Napa County DUI Records Search

Finding DUI and DWI records in Napa County involves checking multiple sources. The Superior Court in Napa handles all criminal DUI cases throughout the county. Your driving record with DUI convictions stays at the California DMV for ten years. The Napa County Sheriff keeps arrest reports and jail booking records. City police in Napa, American Canyon, Calistoga, and St. Helena handle arrests within their jurisdictions. The California Highway Patrol patrols Highway 29 and makes DUI arrests throughout wine country. Each agency maintains its own record system with different access procedures and fees. This county sees steady DUI enforcement due to wine tourism traffic.

Napa Superior Court Records

Napa County Superior Court hears all DUI criminal cases. The courthouse is at 1111 Third Street in Napa. When police arrest someone for DUI anywhere in this county, the case gets filed here. The clerk's office keeps files with all case documents including the complaint, police reports if released, court minutes, and the final judgment.

The court uses the JournalTech eCourt system. You can search cases online at the court's public portal. The system shows basic case information like charges, filing dates, and hearing schedules. You cannot view full documents through the portal. Those require a visit to the clerk's office or a formal records request. Call the clerk at 707-299-1100 for case information.

California Rule of Court 2.503 limits what criminal case details get posted online. Most courts share basic case info but keep documents restricted. Napa County follows this rule. Full records require contacting the clerk directly. Court hours run Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

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

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.

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.

The online record shows all reportable information. This includes convictions from the past three, seven, or ten years based on the violation type. DUI convictions appear for the full ten years. You also see departmental actions like license suspensions.

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.

When an officer arrests you for DUI in Napa 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.

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.

Napa County Sheriff Records

The Napa County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas. 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 through the Napa County Sheriff website. 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. 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. DUI arrests in Napa 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. 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.

Police and CHP Reports

City police departments in Napa County keep arrest reports for DUI cases. 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. Contact the police department directly or check their website for a request form. Fees vary by agency.

The California Highway Patrol handles DUI arrests on state highways in Napa County. Highway 29 runs through wine country and sees heavy traffic. 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. 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. These cases often get filed as felonies. You can read the full text 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.

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.

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.

Contact Information

Napa County Superior Court is at 1111 Third Street, Napa, CA 94559. Call 707-299-1100 for case information. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

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. Find Live Scan locations on the DOJ website.

Nearby Counties

Napa County borders several other counties. Each has its own Superior Court and record system.

• Sonoma County - West and south of Napa
• Solano County - South of Napa
• Yolo County - East of Napa
• Lake County - North of Napa