How Utah DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Utah is prosecuted in the Justice Court or District Court 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.
Utah tries misdemeanor DUI in justice court, municipal or county, with higher-level misdemeanors and felony DUI — a third or later offense, or one causing serious injury — in district court. Appeals from justice court are heard by the district court, and district court appeals go to the Utah Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at utcourts.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 Utah
A DUI case in Utah is heard in the Justice Court or District Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under Utah Code § 41-6a-502 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Utah's implied-consent section, Utah Code § 41-6a-520. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — A driver arrested for DUI must request a Driver License Division hearing within 10 days of arrest to contest suspension. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Utah Driver License Division, Department of Public Safety; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the Justice Court or District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Justice Court or District Court. Utah tries misdemeanor DUI in justice court, municipal or county, with higher-level misdemeanors and felony DUI — a third or later offense, or one causing serious injury — in district 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. Utah courts file electronically through the state courts' MyCase and XChange systems.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $700–$1,000, jail exposure up to 6 months, a licence suspension of 4 months, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 10 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense is a class B misdemeanor requiring interlock. Utah's per se limit is 0.05.
- 6Appeal — Justice courts record their proceedings electronically, and some appeals from them are heard as a new trial.
- 7Reinstatement — Under Utah Code § 53-3-223 eligible offenders may qualify for DUI early reinstatement. Utah requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Utah
- Utah courts file electronically through the state courts' MyCase and XChange systems.
- Justice courts record their proceedings electronically, and some appeals from them are heard as a new trial.
- A plea in abeyance under Utah Code § 77-2a-1 exists, but statutory limits restrict its use in DUI cases.
- The Driver License Division's administrative hearing is separate from the criminal case.
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.
Utah ZIP codes covered
These Utah 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 Utah resources
Counties
Other Utah official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Utah?
- First-offense DUI cases in Utah are heard in the Justice Court or District Court 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 Utah?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the UT driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.