Access Chandler DUI Records
Chandler DUI records are held by multiple agencies in this East Valley city. The Chandler Municipal Court handles misdemeanor DUI cases that occur within city limits. Police arrest records come from the Chandler Police Department. Chandler sits in Maricopa County, so felony DUI cases and some other matters go through county courts instead. You can search for DUI records through the municipal court, request police reports from the department, or check county databases for cases that moved beyond city court. This guide covers where to find DUI case information in Chandler and how the process works.
Chandler DUI Records Quick Facts
Chandler Municipal Court DUI Cases
The Chandler Municipal Court processes misdemeanor DUI charges that happen in the city. This includes standard DUI, extreme DUI, and super extreme DUI charges. First and second offense cases typically stay in municipal court. The court handles arraignments, plea hearings, and trials for these DUI matters. If you got a DUI ticket from Chandler Police, your case will likely go through this court.
You can learn about the court and its services through the Chandler Municipal Court website. The site has information on court hours, locations, and how to handle your case. The court is at 200 East Commonwealth Avenue in Chandler. Phone inquiries go to (480) 782-4700. Staff can answer questions about case status, hearing dates, and how to get copies of DUI court records from Chandler cases.
The court website provides forms for common needs. You can find payment options, traffic school info, and instructions for requesting records. For DUI cases specifically, you may need to appear in person for certain hearings. Arizona law requires court appearances for most DUI charges, and Chandler Municipal Court follows these rules.
To get copies of your DUI case records, contact the court clerk. You will need the case number or defendant name. Copies cost fifty cents per page at most Arizona courts. Certified copies have an extra fee of around seventeen dollars per document. The clerk can tell you what documents are in your file and how much the copies will cost for your Chandler DUI case.
Chandler Police DUI Arrest Records
The Chandler Police Department makes DUI arrests throughout the city. They create arrest reports, incident reports, and other records when someone is stopped for suspected drunk driving. These police records are separate from court records. The arrest report shows what the officer saw and did during the DUI stop in Chandler.
You can request police reports through the Chandler Police records request page. The site explains how to submit a request for copies of reports. You will need to know the date of the incident and the name of the person involved. Processing time varies based on the type of record and how busy the department is. The records unit can be reached at (480) 782-4001 for questions about specific requests.
DUI arrest reports contain important details about the stop. They may include the reason for the traffic stop, observations of the driver, field sobriety test results, and breath test readings. This information becomes evidence in the court case. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys use police reports when handling DUI charges in Chandler.
Chandler DUI Cases in Maricopa County
Chandler is part of Maricopa County. Some DUI cases from Chandler end up in county courts instead of municipal court. Felony aggravated DUI charges go to Maricopa County Superior Court. Third offense DUI cases within eighty-four months also move to Superior Court because they become felonies under Arizona law.
The Maricopa County Superior Court has online tools for searching case records. You can look up felony DUI cases from anywhere in the county, including those that started with Chandler arrests. The Maricopa County criminal case search covers all felony matters. Use the defendant name to find cases. Results show charges, hearing dates, and case status for DUI cases handled at the county level.
If a Chandler DUI case went to justice court instead of municipal court, it would be in the Maricopa County justice court system. The justice courts case search covers all twenty-six precincts in the county. This rarely happens for Chandler cases since the city has its own municipal court, but it can occur in certain situations.
Note: Chandler Police may book DUI suspects into Maricopa County Jail even though the case goes through municipal court.
Arizona DUI Laws Affecting Chandler Cases
Arizona has tough DUI laws that apply to all cases in Chandler. The state uses a tiered system based on blood alcohol content. Higher BAC means more severe charges. Even at lower levels, you can face charges if alcohol affected your driving at all.
Standard DUI under A.R.S. Section 28-1381 covers driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent or more. It also includes driving while impaired to the slightest degree. This is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Penalties include jail time, fines, license suspension, and ignition interlock requirements. A first offense DUI in Chandler will stay on your record and count toward future charges if you get another DUI within eighty-four months.
Extreme DUI charges apply at higher BAC levels. Under A.R.S. Section 28-1382, a BAC from 0.15 to 0.199 percent is extreme DUI. Super extreme DUI is 0.20 percent or higher. Both carry harsher penalties than standard DUI. Minimum jail time jumps to thirty days for extreme and forty-five days for super extreme. Chandler Municipal Court handles these as misdemeanors, but the consequences are serious.
Aggravated DUI becomes a felony and leaves Chandler Municipal Court. Under A.R.S. Section 28-1383, certain factors make DUI a felony charge. These include a third DUI in eighty-four months, driving on a suspended license, having a child under fifteen in the car, or driving the wrong way while impaired. These cases go to Maricopa County Superior Court for prosecution.
Searching Chandler DUI Records
Start at Chandler Municipal Court for most DUI record searches. Call the court at (480) 782-4700 and provide the defendant name or case number. Staff can look up the case and tell you its status. They can also explain how to get copies of documents from the file. In-person visits to the court clerk work well when you need multiple documents or have a complex request.
For statewide searches, use the Arizona Courts Public Access system. This free tool searches case records from courts across Arizona. Some municipal court cases appear here, though not all. It is worth checking if you cannot find a case through other means. The search covers both misdemeanor and felony DUI cases in Arizona.
Police records require a separate request. Go to the Chandler Police website or call (480) 782-4001. You will need basic information about the incident to request an arrest report. Processing fees may apply. The police department is separate from the court, so you need to contact both if you want both court records and arrest records for a Chandler DUI case.
Sealing Chandler DUI Records
Arizona now allows some criminal records to be sealed. This includes certain DUI convictions. Under A.R.S. Section 13-911, you can petition to seal eligible records after completing your sentence. The law took effect on January 1, 2023, and applies to past convictions too.
Sealed records are hidden from most public searches. Courts and law enforcement can still see them. The general public cannot access sealed records. To seal a Chandler DUI conviction, you must have finished all terms of your sentence. This means jail time served, probation completed, fines paid, and any classes finished.
You file the petition in the court that handled your case. For misdemeanor DUI from Chandler, that means Chandler Municipal Court. The Arizona Courts Self Service Center has forms and instructions for the process. A judge will review your petition and decide whether to grant it. Wait times before you can petition depend on the offense. Misdemeanor DUI typically requires waiting two to three years after sentence completion.
Chandler DUI Record Fees
Fees for DUI records in Chandler vary by source. Court records and police records have different fee structures. Budget for both if you need complete information about a DUI case.
Chandler Municipal Court charges standard fees for copies. Most Arizona municipal courts use fifty cents per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost around seventeen dollars per document. This covers the clerk putting an official seal on the document. Research fees may apply if you ask staff to search without a case number. The court can provide exact costs when you call.
Police report fees are set by the Chandler Police Department. Most departments charge between five and ten dollars per report. Contact the records unit at (480) 782-4001 for current fees. Payment methods vary by agency. Some take credit cards while others want cash or money orders.
Nearby Cities in the East Valley
Chandler borders several other cities in the Phoenix metro area. DUI cases near city boundaries may be handled by a different jurisdiction. The arresting agency determines which court gets the case. If you cannot find a DUI record in Chandler, check these nearby city courts.
Each city has its own municipal court. DUI records stay with the court that handled the case. Chandler Police only handle DUI arrests within Chandler city limits.
Maricopa County DUI Resources
For county-level records and felony DUI cases from Chandler, check the Maricopa County resources. The county handles all felony prosecutions and maintains extensive court databases.