Search Jefferson County DUI Records

Jefferson County DUI records are maintained by the Circuit Clerk offices in Birmingham and Bessemer. This is the most populous county in Alabama with over 674,000 residents. The 10th Judicial Circuit handles all DUI cases in Jefferson County. Two court divisions serve different parts of the county, so where you search depends on where the arrest took place.

Two Court Divisions

Jefferson County is split into two court divisions. This makes it different from most Alabama counties. Each division has its own Circuit Clerk and courthouse. The Birmingham Division covers the east side of Jefferson County. The Bessemer Division covers the west side. You must search DUI records in the division where the arrest happened.

The Birmingham Division handles most DUI cases in Jefferson County. It covers Birmingham, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover (east side), and Trussville. The Bessemer Division handles cases from Bessemer, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, and western Hoover. If you are not sure which division has your DUI records, call either clerk office in Jefferson County. They can check and direct you to the right place.

Birmingham Division

The Birmingham Division handles the majority of DUI cases in Jefferson County. Jacqueline Anderson-Smith serves as Circuit Clerk for this division. The office is in the courthouse on Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard in downtown Birmingham. Staff process thousands of cases each year, making this one of the busiest clerk offices in Alabama.

All DUI arrests on the east side of Jefferson County go through the Birmingham Division. This includes the city of Birmingham and surrounding suburbs. The clerk office maintains records dating back decades. Online access is available through Alacourt. In-person visits allow you to view full case files and get certified copies. Most people searching for DUI records in Jefferson County will use this division.

Bessemer Division

The Bessemer Division serves the western part of Jefferson County. Karen Dunn Burks is the Circuit Clerk for this division. The courthouse is on 2nd Avenue North in Bessemer. This division handles fewer cases than Birmingham but maintains its own complete set of DUI records.

DUI arrests in Bessemer, Hueytown, Pleasant Grove, and nearby areas go through this division. If you live on the west side of Jefferson County, your DUI case is likely here. The Bessemer clerk can search records and make copies just like the Birmingham office. Records from both divisions are part of the same online system through Alacourt.

How to Search DUI Records

Jefferson County DUI records can be searched online or in person. Online searches are quick and work from anywhere. In-person visits let you see full files and get certified copies right away. The method you choose depends on what you need from Jefferson County.

Alacourt is the state system for court records. It covers both Jefferson County divisions. Go to pa.alacourt.com to start your search. Enter a name to find DUI cases. Each search costs $9.99. Results show charges, case status, and outcomes. Document images cost $5.00 for the first 20 pages. This is the fastest way to search DUI records in Jefferson County.

You can also use the NextRequest portal for bulk requests. Jefferson County has set up jeffersoncounty.nextrequest.com for public records requests. This works well if you need multiple DUI records or documents from Jefferson County at once.

For in-person searches, visit the correct division. Bring your ID. Staff can search by name or case number. The Birmingham office is busier, so expect some wait time. Call ahead to check if they can pull records before you arrive in Jefferson County.

Alabama DUI Laws

Jefferson County courts follow state DUI laws. Under Code of Alabama § 32-5A-191, driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher is illegal. Drivers under 21 face a 0.02% limit. Commercial drivers cannot exceed 0.04%. These rules apply to all DUI arrests in Jefferson County.

Alabama uses a 10-year look-back for DUI sentencing. Courts in Jefferson County check for prior offenses in the past decade. A second DUI within 10 years brings mandatory jail time. A fourth DUI becomes a Class C felony, no matter when past offenses occurred. All this history shows up in Jefferson County DUI records.

DUI convictions are permanent in Alabama. They cannot be removed from your record in Jefferson County. The REDEEMER Act allows some records to be sealed, but DUI convictions do not qualify. Only dismissed cases or not guilty verdicts may be cleared from public view.

DUI Penalties in Jefferson County

First-time DUI offenders in Jefferson County face up to one year in jail and fines up to $2,100. Most get probation and DUI school instead of jail. License suspension is 90 days. Judges may order community service or treatment programs. Birmingham has a pretrial diversion program that some first-time offenders may qualify for in Jefferson County.

Second DUI offenses bring mandatory jail time. The range is five days to one year. Fines can reach $5,100. License suspension lasts one year. Third offenses require at least 60 days in jail with fines up to $10,100. A fourth DUI is a felony. That can mean one to ten years in state prison. Jefferson County prosecutors take repeat DUI cases seriously.

Extra costs add up fast. Court fees, probation, and classes all have price tags. License reinstatement is $275. Ignition interlock devices cost money to install and maintain. Jefferson County charges $500 for DUI expungement petitions, though convictions cannot be expunged. Insurance rates increase for years after a DUI in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County Sheriff

The Jefferson County Sheriff makes DUI arrests throughout the county. Mark Pettway serves as sheriff. Deputies patrol county roads and respond to calls. When they arrest someone for DUI, records are created. The sheriff keeps arrest and booking info while the court stores case files in Jefferson County.

The sheriff website has an inmate search. You can check if someone is in jail on DUI charges. Go to the inmate inquiry page to search current inmates. For court records showing case outcomes, contact the Circuit Clerk instead in Jefferson County.

District Attorney

The District Attorney prosecutes DUI cases in Jefferson County. Danny Carr serves as DA for the Birmingham Division. The DA office handles everything from first offenses to felony DUI charges. They work with police and deputies to build cases against drunk drivers in Jefferson County.

For questions about pending DUI cases or prosecution matters, contact the DA office. Their website at jeffcoda.org has more information about DUI prosecution in Jefferson County.

DUI Record Fees

Jefferson County charges standard fees for DUI records. Online searches via Alacourt cost $9.99 per name. Document images are $5.00 for up to 20 pages. Extra pages cost $0.50 each. In-person copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 per document.

State agency fees are separate. ALEA charges $5.75 for driving records and $25.00 for criminal history checks. Jefferson County expungement petitions cost $500. Call the clerk office to confirm current fees before requesting DUI records in Jefferson County.

State DUI Resources

State agencies hold DUI records beyond what Jefferson County stores locally. ALEA runs the central criminal database for Alabama. The court system maintains records for all counties. These work together to track DUI offenses statewide, including Jefferson County.

Key state resources:

• ALEA Criminal Records for background checks
• Alacourt for court case searches
• Alabama Driver License Portal for driving records
• AlaPay for paying court fines

DUI records are public under Code of Alabama § 36-12-40. Anyone can request them from Jefferson County without stating a reason. Fees may apply but access is open to all.

Cities in Jefferson County

Jefferson County has many cities and towns. All DUI cases go through the county court system. Which division handles your case depends on location within Jefferson County.

Other cities include Homewood, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Bessemer, Hueytown, Trussville, and Gardendale. Birmingham Division covers eastern cities. Bessemer Division covers western cities in Jefferson County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Jefferson County. Each has its own court system for DUI records. Check where the arrest happened to search the right county.