Des Moines DUI Records

Des Moines, Washington handles DUI cases through its own municipal court, with felony charges escalating to King County Superior Court. Most DUI arrests in the city go through the Des Moines Municipal Court first. Records from these proceedings are public under Washington law, and you can search them online through the state court portal. This guide covers where to find records, what courts handle which cases, what the penalties look like, and how to get copies of documents you need.

Des Moines Municipal Court and DUI Cases

The Des Moines Municipal Court handles misdemeanor DUI charges filed within city limits. This includes first, second, and third offenses within a ten-year period. The court is located at 21630 11th Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198, and can be reached at (206) 870-6502. If you were cited or arrested for DUI inside Des Moines city limits, your case most likely started here.

Misdemeanor DUI in Washington is a gross misdemeanor. That sounds serious, and it is. A first offense carries a minimum of 24 hours in jail, a $350 base fine, and a 90-day license suspension. If your blood alcohol content was 0.15 or higher, or if you refused a breath test, the minimums go up: 48 hours in jail and a $500 fine. These are floors, not ceilings. Judges can impose more.

The municipal court also handles arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and trials for misdemeanor cases. Sentencing happens here too, for cases that end in conviction. Court records from these proceedings are public record. You can ask the court clerk directly or use the online portal described below.

Washington's DUI law is codified at RCW 46.61.502. It covers impairment by alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs. The legal limit for alcohol is a BAC of 0.08. For cannabis, the limit is 5.00 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood. Those limits apply whether you feel impaired or not.

Felony DUI Cases: King County Superior Court

Not every DUI stays in municipal court. If the charge is a felony, it moves to King County Superior Court. Felony DUI applies when a person has four or more DUI offenses within a ten-year window. Under RCW 46.61.502, that becomes a Class B felony. Certain aggravating circumstances can also push a misdemeanor into felony territory, such as DUI with a minor in the vehicle.

King County Superior Court records are searchable through the Odyssey portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. Superior court cases show all docket events, motions, and hearing dates. Many documents are available to view directly online. Some are restricted by court order.

For Des Moines residents whose cases ended up in superior court, the courthouse address is 516 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. King County also has a regional justice center at 401 Fourth Ave N, Kent, WA 98032. Des Moines cases may be filed at either location depending on assignment. You can confirm the venue through the Odyssey portal search results.

How to Search Des Moines DUI Records Online

The primary online portal for Des Moines Municipal Court records is the Washington Courts public search tool at dw.courts.wa.gov. This system covers district and municipal courts across the state. You can search by name, date of birth, case number, or filing date. Results will show you case status, charge codes, and hearing history.

To search, go to the portal and select Des Moines Municipal Court from the court list. Enter the name of the person you are looking for. The system returns a list of matching records. Click a case to see the full docket. You will see the charge, plea, any hearings, and the outcome if the case has concluded.

Keep in mind that pending cases may have limited information available. Some documents are restricted while a case is active. Once a case closes, more of the record becomes accessible. If you cannot find what you need online, contact the court clerk at (206) 870-6502 to request a records search in person or by mail.

Certified copies of court records cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. You can request copies by submitting a written request to the court along with payment. The clerk's office can tell you exactly what forms are needed and whether your request requires additional authorization.

License Suspension and DOL Records

A DUI arrest triggers two separate processes. One is the criminal case in court. The other is an administrative action by the Washington Department of Licensing. These happen at the same time but are handled completely independently.

After a DUI arrest, the DOL can suspend your license even before you are convicted. You have 20 days to request a hearing to challenge the suspension. If you don't request a hearing in time, the suspension goes into effect automatically. This is a strict deadline. Missing it means losing your driving privilege for 90 days on a first offense, or longer for subsequent ones.

DOL suspension records are separate from court records. They are maintained by the Department of Licensing, not the courts. You can find information about DUI license actions and reinstatement requirements at dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/duiresources.html. Reinstatement typically requires SR-22 insurance, payment of fees, and in some cases an ignition interlock device.

DUI Penalties in Washington: What the Record Will Show

Washington penalty rules for DUI are set out in RCW 46.61.5055. The law breaks down penalties based on offense number and BAC level. Court records will reflect which penalties were imposed, which may include jail time, fines, electronic home monitoring, ignition interlock requirements, and alcohol or drug assessment.

First offense, BAC under 0.15: minimum 24 hours jail, $350 fine, 90-day license suspension. First offense, BAC 0.15 or higher (or test refusal): minimum 48 hours jail, $500 fine, one-year suspension. Second offense: minimum 30 days jail plus 60 days electronic home monitoring, $500 fine, two-year suspension. Third offense: minimum 90 days jail plus 120 days EHM, $1,000 fine.

Fines shown in statutes are base amounts. Courts add surcharges, assessments, and fees that can push total costs much higher. A first-offense DUI in Washington often results in total financial obligations well above $5,000 when you add legal fees, treatment, ignition interlock, and insurance increases. Court records will show the amounts formally imposed by the judge, not the full downstream costs.

If a child under 16 was in the vehicle at the time of the DUI, the court records will also reflect that as an aggravating factor, which carries its own additional penalties under state law.

Related Records and Resources in King County

DUI cases often generate records beyond the court file itself. Arrest records are held by the Des Moines Police Department. You can request a copy of an arrest report from the department's records unit. These reports may include field sobriety test results, observations by officers, and other details not always visible in court records.

The King County page on this site has more information about county-level court resources, including King County District Court, which handles DUI cases from unincorporated areas and cities without their own municipal courts. Des Moines has its own court, but neighboring communities may route cases differently.

Washington State Patrol also maintains records related to DUI incidents that occurred on state highways. If the stop happened on a state route or interstate, the WSP may have records separate from Des Moines Police Department files. The WSP records office can be reached through the agency's website.

Legal aid resources are available for those who cannot afford an attorney. King County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org offers plain-language guides on DUI procedures and rights.