Asheville DWI Arrest Records

Asheville DUI records are available through the Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court. The city is the county seat of Buncombe County in western North Carolina. The Asheville Police Department keeps arrest reports and incident records at their headquarters. DUI court cases are filed and stored at the Buncombe County Courthouse on Court Plaza. You can search for Asheville DUI records using online tools or by visiting the courthouse and police station in person. Both offices provide public access to DWI case data.

Asheville Police DUI Arrest Reports

The Asheville Police Department Records Unit provides access to most police reports, arrest records, and crash reports from 2003 to the present. The fastest way to get records is through the Police to Citizen (P2C) website. You can search by case number and download reports as PDFs at no cost. If you do not have your case number, you can find it using the Community Crime Map or Simplicity tool.

The Records Unit is in the lobby of the Municipal Building, which serves as police headquarters. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also get a report by mail. Send your request and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Asheville Police Department, Attn: Records Unit, PO Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802. The APD non-emergency line is available around the clock at (828) 252-1110.

Crash reports on the P2C site have some data removed. The Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 and North Carolina law from 1997 protect items like Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and home addresses. To get a full certified copy of a DUI crash report from Asheville, fill out the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act Request Form.

Note: Online copies of Asheville DUI reports are free, but certified copies require a formal request through the Records Unit.

Buncombe County DUI Court Records

DUI cases from Asheville are handled at the Buncombe County Courthouse at 60 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801. The Clerk of Superior Court keeps all criminal and civil court records for the county. DWI charges from Asheville are heard in Buncombe County District Court. The District Attorney's Office prosecutes these cases.

Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search for DUI records by name or case number. You can view case status, court dates, and charges filed. Criminal background checks are also available at the clerk's office. For certified copies, you must visit the clerk in person and pay the state fees. The NC Court Records Portal also lets you search for Asheville DUI cases filed in Buncombe County.

The online portal covers cases across all North Carolina counties. It shows basic case data but not full documents. For the complete DUI case file, contact the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court.

Asheville Public Records Requests

The City of Asheville public records portal uses the JustFOIA system for all requests. You can submit, track, and receive records through this tool. Records available online include the Asheville Police Department P2C portal data covering events, arrests, and incidents from 2003 to the present. Department policies are also posted online.

The city does not hold all types of records. Court records, including DUI case files, are kept by the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court. The city cannot provide birth certificates or property records. Those come from other offices. For questions about past or completed requests, email opengov@ashevillenc.gov. Under G.S. 132-6, the city is not required to create records that do not already exist.

DUI Laws in Asheville Cases

Asheville DUI cases follow North Carolina law. Under G.S. 20-138.1, driving while impaired is a crime in Asheville. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 for most drivers. Under G.S. 20-179, judges in Buncombe County use a five-level sentencing system. Each level sets different penalties for fines, jail time, and community service.

The implied consent law in G.S. 20-16.2 means you have agreed to a chemical test when you drive in Asheville. Refusing the test results in an automatic license revocation for at least one year. A pretrial civil revocation under G.S. 20-16.5 can suspend your license for 30 days after a DUI arrest. Under G.S. 20-138.5, habitual DWI charges apply to anyone with three or more prior convictions in 10 years. License restoration rules in G.S. 20-19 set the suspension length based on the offense and your prior record.

Note: The Asheville Police Department posts transparency data including arrest statistics on their public data dashboard.

Obtaining Asheville DUI Case Copies

You can get copies of Asheville DUI records from the police or the court. The Asheville Police Department provides arrest and incident reports through the P2C website, by mail, or in person at the Records Unit. Court records come from the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court at the courthouse on Court Plaza.

For a full criminal background check covering Asheville DUI cases, visit the clerk's office. They can search all cases on file in Buncombe County. For a statewide check, contact the NC State Bureau of Investigation. Certified copies from the court are needed for most legal uses. Plain copies cost less but are not certified.

The NC Courts website explains what information a background check includes and how to request one. DUI convictions from Asheville will appear on a Buncombe County check.

Asheville DUI Resources

The Buncombe County Family Justice Center helps victims of domestic violence and related crimes. The Asheville Police Department provides crime prevention and victim advocate services through the Records Division. Legal Aid of North Carolina can help people with low income who face DUI charges.

The NC Courts guide on obtaining court records has step-by-step instructions for getting DUI records from any county in the state, including Buncombe County. You can request records in person, by mail, or through the online portal.

This resource covers all types of court records and explains fees, forms, and the steps to take when you need copies of DUI case files from Asheville.

The Asheville Police Department also has a transparency dashboard with public data including arrest statistics. Department policies and directives are posted there as well. The dashboard contains data from 2022 and 2023 Internal Affairs Summaries. For questions about department policies related to DUI enforcement, contact Samantha Booth at sbooth@ashevillenc.gov. The NC State Bureau of Investigation provides fingerprint-based background checks covering all North Carolina courts, including DUI cases from Asheville and Buncombe County.