Find DUI Records in Skamania County

Skamania County DUI records are maintained by two courts in Stevenson. Misdemeanor DUI cases go to Skamania County District Court, which covers the unincorporated county and serves as the primary trial court for most driving offenses in this rural area. Felony DUI cases, which arise from a fourth or higher offense within ten years, go to Skamania County Superior Court. Both courts are located at the same courthouse complex in Stevenson. Washington's Public Records Act makes most of these court files available to anyone who asks. Online access is available through the state's public court portals at no charge.

Online Search Options for Skamania County DUI Cases

Washington State gives the public free access to court records through two online portals. The Odyssey Portal is the main tool for Superior Court cases, including felony DUI filings from Skamania County. You can search by person's name, case number, or filing date. Results show charges, hearing schedules, and dispositions. The system is straightforward and loads results quickly.

For Skamania County District Court records, use the Washington Courts public case search. This tool covers district and municipal courts across the state. Skamania County has no incorporated municipalities with separate municipal courts, so all misdemeanor DUI cases from across the county go to District Court. The search works the same way: enter a name or case number, select a court or county, and review the results.

Both portals show docket entries and case status. They don't give you the full case file. If you need copies of actual documents, like the charging documents, plea agreement, or sentencing order, you have to contact the clerk's office. The fee is $0.50 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after that.

Skamania County Superior Court: Felony DUI

Felony DUI charges in Washington come under RCW 46.61.502 when a person has four or more prior DUI convictions within the previous ten years, or when there is a prior conviction for vehicular homicide or vehicular assault. A felony DUI is a Class B felony, which carries up to ten years in prison and fines up to $20,000.

Skamania County Superior Court sits at 240 Vancouver Ave, Stevenson, WA 98648. The clerk's office can be reached at (509) 427-3730. Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., though hours can vary. Call ahead if you are traveling from a distance, since Stevenson is not close to major population centers.

Skamania County is a small, rural county in the Columbia River Gorge. Felony DUI cases don't occur here at the same rate as in larger urban counties. But the process is the same. Charges are filed, hearings are scheduled, and a resolution comes through a plea or trial. All of this is documented in the court record and available through the Odyssey portal or by contacting the clerk directly.

District Court: Misdemeanor DUI in Skamania County

Most DUI arrests in Skamania County result in gross misdemeanor charges. First and second offenses are handled this way. Skamania County District Court handles these cases. The court is co-located with the Superior Court in Stevenson, which simplifies things if you need records from both levels.

Washington sets mandatory minimums for DUI penalties under RCW 46.61.5055. A first-offense DUI with a BAC below 0.15 carries a minimum 24 hours in jail and a $350 fine. If BAC was 0.15 or above, or if the driver refused a breath test, the minimum goes to 48 hours jail and a $500 fine. A second offense requires at least 30 days in jail plus 60 days of electronic home monitoring and a $500 fine. A third offense means 90 days in jail, 120 days EHM, and a $1,000 fine.

The Washington state THC threshold for DUI is 5.00 nanograms per milliliter of blood. Cannabis impairment charges follow the same court process and the same records system as alcohol-related DUI cases. If you are searching for a case and you're not sure what type of DUI it was, just search by name. The charge description will appear in the case listing.

Arrests and Law Enforcement Records

Court records and arrest records are different things. The court file starts when charges are filed. What happened before that, the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, breath test results, and the booking at the jail, those details live in police and sheriff records.

In Skamania County, most DUI arrests are made by the Skamania County Sheriff's Office. Washington State Patrol also operates in the county and makes DUI arrests along state highways, including SR-14 along the Columbia River. To get a police report or arrest report, contact the arresting agency directly. The Sheriff's Office is also in Stevenson. The State Patrol has a district office that can help route records requests.

Booking records from the county jail may be available separately. Contact the Skamania County Sheriff's Office for information about jail logs and booking records. These are typically public records but are not part of the court system and won't appear in the Odyssey portal or the statewide court search.

License Suspensions: Department of Licensing

A DUI arrest in Skamania County sets off two separate processes. The court handles the criminal case. The Washington Department of Licensing handles the driver's license. These run on different timelines and are managed by different agencies.

Under Washington's implied consent law, a driver who is arrested for DUI and either fails or refuses a breath test faces an automatic license suspension or revocation. A driver has 20 days from the date of notice to request a hearing with DOL to contest the suspension. If no hearing is requested, the suspension goes into effect automatically. For a first offense with a failed breath test, the suspension is typically 90 days. A refusal leads to a one-year revocation.

DOL suspension records are not part of the court record. You won't find them through the Odyssey portal or the district court search. Check directly with the Department of Licensing. Their DUI resources page at dol.wa.gov explains the suspension process and how to request a hearing or reinstate a license.

Requesting Records by Mail or In Person

Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, gives the public the right to inspect and copy court records. You can make a request in person, by mail, or in some cases by email. You don't need to state a reason for your request.

To request records by mail, write to the Skamania County Clerk at 240 Vancouver Ave, Stevenson, WA 98648. Include the name of the party involved, the approximate date of the case, the case number if you have it, and a description of what you want. Send a check for the copy fees or ask for an estimate first. Allow extra time for rural counties, as staffing can be limited and mail volume can affect turnaround.

Sealed records and juvenile records are not accessible to the public. If you request a record and part of it is withheld, the clerk will tell you what exemption applies. Most DUI records involving adult defendants are fully public.

Nearby Counties

Skamania County borders Clark County to the west, Klickitat County to the east, and Cowlitz County to the northwest. For DUI records from those areas, use the same statewide portals. Each county's Superior Court is on Odyssey, and district courts appear in the Washington Courts search. For general information about the Washington court system and a directory of all courts statewide, visit courts.wa.gov.