Chippewa County DUI Records Search
Chippewa County DUI records are kept at the courthouse in Montevideo. The Eighth Judicial District handles all DWI and impaired driving cases here. Court Administrator Lindsay Listul manages records access and copy requests. You can look up DUI cases online through the free state court search tool, or contact the courthouse directly by phone at (320) 269-7774. This page explains how to search for DUI filings in Chippewa County, what kind of information the records hold, and where to go for more help.
Chippewa County Overview
Chippewa County District Court
All DUI cases in Chippewa County are processed at the District Court in Montevideo. The court is part of the Eighth Judicial District, which covers several counties in western Minnesota. When someone gets arrested for DWI in the Montevideo area or anywhere else in the county, the case goes to this courthouse.
Under Minnesota Statute 169A.20, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration at or above 0.08. The law also covers driving under the influence of controlled substances, cannabis products, or any combination. Commercial drivers face a lower limit of 0.04. Chippewa County DUI records track all these cases from the initial filing through sentencing and any post-conviction actions.
The courthouse has free public parking. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can walk in during those hours to look up records or ask about a case.
| Court | Chippewa County District Court |
|---|---|
| Address |
Chippewa County Courthouse 629 North 11th Street Montevideo, MN 56265 |
| Phone | (320) 269-7774 |
| Fax | (320) 269-7733 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court Admin | Lindsay Listul |
| Website | mncourts.gov - Chippewa County |
Looking Up Chippewa County DUI Records
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) is the primary free tool for searching DUI cases in Chippewa County. You can search by a person's name, case number, or citation number. The results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and docket entries. If documents were filed electronically, you can view those too.
There are limits to what shows up. Pending DUI cases without a conviction may not appear in a name-based search. You would need the case number. Records from before July 2015 have less detail in the online system. For those older Chippewa County DUI records, a call to the courthouse at (320) 269-7774 is your best bet.
The Minnesota State Law Library guide has detailed instructions on how to run different types of record searches. If you need a formal criminal history report that covers DUI convictions, the BCA criminal history service is the appropriate resource. That costs $8 per name search.
DUI Records and Minnesota Law in Chippewa County
Minnesota uses four degrees of DWI charges. The degree depends on the number of aggravating factors present at the time of arrest and the person's prior record. All of this information ends up in the Chippewa County DUI records.
A fourth-degree DWI under Statute 169A.27 is a misdemeanor. No aggravating factors. Third-degree under Statute 169A.26 is a gross misdemeanor with one aggravating factor. Second-degree involves two or more factors. First-degree under Statute 169A.24 is a felony charge for drivers with three or more qualified prior incidents in ten years or a previous felony DWI.
The license revocation process runs on a separate track. Under Statute 169A.52, failing a breath test results in at least 90 days of license revocation for a first offense. Refusing the test means a full year. These administrative actions are handled by the Department of Public Safety, but the court file in Chippewa County will reference them.
Note: Check your driving record status through the Minnesota DVS for license revocation details tied to a DUI arrest.
Chippewa County DUI Resources
Visit the Chippewa County court page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website for court contact information, calendars, and directions.
The weekly public court calendar is posted each business day at 7:00 a.m. and updates hourly. DUI hearings in Chippewa County are listed there along with all other criminal and traffic matters.
Use the MCRO search tool to look up Chippewa County DUI case records from anywhere, at any time.
The system is free and available around the clock. You can search all 87 Minnesota counties from one place, making it easy to check DUI records across jurisdictions if needed.
Getting Chippewa County DUI Record Copies
Plain copies and certified copies of DUI records are available from the Chippewa County court. Certified copies carry the court seal and are required by some agencies as proof of a conviction or case outcome. Plain copies are fine for personal reference.
Submit a copy request using the Minnesota Judicial Branch form. You can send it by mail, email, or fax to (320) 269-7733. Include the case number if you know it. Without the case number, provide the full name, date of birth, date of offense, and charges so staff can locate the right file. Fees vary depending on the number of pages and type of copy.
Police reports from DUI arrests are not available through the court. You would need to contact the agency that made the arrest, whether that is the Chippewa County Sheriff, Montevideo Police Department, or the Minnesota State Patrol.
Nearby Counties
Chippewa County is in western Minnesota. If you are unsure where a DUI arrest occurred, check the location carefully. Cases get filed in the county where the stop happened.