Los Angeles DUI Records

DUI records in Los Angeles exist in three main places. The Los Angeles Police Department keeps arrest reports for cases within city limits. Los Angeles County Superior Court maintains criminal case files for all DUI prosecutions. The California DMV holds driving records that show DUI convictions and license suspensions. You can search most of these records online through official portals. Each agency charges different fees and has its own access rules. LAPD arrest reports cost $24 while court searches may cost $4.75. Some records require in-person visits to get full details.

Los Angeles County Court System

All DUI cases in Los Angeles go through Los Angeles County Superior Court. This is the largest trial court system in the nation. The court handles hundreds of thousands of criminal cases each year. DUI cases get filed at different courthouse locations based on where the arrest happened.

The main criminal courthouse sits at 210 West Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles. Many DUI arraignments happen there. Other courthouses serve different areas of the city. Van Nuys handles the San Fernando Valley. Long Beach serves the harbor area. Airport Court covers the west side and LAX area. You need to find out which courthouse has your case before you can request records.

Los Angeles County Superior Court maintains an online criminal case search at lacourt.org. This tool lets you search by defendant name or case number. The database goes back to 1980 for felony cases and 1988 for misdemeanors. DUI cases show up in either category depending on the charges. A first or second DUI usually gets filed as a misdemeanor. A third DUI within ten years or a DUI causing injury becomes a felony.

The search results show case number, defendant name, filing date, and courthouse location. You do not see detailed charge information or disposition in the basic search. For full case details, you need to visit the courthouse in person or use the advanced search features. The court charges up to $4.75 for some searches.

Traffic infractions do not appear in this criminal search system. DUI arrests typically get filed as criminal cases, not traffic infractions. The court treats DUI as a more serious offense than a regular traffic ticket. If you cannot find a DUI case in the criminal index, check with the court clerk to see if it got filed somewhere else.

LAPD Arrest Reports

The Los Angeles Police Department handles DUI arrests within city limits. Officers write detailed reports that include field sobriety test results, chemical test information, and the arrest narrative. These reports become part of the case file that goes to the District Attorney.

LAPD uses an online portal for public records requests at recordsrequest.lacity.org. You can request arrest reports, crime reports, and traffic collision reports through this system. The portal requires you to create an account and submit your request electronically. You pay online with a credit card.

Crime reports and traffic reports cost $24. Arrest summaries cost $25. The Records and Identification Division processes these requests at 100 West 1st Street, Room P1-731. Call 213-486-8300 if you have questions about your request. The division operates during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

LAPD may not release arrest reports to the person arrested. Many law enforcement agencies withhold these records from arrestees to protect ongoing investigations. If you need your own arrest report for a DUI case, your criminal defense attorney can get it through the discovery process. The prosecutor must provide this information to your lawyer as part of your case.

LA County Sheriff Coverage

Parts of what people call Los Angeles are actually unincorporated county areas. The Los Angeles County Sheriff handles law enforcement there. Cities like West Hollywood, Malibu, and Calabasas also contract with the sheriff for police services. If your arrest happened in one of these areas, you need to contact the sheriff instead of LAPD.

The sheriff maintains an inmate information system at app5.lasd.org/iic. This shows current inmates and recent bookings. You can search by name or booking number. The system tells you which jail facility holds the person and when they got booked.

Men's Central Jail is the largest facility. It sits at 441 Bauchet Street in downtown Los Angeles. The jail phone number is 213-974-4921. You can also call the 24-hour inmate information line at 213-473-6100 to find out if someone is in custody.

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

DMV Driving Records

The California DMV keeps all DUI convictions on your driving record for ten years. This applies to Los Angeles residents and everyone else in the state. The DMV does not care where in the city or county you got arrested. They record the conviction once the court reports it.

You can request your own driving record online for two dollars. The DMV Online Driver Record Request system lets you print your record immediately. Credit cards add a 1.95 percent processing fee. Mail requests cost five dollars but take longer.

The DMV driving record shows DUI convictions with the violation code, date, and county. Admin Per Se suspensions also appear. These are the administrative license suspensions that happen after a DUI arrest even before any conviction. Los Angeles Police and the Sheriff both report these suspensions to the DMV.

If you got arrested for DUI in Los Angeles, you have ten days to request a DMV hearing. Call the Driver Safety Branch at 833-543-7703. Missing this deadline means your license gets suspended automatically after 30 days. The hearing is separate from your criminal court case. You can lose your license through the DMV even if the court dismisses your criminal charges.

Los Angeles Court Locations

Los Angeles County has dozens of courthouse locations. DUI cases get assigned based on where the arrest occurred. Knowing your courthouse helps you get records faster and attend court dates at the right place.

Downtown Criminal Courts handle many central Los Angeles DUI cases. The address is 210 West Temple Street. This building has multiple departments that hear criminal cases. Some handle arraignments while others do trials. Van Nuys Courthouse East serves the San Fernando Valley at 14400 Erwin Street Mall. Long Beach Courthouse covers the south bay and harbor area at 275 Magnolia Avenue.

Airport Courthouse serves west Los Angeles including areas near LAX. It sits at 11701 South La Cienega Boulevard. Pasadena Courthouse handles cases from the northeast areas at 300 East Walnut Street. Santa Monica Courthouse covers the westside at 1725 Main Street. Each location has its own clerk's office where you can request case records in person.

The court clerk can tell you which department handles your case. Bring your case number when you visit. Most courthouses have public computer terminals where you can look up basic case information for free. Document copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost more.

Los Angeles Legal Aid

Several organizations in Los Angeles provide free legal help. These groups mainly assist people who cannot afford a private lawyer. Public defenders handle most criminal cases for people who qualify based on income.

The Los Angeles County Public Defender has the main office at 210 West Temple Street. This is in the same building as the criminal courthouse downtown. Public defenders get assigned by the court at your first appearance. You cannot hire them directly. The judge decides if you qualify for a public defender based on financial information you provide.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles offers help with some criminal record issues. They focus on clearing old convictions and fixing errors on criminal records. Their main office is at 1102 South Crenshaw Boulevard. Call 800-399-4529 for information about their services. They do not handle active DUI cases.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. This helps you find a private attorney who handles DUI cases. The referral service charges a small fee for a short consultation. After that, you negotiate fees with the attorney directly. Many DUI lawyers offer free initial consultations.

Getting Your Records

Start by figuring out what records you need. Court case files show what happened in your criminal case. DMV records show license suspensions and convictions. Police reports have the most detail about the arrest itself. Each comes from a different agency.

For court records, use the online search first. This tells you the case number and courthouse location. Then decide if you need copies of documents. Simple information like conviction date and charges may show up in the online search results. Detailed documents require an in-person visit or written request to the clerk.

Police reports take longer to get. LAPD requires an online request through their portal. They review each request to see what they can release. Some information gets redacted for privacy or investigation reasons. Processing can take several weeks depending on how busy they are.

DMV records come fastest. The online system gives you results right away. Just create an account and pay the two dollar fee. You can print your record immediately. This works well if you just need to check your driving history or see DUI convictions on file.

Nearby California Cities

Other major cities near Los Angeles have their own police departments and record systems. If your arrest happened outside Los Angeles city limits, check these locations.

Long Beach sits south of Los Angeles in the harbor area. Long Beach Police Department handles arrests there. Santa Ana is the county seat of Orange County. Anaheim is also in Orange County. Both have their own police departments and court systems separate from Los Angeles.

Bakersfield is north in Kern County. San Diego is south in San Diego County. These cities use completely different court systems and agencies. Make sure you know which city and county handled your arrest before requesting records.