Frederickson DUI Records

Frederickson is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, which means it has no municipal court of its own. DUI cases from Frederickson go to Pierce County District Court for misdemeanor charges, or Pierce County Superior Court for felony-level cases. Both courts are in Tacoma and maintain public records searchable online. This page explains how the county court system handles DUI, where to find records, and what penalties Washington law allows for DUI offenses.

No Municipal Court: Pierce County District Court Handles DUI

Frederickson is unincorporated. That means there is no city government, no city police department, and no municipal court. DUI enforcement in the area falls to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. When someone is arrested for DUI in Frederickson, the case goes to Pierce County District Court.

Pierce County District Court is at 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402. The phone number is (253) 798-3333. This court handles misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases from unincorporated Pierce County, including DUI first, second, and third offenses. If you were arrested in Frederickson and charged with DUI, this is where your case was filed.

District court handles arraignments, pre-trial hearings, motions, and trials for misdemeanor cases. Sentencing also happens here. The records from these proceedings are public. You can review them at the courthouse or use the online search portal described below.

Washington's DUI statute is RCW 46.61.502. It covers impairment by alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. The legal BAC limit for adults is 0.08. The THC limit is 5.00 nanograms per milliliter of blood. These apply regardless of whether the driver feels impaired. The statute applies to all roads in Washington, including county roads in Frederickson.

Felony DUI: Pierce County Superior Court

If a DUI charge is a felony, it moves from district court to Pierce County Superior Court. The felony threshold is four or more DUI convictions within ten years. Under RCW 46.61.502, that is a Class B felony. Certain aggravating factors, like DUI with a minor in the car, can also elevate a charge.

Pierce County Superior Court is at 930 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402, and can be reached at (253) 798-7440. The superior court and district court share the same address, which makes it easier if you need to visit both. Superior court handles all felony proceedings, including arraignment, pre-trial motions, trial, and sentencing.

A Class B felony DUI carries up to 10 years in state prison and up to a $20,000 fine. Washington uses sentencing guidelines for felonies, so the actual range depends on offense seriousness and the defendant's criminal history score. Prior DUI convictions count as criminal history and push the recommended range higher.

Superior court records for Pierce County are searchable through the Odyssey portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov. You can look up cases by name or case number. The system returns docket entries, hearing dates, and in many cases filed documents. Some records are restricted by order of the court.

How to Search Frederickson DUI Records Online

For Pierce County District Court records, use the Washington Courts public search tool at dw.courts.wa.gov. Select Pierce County District Court from the court list. Enter a name, date of birth, or case number. Results show the charge, case status, hearing history, and disposition for closed cases.

Active cases may show limited information while proceedings are ongoing. Once a case closes, more of the record becomes available. If you cannot find what you need online, call the district court clerk at (253) 798-3333 and ask about a records search. You can also visit the courthouse in person during business hours.

For Pierce County Superior Court records, use the Odyssey portal at odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov. Search by name or case number. The portal returns case summaries, docket events, and many filed documents. The superior court clerk at (253) 798-7440 can assist with records not available online.

Certified copies of court records cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after that. Plain copies are $0.50 per page. To get copies, submit a written request to the relevant clerk with the case number, subject's name, date of birth, documents needed, and payment. Turnaround time varies. Call ahead for urgent requests.

DUI Penalties Under Washington Law

The penalty schedule for DUI is in RCW 46.61.5055. This statute sets minimums and maximums for each offense level. Court records reflect the penalties actually imposed, which must meet or exceed the statutory minimums.

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

Beyond these minimums, courts routinely add conditions. Alcohol or drug assessment is almost always required. If treatment is recommended, the court typically orders it as a condition of sentence or probation. Ignition interlock devices are mandatory. The length of the interlock requirement increases with each offense. All of these conditions appear in the sentencing documents, which are part of the public court record.

Fines in the statute are base amounts. Courts add surcharges and assessments that can push total financial obligations well above the base. Legal fees, treatment costs, interlock rental, and insurance increases add more on top. A first DUI can easily cost several thousand dollars in total before accounting for any appeals or ongoing compliance costs.

DOL License Suspension: Separate from Court

A DUI arrest in Frederickson triggers two processes at once. One is the criminal court case. The other is an administrative license action by the Washington Department of Licensing. These run simultaneously but are entirely separate.

The arresting officer sends a sworn report to the DOL after an arrest. The DOL then notifies the driver of a pending suspension. You have 20 days from the arrest date to request a DOL hearing to contest the suspension. Missing this deadline means the suspension takes effect automatically on day 60 after the arrest.

Suspension lengths: 90 days for a first offense if you took the breath test. One year if you refused. Two years for a second offense. Reinstatement requires SR-22 insurance, payment of a reinstatement fee, and for many offenses, an ignition interlock requirement. Full information is at dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/duiresources.html.

DOL suspension records are not court records. They are maintained separately by the Department of Licensing. If you need a driving record or want to check the status of a suspension, go through the DOL directly, not through the court portals.

Pierce County Resources for DUI Records

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated Frederickson. Arrest records and incident reports are maintained by the sheriff's office. You can request copies through the department's public records office. Police reports contain officer observations, field sobriety test notes, and BAC readings that are not always visible in court docket entries.

Washington State Patrol also has jurisdiction on state routes in and around Frederickson, including SR-512. If a DUI stop occurred on a state highway, the WSP may have records separate from sheriff's office files.

The Pierce County page on this site covers county-level court resources in full, including additional court locations and contact information. Pierce County is a large county with substantial court infrastructure, and the county page goes into more detail on access procedures.

Legal aid in Pierce County is available through Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association's lawyer referral service and through Northwest Justice Project. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org provides free guides on DUI procedures, rights at a traffic stop, and what to expect during a DUI case in Washington courts.