Montgomery County DUI and DWI Records

Montgomery County DUI records are held by the county sheriff and circuit clerk in Mount Ida, Arkansas. This guide explains how to find DWI arrest records, court cases, and related public records from this rural county in the Ouachita Mountains.

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

The Montgomery County Sheriff handles DUI arrests made by county deputies. The sheriff's office is in Mount Ida. The office phone is (870) 867-3151. You can also reach the sheriff by email at nthomas@montgomerycountyar.gov. The jail roster for current inmates is available through the county website or by direct contact with the sheriff's office.

If someone was recently arrested for DWI in Montgomery County, the sheriff's office is the first contact for booking information. Arrest records are public under Arkansas Code § 25-19-101. Submit a written FOIA request with the subject's name and approximate arrest date. The office must respond within three business days. There is no residency requirement to submit a records request.

The Arkansas Sheriffs' Association listing for Montgomery County provides contact details and links to the sheriff's resources, including information on how to get in touch about DUI arrest records in Mount Ida.

Court Records and CourtConnect Search

The Montgomery County Circuit Court in Mount Ida handles criminal cases including DWI felonies. The circuit clerk's office maintains all court files. For misdemeanor first and second DWI offenses, cases go through district court first. Third and subsequent DWI offenses within the 10-year lookback period are felonies handled at the circuit court level.

Search Montgomery County DUI court records for free through CourtConnect at caseinfo.arcourts.gov. The system covers most cases filed after January 1, 2009. Enter a name or case number to get case status, charges, and court dates. Records from before 2009 may have redacted details under Administrative Order 19.

The Arkansas CourtConnect system gives free public access to Montgomery County court case data around the clock. Search by name or case number to find DWI and DUI filings. For physical copies or older files, contact the Montgomery County Circuit Clerk in Mount Ida.

Montgomery County is a small, rural county. Online access to county-specific resources is more limited than larger counties. When in doubt, call the circuit clerk or sheriff directly. In-person visits to the Mount Ida courthouse often yield the fastest results for specific records requests.

Arkansas DWI Law Applied in Montgomery County

ACA § 5-65-103 defines DWI for every county in Arkansas. Operating a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or more is the standard adult offense. A first DWI is a misdemeanor with up to one year in jail, a $150 to $1,000 fine, and a six-month suspension. Penalties increase with each prior offense within the 10-year lookback window. A fourth or later DWI becomes a felony with prison time of one to six years.

Arkansas does not allow DWI charges to be plea bargained down to reckless driving or any lesser included offense. Whatever charge gets filed stays as DWI in the public record. This is useful to know when searching Montgomery County court records because you will always see the original charge.

The implied consent law at ACA § 5-65-202 applies statewide. Any driver who refuses a chemical test faces an automatic license suspension from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. First refusal: 180-day suspension. Second refusal within five years: two-year suspension. These DFA administrative actions are separate from criminal court penalties and happen regardless of how the criminal case resolves.

Montgomery County is a scenic area known for outdoor recreation. Highways serving the county, including U.S. 270, see regular Arkansas State Police patrols. Trooper-made DUI arrests go into state records at the Arkansas State Police and ACIC, in addition to any local court filings.

Statewide Records and Background Checks

For a complete DUI history across Arkansas, use the Arkansas State Police criminal background check system at cbc.ark.org. Name-based checks cost $22.00 and need written consent from the subject. Mail-in requests cost $25.00 to Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau, 1 State Police Plaza Drive, Little Rock, AR 72209. Fingerprint-based checks cost $13.00 for people on a signed consent list.

The Arkansas Department of Correction inmate search is free. Use it to look up people serving state prison sentences after felony DWI convictions. Search by name or county of commitment. It does not show county jail inmates. For current Montgomery County jail information, contact the sheriff at (870) 867-3151.

Crash reports from DUI-related accidents in Montgomery County are $10.00 each through crashreports.ark.org. These reports can show blood alcohol content and officer notes about suspected impairment at the time of a crash. Court fines for DUI cases anywhere in Arkansas, including Montgomery County, can be paid online at pay.arcourts.gov.

If a DUI arrest in Montgomery County involves a crash with injury or death, the case will likely be charged as a more serious felony offense beyond the standard DWI charge. ACA § 5-65-103 covers standard DWI, but cases with injury may carry additional charges under separate statutes. The circuit court in Mount Ida handles these more serious matters. The Arkansas Attorney General's FOIA Hotline is (800) 482-8982 if you have questions about your right to access public records after a denial from any Montgomery County agency.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County lies in west-central Arkansas near the Ouachita Mountains. Adjacent counties also keep DUI records through their local courts and sheriffs.