Long Beach DUI Case Records

Long Beach DUI records are maintained by the police department and Los Angeles County court system. Long Beach Police Department keeps arrest reports for cases within city limits. Los Angeles County Superior Court handles all DUI criminal prosecutions. The California DMV maintains driving records showing convictions statewide. LBPD charges twenty-nine dollars for all police reports. The Long Beach Courthouse serves cases from the harbor area including Long Beach and surrounding communities. Court searches through the county portal may cost up to $4.75. The city is part of Los Angeles County but operates its own police department separate from LAPD and the county sheriff.

Los Angeles County Courts

DUI cases in Long Beach get filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Long Beach has its own courthouse that serves the harbor area. Cases from Long Beach and nearby communities get assigned there. The courthouse is part of the larger LA County court system.

Long Beach Courthouse sits at 275 Magnolia Avenue. This building handles criminal cases from the south bay area. Multiple departments hear different types of cases. Some departments handle felonies while others do misdemeanors. Your case gets assigned based on the charges and when it was filed.

Los Angeles County maintains an online criminal case search at lacourt.org. You can search by defendant name or case number. The database includes cases from all LA County courthouses including Long Beach. Felony records go back to 1980. Misdemeanor records start in 1988.

Search results show case number, defendant name, filing date, and courthouse location. Detailed information requires visiting the courthouse or using advanced search options. The court charges up to $4.75 for some searches. Document copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost more.

Traffic infractions do not appear in the criminal search. DUI cases usually get filed as criminal matters, not simple traffic infractions. If you cannot find a case in the criminal index, contact the clerk's office at the Long Beach Courthouse. Call 213-830-0801 for general information about the LA County court system.

Long Beach Police Reports

Long Beach Police Department handles DUI arrests within city limits. The city operates its own police force separate from LAPD. Officers write arrest reports documenting the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, and chemical testing. These reports become evidence in criminal prosecutions.

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

All police reports cost twenty-nine dollars. This flat fee applies regardless of page count. Clearance letters cost forty-one dollars. These fees are higher than some other California cities but lower than others. Payment is required before you receive copies of records.

The Records Division is located at 400 West Broadway. You can submit requests in person during business hours or use the online portal. Call 562-570-7260 for questions about records requests. Processing time varies based on request complexity and staff workload.

Some arrest reports may be withheld from the arrested person. This protects ongoing investigations and criminal cases. If you need your DUI arrest report for your defense, your attorney can obtain it through court discovery. Prosecutors must provide this evidence to your lawyer during the case.

County Sheriff Jurisdiction

Long Beach has its own police department. The Los Angeles County Sheriff does not patrol within Long Beach city limits. However, the sheriff operates the county jail system where Long Beach arrestees get booked and held.

The LA County Sheriff maintains an inmate information system at app5.lasd.org/iic. You can search for current inmates by name or booking number. The system shows which jail facility holds the person and their booking information.

Several jail facilities serve the county. Men's Central Jail is the largest at 441 Bauchet Street in downtown Los Angeles. Call the 24-hour inmate information line at 213-473-6100 to find out if someone is in custody. The system updates regularly as people get booked and released.

If your arrest happened in unincorporated areas near Long Beach, the sheriff may have handled it instead of LBPD. Contact the sheriff's Records Division for arrest reports from those areas. Sheriff records requests differ from city police department procedures.

DMV Driving Records

The California DMV records all DUI convictions statewide including Long Beach. Convictions stay on your driving record for ten years. Commercial drivers face 55 year retention. The DMV tracks these records regardless of where in California the conviction occurred.

Request your driving record online at dmv.ca.gov for two dollars. The system prints your record immediately. Create an account first to protect your information. Credit card payments add 1.95 percent processing fee. Mail requests cost five dollars and 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 conviction. Long Beach Police reports these to the DMV within days of arrest. You get a temporary permit good for 30 days.

You have ten days after arrest to request a DMV hearing. Call the Driver Safety Branch at 833-543-7703. This hearing determines if your license gets suspended administratively. The hearing is separate from your criminal court case. Different rules and evidence standards apply at DMV hearings.

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

DUI Court Process

Your first court date is the arraignment. This happens at Long Beach Courthouse. The judge reads the charges against you. You enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The court may appoint a public defender if you cannot afford a private attorney.

Pretrial hearings follow arraignment. Your lawyer negotiates with the prosecutor. Evidence gets exchanged through the discovery process. Police reports, test results, and witness statements become part of the court file. Many DUI cases resolve through plea agreements without going to trial.

Trial occurs if you do not plead guilty. A judge or jury hears the evidence. Witnesses testify under oath. The court reporter creates a transcript of all testimony. Verdicts get recorded in the case file. Sentencing happens after conviction. The judge orders fines, DUI classes, probation, or jail time.

Each court appearance creates records. Court minutes document what happened at each hearing. Motions contain legal arguments from both sides. The judgment shows the final outcome. All these documents stay in your court file. You can request copies from the clerk by providing your case number and paying copy fees.

Long Beach Legal Resources

Several organizations provide legal help in the Long Beach area. Most serve people who cannot afford private attorneys. The Los Angeles County Public Defender handles criminal cases for eligible defendants.

The Public Defender has an office near the Long Beach Courthouse. Public defenders get assigned by the judge if you qualify financially. You provide income and asset information at your first court appearance. If approved, you get free representation for your criminal case.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles serves clients throughout the county including Long Beach. They offer help with some criminal record matters like expungements. Call for information about eligibility and services. They do not represent people in active DUI prosecutions.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. This connects you with private attorneys who handle DUI cases. Many lawyers offer free initial consultations. Fees vary based on case complexity and attorney experience. Simple first offense cases cost less than felony DUI with injuries.

Getting Your Records

Start by figuring out what records you need. Court files show charges and case outcomes. Police reports contain arrest details. DMV records display license suspensions and convictions. Each agency maintains separate records with different access procedures.

Use the online court search to find your case number. This tells you which courthouse has your file. Basic information appears in search results. For detailed documents, visit the Long Beach Courthouse clerk's office. Bring identification and your case number. Copies cost 50 cents per page.

Police reports require an online request through GovQA. Include dates, locations, and report numbers if you have them. Processing takes time because staff must review reports before release. Personal information often gets redacted to protect privacy.

DMV records come fastest. The online system provides instant access for two dollars. This shows your complete driving history. Print it or save a digital copy for your records.

Southern California Cities

Other cities in the region have their own police departments and record systems. Know where your arrest occurred before requesting records.

Los Angeles is north in the same county. Anaheim and Santa Ana are southeast in Orange County. Both use different court systems than Los Angeles County.

San Diego is south in San Diego County. Riverside is east in Riverside County. Each operates under separate jurisdictions with different agencies and procedures. Always verify the correct county and city before submitting records requests.