Find Posey County DUI Records
Posey County DUI and OWI records are filed at the Posey County courts in Mount Vernon and are available for public search through Indiana's MyCase portal. This page explains how to find OWI case records in this southwestern Indiana county along the Wabash River, what those records contain, how Indiana's operating while intoxicated statutes apply, and what steps are available for searching convictions, tracking active cases, and pursuing expungement.
Posey County Quick Facts
Searching OWI Records in Posey County
Indiana's statewide case search tool at mycase.in.gov covers Posey County courts. Enter a name or case number and results show OWI case filings, charges, hearing dates, and final dispositions. Posey County has a Circuit Court and Superior Court in Mount Vernon. MyCase searches both at once.
Mount Vernon is the county seat and the only court location in Posey County. Every OWI arrest in the county — from New Harmony, Cynthiana, Poseyville, or the rural Wabash River townships — leads to a case filed in Mount Vernon. There is no separate municipal court, which keeps searching simple.
For records not available in MyCase, call the Posey County Clerk at 812-838-1305 or visit 300 Main St, Mount Vernon. Certified copies are available in person for a per-page fee. Indiana's public access rules are explained at in.gov/courts/public-records.
Indiana OWI Law in Posey County
Indiana uses OWI — operating while intoxicated — under IC 9-30-5. A first OWI with BAC below .15% is a Class C misdemeanor. At .15% or above, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor. A second OWI within seven years is a Level 6 felony. The charge level appears clearly in the case record on MyCase and directly affects the range of penalties the court can impose.
Posey County shares a border with Illinois and Kentucky. Some OWI arrests here involve people who were traveling between states. Indiana courts have jurisdiction over all OWI offenses that occur within Posey County regardless of the driver's home state. The record stays in Posey County courts. Out-of-state drivers face the same Indiana law as residents — a DUI in Illinois does not reduce what Indiana charges.
The Indiana State Police and Posey County Sheriff both make OWI arrests in the county. Cases from either agency are filed in the same Posey County courts. The arresting agency is noted in the case documents, but it does not change the charge structure or which court handles the case.
Indiana Office of Judicial Administration
The Indiana Office of Judicial Administration oversees court records policy statewide. Their public portal is shown below:
This portal explains the rules for public access to court records including Posey County OWI case files, and links to MyCase and other public access tools.
License Suspensions and BMV Records
An OWI conviction in Posey County triggers a BMV license suspension under IC 9-30-6. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles processes the suspension separately from the criminal court case. Suspension length depends on the offense level, any prior OWI history, and whether the driver refused a chemical test. Test refusal brings its own administrative suspension that runs parallel to any criminal conviction suspension.
You can request an Official Driver Record from the BMV online portal for $4. This shows the current suspension status, reinstatement requirements, and any habitual traffic violator flags under IC 9-30-9. Drivers with HTV suspensions can petition for specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10 in Posey County Circuit Court. If the court grants it, the order becomes part of the public case record.
Expungement Options in Posey County
Indiana's Second Chance Law at IC 35-38-9 lets qualifying people petition for expungement of OWI convictions. Misdemeanor OWI requires five years from conviction. Level 6 felony OWI requires eight years. Cases involving death or serious bodily injury cannot be expunged.
Once granted, the case is sealed from public searches. MyCase will not show it. Law enforcement retains access. If a Posey County OWI record you expect to find is missing from MyCase, expungement may have sealed it. The self-service legal center has forms and instructions. Indiana Legal Services may assist income-qualifying Posey County residents with the petition process.
What Posey County OWI Records Contain
An OWI case file in Posey County typically includes a charging document (citing IC 9-30-5 and stating the alleged BAC), a probable cause affidavit from the arresting officer, any pre-trial motions, plea agreements or jury verdicts, and a sentencing order. The sentencing order specifies jail days, fines, probation conditions, required alcohol treatment, and license suspension terms. That document is the most complete summary of what the court ordered.
MyCase shows the docket entries — a chronological list of every filing and hearing. Actual documents require a visit to the Posey County Courthouse or a written request to the Clerk. Certified copies are available for a fee. For active cases, MyCase updates are usually enough to track progress. For old cases, some documents may be fully digitized while others may require a courthouse visit to access physical files.
Legal Resources in Posey County
The Indiana State Bar Association at inbar.org has a lawyer referral service for finding criminal defense attorneys in Posey County. Southwest Indiana has active criminal defense bars given the area's proximity to Evansville and the courts there. Attorneys who work in Vanderburgh County often also take cases in Posey County.
The Indiana courts trial courts directory lists current contact information for Posey County courts, including judge assignments and clerk hours. For the most current information before an in-person visit, calling ahead is a good practice — smaller county clerks' offices may have limited staffing. The Indiana State Police handles certified criminal history records at the state level for situations where a comprehensive Indiana criminal history is needed.
Indiana Legal Services at indianalegalservices.org may provide assistance to low-income Posey County residents on civil matters connected to OWI convictions, including expungement petitions.
Cities and Towns in Posey County
Posey County has no cities above the 100,000-population threshold, so no city-specific OWI record pages exist for this county. Mount Vernon is the county seat. New Harmony, Poseyville, and Cynthiana are among the other communities in the county. All DUI and OWI case filings from anywhere in Posey County are processed at the Posey County Courthouse at 300 Main St, Mount Vernon. That courthouse handles all criminal case filings for the entire county.