Lauderdale County DUI Records Search

Lauderdale County DUI records are maintained at the Circuit Clerk office in Florence. The 11th Judicial Circuit handles all DUI cases for this northwestern Alabama county. Florence sits on the Tennessee River and is part of the Shoals region. The clerk office keeps all court records for DUI arrests and convictions, making them available to the public.

Lauderdale County Circuit Clerk

The Circuit Clerk keeps all DUI records in Lauderdale County. Missy Homan serves as clerk. The office handles case filings, stores court documents, and provides copies to the public. Staff can help you find DUI records from recent cases or those dating back years. The office sits on South Court Street in the Florence courthouse.

DUI cases in Lauderdale County follow state procedures. First-time offenses go to District Court. Felony DUI charges like a fourth offense are heard in Circuit Court. Both courts use the same clerk office in Lauderdale County. All records become public once a case concludes. Anyone can request to see them.

The clerk office also handles passport services, making it a busy location. Call ahead if you plan to visit for DUI records to check wait times in Lauderdale County.

How to Search DUI Records

You can search Lauderdale County DUI records online or in person. Online is faster and works anytime. In-person visits let you view full case files and get certified copies. Both methods access the same DUI records database for Lauderdale County.

Alacourt is the state system for court records. It covers all Lauderdale County DUI cases. Go to pa.alacourt.com to search. Enter a name to find matching 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 quickest way to find DUI records in Lauderdale County.

For in-person searches, visit the courthouse in Florence. Bring your ID. Tell the clerk the name you want to search. Staff can look up cases by name or case number. Copy fees apply. The office stays open until 5 PM weekdays. Call ahead if you need records pulled before you arrive in Lauderdale County.

What helps with a DUI record search:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Case number if known
• Approximate date of arrest

Alabama DUI Laws

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

Alabama uses a 10-year look-back for sentencing. Courts in Lauderdale County check for prior DUIs in the past decade. More priors mean harsher penalties. A second DUI within 10 years brings mandatory jail time. A fourth DUI becomes a felony regardless of timing. All this shows in Lauderdale County DUI records.

DUI convictions are permanent in Alabama. The REDEEMER Act allows some records to be sealed, but DUI convictions do not qualify. Only dismissed cases or acquittals may be cleared from view in Lauderdale County.

DUI Penalties in Lauderdale County

First-time DUI offenders in Lauderdale County face up to one year in jail. Fines reach $2,100. Most get probation and DUI school instead. License suspension is 90 days. Judges may order community service or treatment programs as well.

Second offenses bring mandatory jail time. The range is five days to one year in Lauderdale County. Fines can hit $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 Class C felony. That can mean one to ten years in prison. Lauderdale County judges follow these state rules closely.

Extra costs pile up fast. Court fees, probation, and classes all cost money. License reinstatement is $275. Ignition interlock devices add expense. Insurance rates spike for years. A DUI in Lauderdale County can cost thousands when you total it all.

Lauderdale County Sheriff

The Lauderdale County Sheriff makes many DUI arrests on county roads. Rick Singleton serves as sheriff. Deputies patrol the area and respond to calls. Each DUI arrest creates records. The sheriff keeps arrest info while the court keeps case files in Lauderdale County.

You can contact the sheriff for arrest details or jail booking info. Their website has resources for the public. For court records showing case outcomes, contact the Circuit Clerk instead in Lauderdale County.

District Attorney

The District Attorney prosecutes DUI cases in Lauderdale County. Chris Connolly serves as DA for the 11th Circuit. The office handles all criminal cases from first offenses to felony DUI charges. They work with law enforcement to build cases against drunk drivers in Lauderdale County.

For questions about pending DUI cases, contact the DA office at (256) 764-6351 or visit daconnolly.com.

DUI Record Fees

Lauderdale County charges standard fees for 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 are $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 per document.

State agency fees apply separately. ALEA charges $5.75 for driving records and $25.00 for criminal history checks. Call the Lauderdale County clerk to confirm current fees before you make a request.

State DUI Resources

State agencies hold DUI records beyond local storage. ALEA maintains the central criminal database. The court system keeps files for all counties. These track DUI offenses statewide, including Lauderdale 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 fines

DUI records are public under Code of Alabama § 36-12-40. Anyone can request them from Lauderdale County without stating a reason.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lauderdale County. Each has its own court system for DUI records.