Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. The arrest counts are the ones each agency reported to the FBI, as the FBI held them on October 8, 2026. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and October 9, 2026.
Richmond County, New York, has about 498,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). A DWI arrest in Richmond County starts two cases, a criminal case in the local criminal court and a license case before the DMV, and leaves three records. This guide follows the arrest from the roadside to the court file and the driving record.
This guide covers the law, the arrest, booking, the court case, the license case, the records and common questions.
Related guides: Richmond County public records, Richmond County arrest records, Richmond County inmate search, Richmond County criminal records, Richmond County court records, New York arrest records and New York inmate search.
The DWI Law in New York
In New York the offense is DWI, and the limit is 0.08; driving while ability impaired (DWAI) is charged from 0.05.
Driving in New York is consent to a breath or blood test when an officer has cause to suspect DWI; the license case that follows a refusal or a failed test is run by the DMV, separately from the criminal case.
For charging and sentencing, New York counts prior offenses within 10 years.
Who Makes DWI Arrests in Richmond County
The New York City Police Department polices all five boroughs of New York City, Richmond County among them, and reports its arrests to the FBI as one agency, so they are not broken out for Richmond County here.
Booking After a DWI Arrest in Richmond County
A driver arrested for DWI and kept in custody is held by the New York City Department of Correction, which runs the city's jails for all five boroughs; there is no county jail. The page of the sheriff's office SearchSystems verified is at nyc.gov/site/doc/inmate-info/inmate-lookup.page.
The Court Case
A DWI charge from Richmond County is brought by the District Attorney in the local criminal court.
The District Attorney's page SearchSystems verified is at comptroller.nyc.gov, phone (212) 669-3916.
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webccos/richmondcc.
Statewide, eCourts is the Unified Court System's free online case search (WebCivil, WebCrims and WebFamily).
The License Case
A DWI arrest starts two cases: the criminal one above and an administrative one over the license, run by the DMV. The driving record, kept by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, carries the result of both.
The Records a DWI Leaves
- The arrest report: from the agency that made the arrest, under the Freedom of Information Law.
- The court file: from the local criminal court, kept by the County Clerk.
- The driving record: from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.
More on each: Richmond County arrest records and Richmond County court records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DWI limit in New York?
0.08 percent blood alcohol; driving while ability impaired (DWAI) is charged from 0.05.
Where is a DWI case from Richmond County heard?
In the local criminal court, brought by the District Attorney.
Where is a person arrested for DWI in Richmond County held?
In the New York City jail system, run by the New York City Department of Correction for all five boroughs.
Who handles the license after a DWI arrest in New York?
The DMV, in an administrative case separate from the court case.
How long does a DWI count as a prior in New York?
10 years.
Is this the official Richmond County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.