Fresno DUI Case Lookup

Fresno DUI records are maintained by local and state agencies in California's Central Valley. Fresno Police Department keeps arrest reports for cases within city limits. Fresno County Superior Court handles all criminal DUI prosecutions and stores case files. The California DMV maintains driving records showing DUI convictions statewide. Court records are searchable online through the county portal using the Tyler Odyssey system. Fresno PD offers online collision reports for twelve dollars while free copies are available at the Records Lobby. The sheriff maintains an inmate search tool for people in custody. Most records are public unless sealed by court order.

Fresno County Court System

All DUI cases in Fresno get filed in Fresno County Superior Court. The county uses the Tyler Technologies Odyssey case management system. This makes online searches easier than counties with older systems. Cases from across the county appear in one searchable database.

The main courthouse sits at 1100 Van Ness Avenue in downtown Fresno. This building handles most criminal cases including DUI prosecutions. Multiple departments hear different types of cases. Some handle only felonies while others do misdemeanors. Your case gets assigned based on the charges and where the arrest happened.

Fresno County Superior Court maintains a public portal at publicportal.fresno.courts.ca.gov. You can search cases by name or case number. The portal shows criminal, traffic, civil, family, and probate cases. For traffic cases including some DUI matters, select criminal as the location during your search.

Search results display basic case information. You see charges, hearing dates, and case status. Documents may not be viewable online. Visit the courthouse to request copies of specific documents. The clerk's office charges 50 cents per page for copies. Certified documents cost more.

Call 559-457-2000 for general court information. The automated system directs you to specific departments. Court hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Some courtrooms close for lunch. Arrive early if you need to speak with clerk staff before a hearing.

Fresno Police Reports

Fresno Police Department handles DUI arrests within the city. Officers write detailed arrest reports that document the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, chemical testing, and observations. These reports become evidence in your criminal case.

Fresno PD uses GovQA for online records requests. Visit fresnoca.govqa.us to submit a request. You need to create an account and describe what records you want. The system tracks your request and sends email updates.

Collision reports cost twelve dollars if ordered online. You can get the same reports free at the Records Lobby. The lobby is located at 2323 Mariposa Street. Visit during business hours to request reports in person. Call 559-621-2534 for information about records requests.

Processing time varies. Simple collision reports come quickly. Arrest reports may take longer because staff reviews them for sensitive information. Some details get redacted to protect privacy or ongoing investigations. Victims and witnesses often have their names blacked out.

Fresno PD may not release arrest reports to the arrested person. This protects the integrity of criminal cases. If you need your DUI arrest report, your defense attorney can get it through court discovery. Prosecutors must provide this evidence to your lawyer during the case.

County Sheriff Coverage

The Fresno County Sheriff handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas outside Fresno city. Some smaller cities also contract with the sheriff for police services. If your arrest happened in these areas, contact the sheriff instead of Fresno PD.

The sheriff maintains an inmate search tool on their website. Visit the Fresno Sheriff inmate search page to look up current inmates. You can search by name or booking number. The system shows which jail facility holds the person.

Fresno County operates several jail facilities. Downtown Jail is the main booking facility. South Annex Jail houses many inmates as well. The inmate search tells you where someone is held and their booking date. This helps if you need to contact them or attend court hearings.

For arrest reports from the sheriff, contact their Records Division. The process differs from Fresno PD. Check the sheriff's website for current procedures and fees. Sheriff records often cost more than city police reports and may take longer to process.

DMV Driving Records

The California DMV records all DUI convictions statewide including Fresno. Convictions stay on your driving record for ten years. Commercial drivers face 55 year retention. The DMV does not care where in California the conviction occurred. They track everything in one statewide system.

Request your driving record online at dmv.ca.gov for two dollars. Create an account first. The system prints your record right away. Credit card payments add 1.95 percent for processing. Mail requests cost five dollars but take weeks.

The driving record shows DUI convictions with violation codes, dates, and counties. Administrative suspensions appear too. These Admin Per Se suspensions occur after DUI arrest even before any conviction. Fresno Police and the Sheriff both report these to the DMV within days of arrest.

You get ten days after arrest to request a DMV hearing. Call the Driver Safety Branch at 833-543-7703. The hearing determines if your license gets suspended administratively. This is separate from criminal court. Missing the deadline means automatic suspension after 30 days.

First DUI brings four month suspension. Repeat offenses within ten years trigger one year suspension. Refusing chemical tests results in longer suspensions. First refusal is one year. Second refusal within ten years is two years. Reinstatement requires paying $125 and filing SR-22 insurance for three years.

DUI Court Proceedings

Understanding what happens in court helps you know what records get created. Your first appearance is arraignment. This happens at the downtown courthouse. The judge reads charges. You enter a plea. The court may appoint a public defender if you qualify financially.

Pretrial hearings follow arraignment. Your lawyer talks to the prosecutor about your case. Evidence gets shared through discovery. Police reports, test results, and witness statements become part of the court file. Many cases resolve through plea agreements at this stage without trial.

Trial happens if you do not plead guilty. A judge or jury hears the evidence. Witnesses testify under oath. The court reporter types everything that gets said. Verdicts get recorded. Sentencing occurs after conviction. The judge orders fines, classes, probation, or jail time based on your charges and history.

Each step creates documents. Court minutes show what happened at hearings. Motions contain legal arguments. The judgment records the final outcome. All these papers stay in your court file. Request copies from the clerk by providing your case number and paying the copy fees.

Fresno Legal Resources

Several organizations provide legal help in Fresno. Most serve people who cannot afford private lawyers. The Public Defender's Office handles criminal cases for eligible defendants based on financial need.

Fresno County Public Defender has an office near the courthouse downtown. Public defenders get assigned by the judge at your first court appearance. You fill out financial forms. If you qualify, you get free representation. Public defenders handle thousands of cases each year including many DUI prosecutions.

Legal Services of Northern California offers help with some criminal record issues. They focus on clearing old convictions and fixing errors. Call their Fresno office for information about services. They do not handle active DUI criminal cases.

The Fresno County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. This connects you with private attorneys who specialize in DUI defense. Many lawyers offer free consultations. Fees depend on case complexity. Simple first offense cases cost less than felony DUI with injuries or multiple priors.

Getting Your Records

Start by figuring out what records you need. Court files show charges and outcomes. Police reports have arrest details. DMV records display license issues. Each agency keeps separate records with different procedures for access.

Use the online court portal to find your case number. This shows which courthouse has your file. Search results give basic information. For detailed documents, visit the clerk's office. Bring identification and your case number. Copies cost 50 cents per page.

Police reports require an online request through GovQA or a visit to the Records Lobby. Include dates, locations, and report numbers if you have them. Staff can find records faster with good information. Processing takes longer for complex requests that need review.

DMV records come fastest. The online system gives instant results for two dollars. This shows your complete driving history. Print it or save a digital copy. The record includes all violations, suspensions, and convictions on file statewide.

Central Valley Cities

Other cities near Fresno have their own police departments and record systems. Make sure you know where your arrest occurred before requesting records.

Bakersfield is south in Kern County. Stockton is north in San Joaquin County. Both use different court systems than Fresno. Sacramento is north in Sacramento County.

San Jose is northwest in Santa Clara County. Los Angeles is south in Los Angeles County. These cities operate under separate jurisdictions with their own agencies and procedures. Always verify the correct county and city before submitting records requests.