Vigo County DUI Records Search
Vigo County DUI and OWI records are maintained by the Vigo County Clerk in Terre Haute, serving this western Indiana county that is home to Indiana State University. The Vigo County courts process OWI cases from Terre Haute and surrounding communities throughout the county, with records available online through Indiana's MyCase system and at the clerk's office at the courthouse. This page explains how to search those records, what the clerk provides, and how Indiana's OWI statutes apply to cases filed in Vigo County.
Vigo County Quick Facts
Vigo County Clerk of Courts
The Vigo County Clerk's office is at the Vigo County Courthouse, 33 S 3rd St, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Call the clerk at 812-462-3211. The clerk maintains all official court records for the county's circuit and superior courts, including OWI criminal case files. Records on file include charging documents, case histories, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and probation conditions. Vigo County is a significant regional center in western Indiana, home to Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The county sees active law enforcement on its state and US highways.
The county government's official site at vigocounty.in.gov lists county departments, contact information, and other government services. The clerk's office is the primary source for certified OWI case records in Vigo County. You can request documents in person or by mail. Call ahead at 812-462-3211 to confirm business hours, current copy fees, and any required forms. Staff can tell you what records exist for a specific case and how to request them.
The Vigo County Indiana homepage provides county department contacts, service information, and government resources for Terre Haute and Vigo County residents.
The county's website is a useful starting point for finding the clerk's contact details, court schedules, and other department information related to OWI records in Vigo County.
Online OWI Record Search
Indiana's free MyCase public portal covers all Vigo County courts. Search by name or case number and filter to Vigo County. The system shows charges, hearing dates, case status, and dispositions for OWI and other criminal cases. Most OWI records filed in Vigo County are public and available through this system unless they have been expunged or sealed by court order.
Indiana's Second Chance Law at IC 35-38-9 allows eligible OWI defendants to petition for expungement after five years for misdemeanor convictions and after eight years for Level 6 felony OWI. All conditions of the sentence must be complete and no new convictions may have occurred. Once the court grants expungement, the record is removed from the public MyCase search. The Indiana Courts Public Records portal provides statewide guidance on public record access.
OWI Law in Vigo County
Indiana charges impaired driving as Operating While Intoxicated under IC 9-30-5. A first OWI with BAC below .15% is a Class C misdemeanor. At .15% BAC or above, a first offense is a Class A misdemeanor. A second OWI within seven years of a prior conviction is a Level 6 felony. Vigo County's circuit court handles felony-level OWI matters. Superior courts handle misdemeanor OWI cases.
An OWI conviction in Vigo County triggers license suspension under IC 9-30-6. Defendants who need to keep driving for work or family can petition for specialized driving privileges under IC 9-30-10. These court-issued privileges set specific conditions and time windows for allowed driving. Multiple OWI or serious traffic offenses can result in a habitual traffic violator designation under IC 9-30-9, with the Indiana BMV enforcing longer suspension periods. Checking a driver record at the BMV shows the full suspension and reinstatement history for any Indiana driver.
Law Enforcement in Vigo County
The Terre Haute Police Department handles OWI enforcement within city limits. The Vigo County Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas and rural roads. The Indiana State Police is active on I-70, US-41, and US-40, which are major routes through Vigo County. All OWI cases from these agencies are filed in Vigo County courts and tracked through the clerk's office and the MyCase system.
ISP arrest records can be requested directly from the Indiana State Police. These are separate from the court case records the clerk holds. ISP records document the arrest and investigation; court records document what happened in the case from the time charges were filed through final disposition.
Legal Resources in Vigo County
The Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center provides free general guidance for people navigating Indiana courts. The Indiana State Bar Association offers attorney referrals for those who need legal representation in OWI cases in Vigo County. Indiana Legal Services may help eligible lower-income residents with questions about court records, expungement, or related legal matters in the Terre Haute area.
The Vigo County Clerk's office can answer questions about what records are on file and how to request certified copies. Staff do not provide legal advice but can guide you through the record request process.
Cities in Vigo County
One city in Vigo County has an individual page on this site:
- Terre Haute - County seat and largest city, home to Indiana State University, served by Vigo County courts
Other communities in Vigo County do not meet the population threshold for individual pages but are served by the same county court system.