Durham DUI Case Records
Durham DUI records are kept by the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court and the Durham Police Department. Durham is the fourth largest city in North Carolina and a center of the Research Triangle region. DWI court cases from Durham are handled at the Durham County Courthouse. The Durham Police Department uses a Police to Citizen portal that provides public access to reports and arrest data. Residents and the public can search for DUI records in Durham through the court system, the P2C portal, or by submitting public records requests to the city.
Durham DUI Quick Facts
Durham Police DUI Arrest Reports
The Durham Police Department uses a Police to Citizen system to help the community access public versions of reports. You can use the P2C website to search for incident reports by report number, file a new police report, or print an existing one. The system provides access to arrest data, incident reports, and crime mapping tools.
DUI arrests in Durham are documented by the responding officer and filed through the department's records system. The P2C website shows recent arrest information. Crime stats are updated weekly on the department website. Durham CrimeStoppers is available at 919-683-1200 for anonymous tips. You can also text tips by typing TIP4CSJAX and your message to 274637.
The Durham PD P2C portal gives direct access to recent DUI arrest data. This tool shows booking details and charges for people processed through the system. The department also publishes traffic stop data and marijuana arrest reports through its Human Relations section.
Durham County DUI Court Records
All DUI cases from Durham are tried at the Durham County Courthouse. The Clerk of Superior Court maintains all court records for DWI cases. Criminal record searches can be done at the clerk's office. Public access terminals at the courthouse let you search court records for free. The District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases including DUI charges in Durham County.
To get copies of DUI court records in Durham, visit the clerk's office during business hours. You will need the defendant's name or a case number. Criminal record searches cost $25 per name. Bring a valid photo ID and payment by cash, certified check, or money order. The clerk can provide both certified and uncertified copies of court documents from DUI cases.
Note: Public records requests for the City of Durham should be submitted through the online portal at durhamnc.gov, as requests will not be taken by phone for tracking purposes.
How to Find Durham DUI Records
Multiple agencies in Durham maintain different parts of a DUI record. The police department has the arrest report. The court has the case file. The state has the driving record. Here is where to look for each type of record.
The Durham PD P2C portal covers police arrest reports and recent bookings. The Durham County Clerk of Court has the full court case file, including charges, hearings, pleas, and sentences. The NC Court Records Portal provides basic case data online. For a statewide criminal history check, contact the NC State Bureau of Investigation.
The City of Durham follows the North Carolina Public Records Law, G.S. 132-1. All records maintained by the city are public unless an exemption applies. Public records are defined broadly to include documents, papers, tapes, and electronic data. If a request is denied, the city must provide the specific exemption that justifies the denial. The city is not required to create records that do not already exist under G.S. 132-6.2.
DWI Laws Affecting Durham
DWI charges in Durham follow G.S. 20-138.1. Any person who drives while impaired can be charged. The standard blood alcohol limit is 0.08. Impairment can also be shown through drug use, prescribed medication, or any substance that affects driving ability. Officers in Durham may use field sobriety tests, breath tests, or blood draws to gather evidence.
Sentencing for DUI in Durham uses the framework in G.S. 20-179. The six levels range from Level Five, the least severe, to Aggravated Level One. A prior DWI conviction within seven years counts as a grossly aggravating factor and pushes the case to a higher sentencing level. A blood alcohol of 0.15 or more is also an aggravating factor.
The pretrial civil revocation under G.S. 20-16.5 takes effect at the time of arrest. Refusing a chemical test triggers a separate revocation under G.S. 20-16.2. Habitual DWI under G.S. 20-138.5 is a felony charge for anyone with three or more prior DWI convictions in ten years. After a conviction, license restoration follows G.S. 20-19 and depends on the number of prior offenses and whether the person completes required assessments.
- G.S. 20-138.1 covers the DWI offense itself
- G.S. 20-179 sets the sentencing levels
- G.S. 20-16.2 addresses refusal to submit to chemical testing
- G.S. 20-138.5 creates the habitual DWI felony
- G.S. 20-16.5 governs pretrial license revocation
- G.S. 20-19 covers license restoration after conviction
Getting Durham DUI Record Copies
For court-level DUI records in Durham, visit the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court. Criminal record searches are $25. Uncertified copies of documents cost per page. Certified copies cost more. The NC Courts website explains how to request records by mail from any county, including Durham.
For police-level DUI reports, use the Durham PD P2C portal or submit a public records request through the city's online portal. The expunction page on the NC Courts website explains when and how a DWI charge may be removed from the record. Not all charges qualify. The process requires a court petition and a waiting period.
Durham DUI records are public under North Carolina law. Anyone can request them. You do not need to be the defendant or a party in the case. The Durham County Clerk of Superior Court handles all record requests during business hours. Walk-in visits are welcome Monday through Friday.
Durham County DUI Records
Durham is the county seat of Durham County. All DUI court cases from the city go through the Durham County court system. The county and city share the same name, and the courthouse is centrally located within the city. For the full county guide on DUI record access, visit the Durham County DUI records page.