Raleigh DUI Records
Raleigh DUI records are maintained by the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court and the Raleigh Police Department. As the state capital and the second largest city in North Carolina, Raleigh processes a large number of DWI cases each year. DUI court records for Raleigh are filed at the Wake County Courthouse on Fayetteville Street. Police arrest reports are kept by the RPD Records Division. Both types of records are public and can be searched in person, by mail, or through online tools available to all members of the public.
Raleigh DUI Quick Facts
Raleigh Police DUI Arrest Records
The Raleigh Police Department Records Division handles requests for DUI arrest reports and incident records. The division is located at 6716 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615. You can call them at 919-996-3325 or fax a request to 919-870-2842.
Incident reports from DUI arrests can be requested by emailing police.records@raleighnc.gov. Include the report number if you have it and a phone number for contact. Crash reports tied to DUI incidents are free if you visit the records counter. You can also access crash reports online at crash.raleighpd.org if you were involved in the accident, are an attorney, or represent an insurance company.
The RPD also provides an online crime mapping tool. This tool shows daily data on all crimes in any area of Raleigh, including DUI-related incidents. Public records requests can also be submitted at raleighnc.gov/public-records or by calling 919-996-3100 and leaving a voicemail. The city uses the NextRequest system for tracking requests online.
Wake County DUI Court Records
All DUI cases from Raleigh are tried at the Wake County Courthouse at 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. Wake County is part of the 10th Judicial District. The District Court handles misdemeanor DWI charges, while Superior Court handles felony habitual DWI cases and appeals.
The Clerk of Superior Court's office provides access to DUI court records. You can search for free on public access computers at the courthouse. Criminal record searches cost $25 per name. In-person payments are accepted by money order, certified check, cash, or credit card. Mail requests require certified check or money order.
The Wake County P2C portal offers another way to find recent DUI records in the Raleigh area. This system covers cases handled by the Wake County Sheriff's Office and integrates with data from local police departments.
Note: The Wake County Justice Center at 300 South Salisbury Street also houses court operations and records for DUI cases in Raleigh.
Raleigh DUI Arrest Record Searches
The City-County Bureau of Identification, known as CCBI, provides a free criminal arrest records portal for the public. Anyone can search using an offender's full name, arrest date, arresting agency, and gender. The portal also provides a list of people arrested in the last 48 hours.
CCBI is useful for finding recent DUI arrests in Raleigh. However, it does not include case dispositions or current case status for active DWI cases. It also does not cover traffic offenses, citations, or infractions. For those details, you must go to the Wake County Clerk of Court. You can reach CCBI at ccbi.arrestrecords@wakegov.com or call 919-856-6300.
For a full picture of a Raleigh DUI record, you will likely need both the police report from RPD and the court record from the clerk's office. The police report shows the arrest details, officer observations, and any chemical test results. The court record shows the charges, plea, verdict, and sentence.
DWI Laws in Raleigh
DWI in Raleigh falls under the same state laws that apply across North Carolina. Under G.S. 20-138.1, driving while impaired is illegal on any road or public vehicular area. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 for drivers age 21 and over. Commercial drivers face a lower limit of 0.04. Drivers under 21 face a zero tolerance standard.
Sentencing for DWI in Raleigh follows G.S. 20-179. Judges use a six-level system from Level Five up to Aggravated Level One. Factors like prior DWI convictions, high blood alcohol readings, and accidents with injuries push the sentence to higher levels. A Level Five sentence may carry a fine up to $200. An Aggravated Level One can bring up to three years in prison.
Refusing a breath or blood test triggers an automatic license revocation under G.S. 20-16.2. This revocation is separate from the DWI criminal case and lasts at least 30 days. Under G.S. 20-16.5, a pretrial civil revocation also takes effect at the time of arrest. A limited driving privilege may be available after 10 days in some cases.
Habitual DWI under G.S. 20-138.5 applies to a person with three or more prior DWI convictions in the past ten years. This is a Class F felony. License restoration after a DWI conviction in Raleigh follows the rules in G.S. 20-19, which may require a substance abuse assessment and a waiting period based on the number of prior offenses.
Getting Raleigh DUI Record Copies
Copies of DUI records in Raleigh can come from several sources. Court records are available from the Wake County Clerk of Superior Court. Visit the courthouse at 316 Fayetteville Street during business hours, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Bring a valid ID. Criminal record searches cost $25 per name.
For police-level DUI reports, contact the RPD Records Division at 6716 Six Forks Road. Call 919-996-3325 or email police.records@raleighnc.gov. Crash reports are free at the counter. The NC Court Records Portal provides basic case data online for free. For certified copies, the NC SBI offers statewide background checks.
Note: Viewing DUI records on the public access terminals at the Wake County Courthouse is free, but copies of documents require a per-page fee.
Raleigh DUI Record Resources
The NC Court Dates Search tool lets you check upcoming DUI court dates in Wake County. The Obtaining Court Records page explains how to request copies by mail. The expunction page covers how some DWI charges may be removed from a record under limited circumstances.
Raleigh residents can also use the state's eCourts system for electronic access to court data. This system is rolling out across counties and provides case search, document access, and calendar tools for the public. Wake County is part of the eCourts implementation, making it easier to look up DUI records without visiting the courthouse.
Wake County DUI Records
Raleigh is the county seat of Wake County. All DUI court proceedings for the city go through the Wake County court system. The county also serves Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and other towns. For the full county guide on DUI record access, court procedures, and contact details, visit the Wake County DUI records page.