Los Angeles DUI Records
Los Angeles County DUI records exist in two main places. The Superior Court keeps criminal case files for all drunk driving arrests that lead to charges. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department maintains booking logs and inmate records for people arrested and held in county jail. Both systems offer online search tools that let you look up cases and arrest information from your computer. The court portal covers cases from 1980 forward for felonies and 1988 forward for misdemeanors. Sheriff booking records show current inmates and recent bookings. You can search by name to find DUI case numbers, charges, court dates, and custody status. Fees apply for detailed court searches and document copies.
Los Angeles County Quick Facts
Superior Court DUI Cases
The Los Angeles Superior Court handles all DUI criminal cases in the county. When police arrest someone for drunk driving, the District Attorney files charges at one of several courthouse locations. The court clerk creates a case file with all documents. This includes the complaint, court minutes, and sentencing orders. Most Los Angeles DUI cases are filed at the Criminal Courts Building downtown or at one of the branch courthouses serving other areas.
The court offers online case search through the Criminal Case Index portal. This system lets you search by defendant name to find case numbers. You need the person's last name at minimum. The search returns a list showing case number, name, filing date, and courthouse location. The portal covers felony cases from 1980 to present and misdemeanor cases from 1988 to present. Traffic infractions do not appear in this database.
Search fees run up to $4.75 per search. The court charges this fee for name searches that take staff resources to process. If you already have a case number, you can look it up for free. The portal shows basic information but does not display full court documents online. To get copies of police reports, court filings, or other documents, you must visit the courthouse in person or submit a formal records request.
Document copies cost 50 cents per page at most Los Angeles courthouses. Certified copies of judgments or other official documents cost more. The court requires payment at the time you request copies. Cash, checks, and cards work at most clerk windows.
Each courthouse has different hours and contact numbers. The Executive Officer for the Superior Court is Sherri R. Carter, located at 111 N. Hill Street, Room 105E, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The main court phone is 213-830-0801. For questions about online search, email onlineServices@lacourt.org. Court staff can help you figure out which courthouse handles a specific case.
LASD Booking and Inmate Info
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department runs the county jail system. Anyone arrested for DUI in areas served by LASD goes through the booking process at a jail facility. The department maintains an online Inmate Information Center where you can search for current inmates. This tool shows who is in custody right now and why they were arrested.
You can search the inmate system by name or booking number. The results show the person's custody location, charges, bail amount, and next court date. DUI arrests appear with charge codes from the Vehicle Code. Most DUI arrestees post bail within hours or days. If someone stays in custody, the system updates to show their current location and status.
LASD also runs a booking log that shows recent arrests. This log updates regularly with new bookings across all jail facilities. You can see who got arrested in the past day or two. The booking log includes the charge, arrest date, and which facility processed the booking.
For more help finding inmates, call the 24-hour inmate information line at 213-473-6100. This automated phone system lets you check custody status by entering a name or booking number. If you need to visit someone in jail, the Men's Central Jail is at 441 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Call 213-974-4921 for visiting hours and rules.
How to Search Locally
Start your search with the court portal if you know the person's name. Enter their last name and first name if you have it. The system returns all matches. Look through the results for the right person based on filing date and courthouse. DUI cases usually get filed within days or weeks of the arrest.
If the court search turns up nothing, check the sheriff inmate locator. The person might be in custody before charges get filed. Or they may have been arrested by LASD but released without formal charges. The booking log shows arrests even if the DA decides not to file a case later.
For arrests by Los Angeles Police Department or other city police, those agencies keep their own records. LAPD has a separate records request system. If the arrest happened in Pasadena, Long Beach, or another city with its own police, contact that department directly. The court records will show up in the Superior Court system regardless of which agency made the arrest.
Some DUI arrests lead to cases in other counties if the arrest happened near a county line. A stop on the border of Orange County or Ventura County might get filed there instead. Check the neighboring county if you cannot find the case in Los Angeles.
Fees and Costs
The Superior Court charges up to $4.75 for name searches through the online portal. This fee covers the cost of maintaining the database and processing requests. Case number lookups remain free. Document copies cost 50 cents per page. Certified copies of court orders or judgments cost between $25 and $40 depending on the document type and number of pages.
The sheriff's inmate search tools are free to use. No fees apply for looking up current inmates or checking the booking log. If you need copies of arrest reports or booking documents, the sheriff charges fees based on the type of record. Contact the Records Division for current pricing on sheriff reports.
DMV driving records cost $2 online or $5 by mail. These show DUI convictions but not arrests. The DMV record includes the conviction date and county. California Department of Justice criminal record checks cost $25 plus fingerprinting fees. DOJ records show all DUI arrests statewide, not just Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County Contacts
For questions about criminal cases, contact the Superior Court at 213-830-0801. The Executive Officer's office is at 111 N. Hill Street, Room 105E, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Email onlineServices@lacourt.org for help with the online search portal. Each courthouse has its own clerk's office with specific hours. Most open at 8:30 AM on weekdays.
The Sheriff's Department 24-hour inmate information line is 213-473-6100. This automated system works any time day or night. For general sheriff questions, call the main number at 323-267-4800. The Men's Central Jail is at 441 Bauchet Street and can be reached at 213-974-4921 during business hours.
Los Angeles Police Department records are handled separately. Their records request portal is at recordsrequest.lacity.org. LAPD charges $24 for crime reports and $25 for arrest summaries. You need to know the date and location of the incident to request LAPD records. Other city police departments have their own contact information and portals.
The DMV Driver Safety Branch handles Admin Per Se license suspensions for DUI arrests. Call 833-543-7703 to request a hearing or check on suspension status. You have ten days from your DUI arrest to request a hearing if you want to challenge the automatic suspension.
Major Cities in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County includes many cities with large populations. Some cities have their own police departments while others contract with the county sheriff for law enforcement. All DUI cases from cities in the county get filed at Los Angeles Superior Court.
- Los Angeles
- Long Beach
- Glendale
- Pasadena
- Torrance
Cities without their own page are under 100,000 population but still file DUI cases in Los Angeles Superior Court. If your case originated in a smaller city, use the county court portal to search for it.
Nearby Counties
Los Angeles County shares borders with several other counties. If you cannot find a case in Los Angeles, check neighboring counties.