Access San Francisco DUI Files

DUI records in San Francisco are kept by city and county agencies that share jurisdiction. San Francisco Police Department maintains arrest reports for DUI cases within the city. San Francisco Superior Court holds all criminal case files because the city and county are one jurisdiction. The California DMV keeps driving records showing DUI convictions statewide. Court case searches go back to 1987 and are available online for free. SFPD incident reports are free to request. The sheriff maintains jail records for people in custody. San Francisco uses a combined city-county government structure that simplifies some record keeping compared to other California cities.

San Francisco County Courts

DUI cases in San Francisco get filed in San Francisco County Superior Court. The city and county merged in 1856. This creates a unique situation where city arrests go directly to county court without jurisdictional transfers. One court system handles everything.

The Hall of Justice houses most criminal courtrooms. The building sits at 850 Bryant Street. Criminal arraignments happen here. Pretrial hearings and trials also occur in this building. Some departments handle only felonies while others hear misdemeanors. DUI cases get assigned based on whether charges are filed as misdemeanor or felony.

San Francisco Superior Court offers free case lookup through its online portal. Cases from 1987 to present are searchable. Visit the SFPD website for links to court records. The system shows case numbers, charges, and hearing dates. You need a name or case number to search.

Civil Records are kept at 400 McAllister Street, Room 103. Criminal records stay at the Hall of Justice. Call 415-551-3802 for questions about court records. The clerk's office operates during regular business hours. Document copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies cost more.

The court maintains both online and in-person access options. Online searches provide basic information. Detailed documents require visiting the courthouse. Some records remain restricted to protect privacy or ongoing investigations. California Rule of Court 2.503 limits what criminal information appears online.

Police Department Reports

San Francisco Police Department handles all law enforcement within city limits. There is no separate sheriff patrol because the city and county share jurisdiction. SFPD officers write arrest reports for DUI cases that document field sobriety tests, chemical test results, and observations about the driver.

SFPD provides free incident reports to the public. This makes San Francisco one of the most affordable cities for police records in California. You can request reports through the SFPD Public Records Request page on their website. The department also uses NextRequest for online submissions.

Visit sanfrancisco.nextrequest.com to submit requests electronically. You need to create an account and describe what records you want. The system sends email updates as your request gets processed. Include dates, locations, and incident numbers if you have them.

The SFPD headquarters is at 1245 3rd Street on the first floor. You can submit records requests in person during business hours. Call 415-553-1415 for information about the records process. Processing time varies based on request complexity and whether records need review before release.

Some arrest reports may be withheld from the arrested person. This protects ongoing investigations and criminal cases. Defense attorneys can obtain arrest reports through court discovery. Prosecutors must provide evidence to your lawyer as part of the criminal case process.

Sheriff Jail Records

The San Francisco County Sheriff operates the jail system. The sheriff does not patrol streets like in other counties. Law enforcement is handled entirely by SFPD within city limits. But the sheriff runs the jails and transports inmates to court.

The sheriff maintains an inmate locator at sfsheriff.com. This shows who is currently in custody. You can search by name or booking number. The system displays which facility holds the person and their booking date.

County Jail sits at 425 7th Street near the Hall of Justice. Most inmates stay there during court proceedings. The jail houses people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. Bail and release information appears in the inmate locator system.

For questions about inmates, call the sheriff's office during business hours. Jail visiting hours and procedures are posted on the sheriff's website. Knowing someone's custody status helps if you need to contact them or know when they appear in court.

California DMV Records

Every DUI conviction in San Francisco gets reported to the California DMV. The conviction appears on your driving record for ten years. Commercial drivers face 55 year retention for DUI violations. The DMV tracks these records statewide 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 right away. Create an account to protect your information. Credit card payments add 1.95 percent for processing.

The driving record shows all DUI convictions with dates and counties. Administrative suspensions appear as well. These Admin Per Se suspensions happen after DUI arrest even before conviction. SFPD reports these suspensions to the DMV immediately after arrest. You get a temporary permit good for 30 days.

You have ten days from arrest to request a DMV hearing. Call 833-543-7703 to reach the Driver Safety Branch. The hearing decides if your license gets suspended administratively. This is separate from criminal court. Different rules apply. You can lose your license through DMV even if criminal charges get dismissed or reduced.

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

Types of DUI Records

Different agencies create different types of records. Understanding what each agency keeps helps you request the right documents from the right place.

Police arrest reports contain the most detail about what happened during your DUI stop. Officers document the reason for the stop, field sobriety test performance, chemical test results, and observations about your behavior and appearance. These reports include times, locations, and witness information. SFPD keeps these records and releases them through the public records request process.

Court case files include every document filed in your criminal case. The complaint lists the charges. Motions and briefs show legal arguments. Court minutes document what happened at each hearing. The judgment records the final outcome. Probation reports may be included if you were sentenced. All these documents stay in the court file at the Hall of Justice.

DMV records show the administrative side. License suspensions appear here. DUI convictions get recorded after court reports them. Points on your license show up. The driving record includes dates and violation codes but not detailed narratives like police reports.

Jail records show custody information. Booking date, release date, and bail amount appear in the sheriff's inmate system. This helps track someone's custody status during their case. These records update as people get booked and released.

San Francisco Legal Help

Several organizations provide legal assistance in San Francisco. Most serve people who cannot afford private attorneys. The Public Defender's Office handles criminal cases for eligible defendants.

The San Francisco Public Defender has its main office at 555 7th Street near the Hall of Justice. Public defenders get assigned by the court if you qualify financially. The judge decides eligibility at your first court appearance. You provide income information. If approved, a public defender represents you at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of San Francisco offers help with some record clearing matters. They focus on expungements for old convictions. Call their office for information about eligibility and services. They do not represent people in active DUI prosecutions.

The Bar Association of San Francisco runs a lawyer referral service. This connects you with private attorneys who handle DUI cases. Many offer free consultations. Fees vary based on case complexity and attorney experience. Simple misdemeanor cases cost less than felony DUI with injuries.

How to Get Records

Start by identifying what records you need. Court files show case outcomes. Police reports have arrest details. DMV records display license suspensions and convictions. Each comes from a different agency with different procedures.

Use the online court search to find your case number. This shows which department handles your case. Basic information appears in search results. For documents, visit the clerk's office at the Hall of Justice. Bring identification and your case number. Copies cost 50 cents per page.

Police reports require an online request through NextRequest or the SFPD website. Include all details you have about the incident. Report numbers, dates, and locations help staff find the right records. Processing takes time. Simple reports come faster than complex investigations.

DMV records are quickest. The online system gives instant results after payment. The two dollar fee gets you a complete driving history. Print it or save a digital copy for your records.

Bay Area Cities

Other cities near San Francisco operate under different jurisdictions. Know where your arrest occurred before requesting records.

Oakland is across the bay in Alameda County. San Jose is south in Santa Clara County. Both have their own police departments and court systems. Sacramento is northeast in Sacramento County.

Stockton is east in San Joaquin County. Fresno is southeast in Fresno County. Each uses different agencies and procedures. Always verify the correct jurisdiction before submitting records requests.