Nevada County DUI Cases

Looking up DUI and DWI records in Nevada County means checking several sources. The Superior Court in Nevada City processes all criminal DUI cases from across the county. The California DMV keeps driving records that show DUI convictions for ten full years. The Nevada County Sheriff maintains arrest reports and jail booking records. City police in Grass Valley handle arrests within city limits. The California Highway Patrol patrols Interstate 80 near Truckee and makes numerous DUI arrests, especially during ski season. Each agency uses different procedures for record requests and charges various fees. This mountain county sees steady DUI enforcement due to winter tourism and the busy I-80 corridor.

Superior Court Records

Nevada County Superior Court handles all DUI criminal cases. The main courthouse is at 201 Church Street in Nevada City. A second location operates in Truckee at 10075 Levon Avenue. When police arrest someone for DUI in this county, the case gets filed at one of these courts. The clerk's office keeps files with all case documents.

The court does not currently offer public online case search. You need to call or visit in person for case information. Call the Nevada City office at 530-265-1211 or the Truckee office at 530-582-7865 for basic details like case status and court dates. Getting copies of documents requires a formal request.

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

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 for ten years from the conviction date. Commercial drivers see DUI convictions for 55 years. The record shows the violation code, date, and county. Admin Per Se suspensions also appear.

You can get your own driving record online for two dollars. The DMV Online Driver Record Request system prints your record instantly. You must create an account first. The system adds a 1.95 percent payment processing fee for credit cards.

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

For someone else's driving record, fill out Form INF 70 and mail it to the DMV Information Release Unit at PO Box 944247, Sacramento, CA 94244-2470. Include a check for five dollars per record. California Code of Regulations Section 350.44 sets the fees.

Admin Per Se Suspensions

California runs an administrative license suspension program called Admin Per Se. The DMV suspends your license if arrested for DUI with a BAC of 0.08 percent or more. This happens before any court case and is separate from criminal charges.

When an officer arrests you for DUI in Nevada County, they take your license and give you a temporary permit good for 30 days. You have ten days to request a hearing with the DMV Driver Safety Branch. Miss that deadline and the suspension starts automatically. Call 833-543-7703 to request your hearing.

First offense suspensions last four months. A prior DUI within ten years extends it to one year. Refusing a chemical test brings harsher penalties. First refusal means one year suspension or two years if on DUI probation.

Getting your license back requires paying a $125 reissue fee to the DMV under Vehicle Code Section 14905. You must file proof of financial responsibility using an SR-22 form from your insurance. Keep that SR-22 active for three years.

Nevada County Sheriff Records

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas. They make DUI arrests and keep arrest reports. The Sheriff runs the county jail where people arrested for DUI get booked. Many DUI arrests happen on Highway 20 and Highway 49 in rural areas.

For arrest reports, file a public records request with the Sheriff. Include the date, location, and subject of the incident. The California Public Records Act requires a response within ten days. Agencies can extend this by 14 days if needed. Contact the Sheriff's office for their current fee schedule.

Check the Nevada County Sheriff website to see if they post inmate searches online. Many California sheriffs offer this tool showing current inmates and recent bookings.

California DOJ Criminal Records

The California Department of Justice maintains the statewide criminal record repository. Every arrest with fingerprinting gets sent to DOJ. They create a Record of Arrests and Prosecutions called a RAP sheet. DUI arrests in Nevada County appear on RAP sheets.

Only you can request your own criminal history from DOJ. 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 it 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. No match means results in 48 to 72 hours. A match requires manual review by a technician, which takes longer. 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 still appears.

CHP and Police Reports

The California Highway Patrol makes many DUI arrests in Nevada County. Interstate 80 near Truckee sees heavy traffic heading to ski resorts. Highway 20 and Highway 49 also fall under CHP jurisdiction. You can request CHP reports through their Public Records Center. Include the date, location, and subject of the incident.

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.

California DUI Laws

Vehicle Code Section 23152 defines DUI offenses. 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. 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. These cases often get filed as felonies. Read the full text at the California Legislative Information website.

Record Access Rules

California law treats DUI records as public in most situations. Court records for criminal cases are public unless sealed by a judge. DMV driving records have more restrictions. You can only get your own record through the online system. Getting someone else's requires 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.

Contact Information

Nevada County Superior Court Nevada City is at 201 Church Street, Nevada City, CA 95959. Call 530-265-1211. The Truckee office is at 10075 Levon Avenue, Truckee, CA 96161. Call 530-582-7865. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at both locations.

The DMV Information Release Unit handles driving record requests by mail. Send requests to PO Box 944247, Sacramento, CA 94244-2470. Call 916-657-8098 for questions. 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. Find Live Scan locations on the DOJ website.

Nearby Counties

Nevada County borders several other counties. Each has its own court and record system.

• Placer County - South of Nevada
• Yuba County - West of Nevada
• Sierra County - North of Nevada
• Plumas County - Northeast of Nevada