underage drivers.

License Suspension and Implied Consent in Kittitas County

When a driver is arrested for DUI in Kittitas County, Washington's implied consent law kicks in immediately. Under RCW 46.20.308, anyone who drives in Washington agrees to submit to chemical testing. Refusing a test triggers an automatic license action by the Department of Licensing. The driver has seven days from the date of arrest to request a hearing to contest that action. Missing the deadline means the suspension takes effect without a hearing.

The Washington Department of Licensing manages all DUI-related suspensions separately from the court process. A conviction in Kittitas County District Court or Superior Court will also trigger a separate DOL action. The two processes run at the same time, and the outcomes can be different. A driver might win in court but still face a DOL suspension, or vice versa.

Ignition interlock requirements apply after most DUI convictions in Kittitas County. Under RCW 46.20.720, a first offense typically requires one year of interlock use. The period increases to five years for a second offense and ten years for a third. The device costs about $21 per month to lease and maintain, and the driver is responsible for that cost.

Requesting Kittitas County DUI Records in Person or by Mail

To get a certified copy of a DUI case file from Kittitas County, contact the Superior Court Clerk's office in Ellensburg. You will need to provide the full name of the person whose records you are seeking, their date of birth, and the case number if you have it. Requests can be made in person during business hours or submitted by mail with a check for the applicable fees. The clerk's office can tell you the current processing time when you call or visit.

District Court DUI records follow a similar process through the Kittitas County District Court. For misdemeanor DUI cases, the District Court Clerk handles requests. If you are not sure which court handled a particular case, the Odyssey Portal search will show you the case type and court level, which tells you where to send your request.

Certified copies are the standard for legal purposes, such as presenting records in another court, to an insurance company, or for immigration matters. Plain uncertified copies may work for personal review but are not accepted as official documents in most legal settings.

Deferred Prosecution and Vacation in Kittitas County

Some DUI defendants in Kittitas County may be eligible for deferred prosecution under RCW 10.05.010. This option allows a person to enter a two-year treatment program instead of going through a standard trial. If the program is completed successfully, the charge can be dismissed. Deferred prosecution is only available once in a person's lifetime and requires a formal agreement approved by the court. It is not a way to avoid all consequences; strict conditions apply during the two years.

Vacating a DUI conviction in Washington is difficult. Under RCW 9.96.060, vacation of a DUI is generally not available within ten years of the conviction. Even after that period, there are conditions that must be met. Not all DUI convictions qualify. Anyone considering this option in Kittitas County should speak with a licensed Washington attorney before filing. Washington Law Help provides free legal information that can help people understand whether they might qualify.

Standard court forms for DUI-related filings in Washington are available through the Washington Courts forms page. These include forms for vacating a conviction, requesting a hearing, or responding to a DOL action.

I-90 Corridor and DUI Enforcement in Kittitas County

Kittitas County sits along I-90, the main east-west freeway linking western Washington to eastern Washington and beyond. This makes the county a high-traffic corridor, particularly for travelers crossing the Cascades. Law enforcement in Kittitas County, including the Washington State Patrol, maintains active DUI enforcement along I-90 and state highways within the county.

Ellensburg is home to Central Washington University, which brings a large student population. This tends to increase the volume of DUI cases filed in Kittitas County District Court involving younger drivers. Cases involving drivers under 21 are charged under RCW 46.61.503 and carry their own set of consequences separate from standard adult DUI charges.

The Yakima River runs through Kittitas County, and outdoor recreation areas draw visitors year-round. Summer events and holiday weekends historically see more DUI stops on county roads. Kittitas County Sheriff's Office and Ellensburg Police Department both make DUI arrests that feed into the court system in Ellensburg. All of those records are accessible through the public portals described on this page.

Cities in Kittitas County

Kittitas County includes several communities. Ellensburg is the county seat and the largest city in the county. Other communities include Cle Elum, Kittitas, Roslyn, and South Cle Elum. No cities in Kittitas County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Kittitas County borders several other Washington counties. Each has its own court system and DUI records process.