Madera County DUI Records

DUI and DWI records in Madera County come from several sources. The Superior Court in Madera handles all criminal DUI cases filed in this county. Your driving record lives at the California DMV and shows DUI convictions for ten years. The Madera County Sheriff keeps arrest reports and jail booking records. If city police made the arrest, contact that police department. The California Highway Patrol handles many DUI arrests on Highway 99 and rural roads. Each agency uses its own system for record searches and has different fees for copies.

Superior Court Records

Madera County Superior Court hears all DUI criminal cases. The courthouse sits at 200 South G Street in Madera. When police arrest someone for DUI in this county, the case gets filed here. The clerk's office keeps a file with every document from that case. This includes the complaint, police reports if released, court minutes, and the final judgment.

You can search for case info by phone at 559-416-5660. The court does not offer online case search for the public right now. You need to call or visit in person to find case details. The clerk can tell you basic info over the phone like the case status and next court date. Getting copies of documents requires a formal request.

California Rule of Court 2.503 limits what criminal case information goes online. Most courts share basic case details but keep documents restricted. Madera County follows this rule by not posting criminal cases on a public portal yet. Full records require a trip to the clerk's office or a written records request.

Copy fees run about 50 cents per page for most court documents. Certified copies cost more, usually $25 to $40 per document depending on the certification type. The court charges $15 for name searches that take staff more than ten minutes. These fees match the standard rates across most California Superior Courts.

DUI misdemeanor records in many California counties get destroyed after ten years. This is a records retention policy to save space. If you need records from an older DUI case, request them before the ten year mark passes. Some courts keep felony DUI records longer than misdemeanors. Check with the clerk about retention for your specific case type.

DMV Driving Records

The California DMV keeps all DUI convictions on your driving record. These stay there for ten years from the conviction date. Commercial drivers face longer retention. Their DUI convictions appear for 55 years. The DMV record shows the violation code, the date, and the county where it happened. Admin Per Se suspensions also appear on your record.

You can request your own driving record online for just two dollars. The DMV Online Driver Record Request system lets you print your record right away. You need to create an account first. This protects your information. The system adds a small payment processing fee of 1.95 percent to credit card orders.

If you need someone else's driving record, you must fill out Form INF 70. Mail it to the DMV Information Release Unit at PO Box 944247, Sacramento, CA 94244-2470. Include a check for five dollars per record. The mail fee is higher than the online cost. California Code of Regulations Section 350.44 sets these fees.

Admin Per Se Suspensions

California has an administrative license suspension program. Officers call it Admin Per Se or APS. The DMV suspends your license if you get arrested for DUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more. You lose your license even before any court case. The suspension is separate from criminal charges.

When an officer arrests you for DUI in Madera County, they take your license. They give you a temporary permit good for 30 days. You have ten days from that date to request a hearing with the DMV Driver Safety Branch. If you miss that deadline, the suspension goes into effect automatically. Call the Driver Safety Branch at 833-543-7703 to request your hearing.

First offense suspensions last four months. If you have a prior DUI within ten years, the suspension extends to one year. Refusing a chemical test brings harsher penalties. A first refusal means one year suspension or two years if you were on DUI probation. A second refusal within ten years triggers a two-year revocation or three years if on probation.

Getting your license back requires several steps. Pay a $125 reissue fee to the DMV under Vehicle Code Section 14905. File proof of financial responsibility using an SR-22 form from your insurance company. Keep that SR-22 active for three years. Without these items, the DMV will not reinstate your driving privilege.

Madera County Sheriff

The Madera County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas and some contract cities. They make DUI arrests and keep arrest reports. The Sheriff also runs the county jail where people arrested for DUI get booked. Booking records show who got arrested, the charges, and the booking date.

You can search for inmates online. Many California sheriffs post this info on their websites. The records show current inmates and recent bookings. For arrest reports, you need to file a public records request with the Sheriff. Include the date, location, and subject of the incident in your request.

The California Public Records Act requires a response within ten days. Agencies can extend this by 14 days if needed. Fees for copies vary by agency. Some sheriffs charge per page while others charge a flat fee per report. Contact the Sheriff's records division for their current fee schedule.

California DOJ Criminal Records

The California Department of Justice maintains the statewide criminal record repository. Every arrest that includes fingerprinting gets sent to DOJ. They create a Record of Arrests and Prosecutions, called a RAP sheet. This document lists all arrests, charges, and dispositions tied to your fingerprints. DUI arrests in Madera County appear on RAP sheets.

Only you can request your own criminal history from DOJ. Third parties cannot get someone else's RAP sheet without legal authority. To request your record, use Live Scan fingerprinting at any authorized site. Fill out Form BCIA 8016RR and check the box for Record Review. Take the form to a Live Scan location. The technician scans your prints and sends them to DOJ with a $25 processing fee.

Processing time depends on whether DOJ finds a match. If your prints match nothing in the database, you get results in 48 to 72 hours. If they find a match, a technician must review the RAP sheet manually. This takes longer. You can check your request status at applicantstatus.doj.ca.gov using your ATI number from the Live Scan receipt.

DOJ keeps criminal records until the person reaches 100 years of age. Expunging a DUI under Penal Code Section 1203.4 does not remove it from the RAP sheet. The record gets marked as dismissed, but it still appears. Law enforcement and some employers can still see it.

City Police Reports

If city police made the DUI arrest, contact that police department for reports. Most departments will not release arrest reports to the person arrested. You usually need a lawyer to get them through the discovery process in your criminal case.

If you need a copy of a police report for another reason, you can file a California Public Records Act request. Many large police departments use online portals for these requests. Smaller agencies accept requests by mail or email. Fees vary by agency. Some charge per page while others charge a flat fee per report.

The California Highway Patrol handles DUI arrests on state highways and in unincorporated areas around Madera County. You can request CHP reports through their Public Records Center. Include the date, location, and subject of the incident in your request.

DUI Laws in California

Vehicle Code Section 23152 defines DUI offenses in California. The law has several subsections. Section 23152(a) makes it illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol. Section 23152(b) sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent blood alcohol content. You can get charged with both at the same time.

Commercial drivers face stricter limits under Section 23152(d). The legal limit drops to 0.04 percent when driving a commercial vehicle. Drivers under 21 fall under the zero tolerance law in Vehicle Code Section 23136. Any detectable alcohol of 0.01 percent or more triggers penalties for underage drivers.

Vehicle Code Section 23153 covers DUI causing injury. This is a more serious charge than standard DUI. It applies when someone drives under the influence and causes bodily harm to another person through a negligent act. These cases often get filed as felonies. You can read the full text of these laws on the California Legislative Information website.

Who Can Access DUI Records

California law treats DUI records as public in most situations. Court records for criminal cases are public unless sealed by a judge. Anyone can go to the courthouse and ask to see a criminal case file. Online access may show less detail than in-person records, but the basic case information stays public.

DMV driving records have more restrictions. You can only get your own record through the online system. Getting someone else's record requires filling out Form INF 70 and showing a permissible use under the law. Employers, insurance companies, and courts can request driving records for specific purposes.

DOJ criminal records are the most restricted. Only you can request your own RAP sheet for personal review. Law enforcement agencies can access these records for official purposes. The general public cannot request DOJ records for other people.

Contact Information

Madera County Superior Court sits at 200 South G Street, Madera, CA 93637. Call the clerk's office at 559-416-5660 for case information. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The court serves all of Madera County from this one location.

The DMV Information Release Unit handles all driving record requests by mail. Send requests to PO Box 944247, Sacramento, CA 94244-2470. Call 916-657-8098 for questions about driving records. The Driver Safety Branch handles Admin Per Se hearings at 833-543-7703.

The California Department of Justice Record Review Unit can be reached at 916-227-3849. Mail record review requests to PO Box 160207, Sacramento, CA 95816-0207. Email recordreview@doj.ca.gov for questions about criminal history records. Find Live Scan locations on the DOJ website.

Nearby Counties

Madera County borders several other counties. Each has its own Superior Court and record system. If your DUI case happened in a different county, you need to search that county's records.

• Fresno County - South of Madera, includes the city of Fresno
• Mariposa County - East of Madera, near Yosemite
• Merced County - Northwest of Madera
• Mono County - Northeast of Madera, includes Mammoth Lakes