How New Hampshire DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in New Hampshire is prosecuted in the Circuit Court, District Division that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
New Hampshire misdemeanor DWI is heard in the Circuit Court, District Division, while felony-level impaired driving — aggravated DWI with prior felony convictions, or a case causing death — is heard in Superior Court. Appeals from the district division and from DMV licence actions go to Superior Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at courts.nh.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in New Hampshire
A DUI case in New Hampshire is heard in the Circuit Court, District Division, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 30 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 265-A:2 and request a breath, blood or urine test under New Hampshire's implied-consent section, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 265-A:4. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 30 days — Administrative Licence Suspension is imposed under RSA 265-A:30 for a refusal or a test result of 0.08 or more. You have 30 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the Circuit Court, District Division — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Circuit Court, District Division. New Hampshire misdemeanor DWI is heard in the Circuit Court, District Division, while felony-level impaired driving — aggravated DWI with prior felony convictions, or a case causing death — is heard in Superior Court.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch runs a statewide electronic filing system for Circuit and Superior Court matters.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $500–$1,000, a licence suspension of 9 months. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a fine and a suspension usually measured in months, not weeks.
- 6Appeal — An administrative licence suspension appeal goes to Superior Court in the county of residence within 30 days of the final decision under RSA 263:76.
- 7Reinstatement — New Hampshire requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in New Hampshire
- The New Hampshire Judicial Branch runs a statewide electronic filing system for Circuit and Superior Court matters.
- An administrative licence suspension appeal goes to Superior Court in the county of residence within 30 days of the final decision under RSA 263:76.
- A person may request either an administrative review or a hearing on a suspension under RSA 265-A:31.
- The Bureau of Hearings within the Department of Safety conducts administrative licence hearings.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
New Hampshire ZIP codes covered
These New Hampshire ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these New Hampshire resources
Counties
Other New Hampshire official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in New Hampshire?
- First-offense DUI cases in New Hampshire are heard in the Circuit Court, District Division for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in New Hampshire?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the NH driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 30 days of arrest.