Richland DUI Records Search

DUI records in Richland, Washington are filed with Richland Municipal Court for misdemeanor offenses and Benton County Superior Court for felony cases. Both courts maintain public records that include charging documents, court dates, conviction details, and sentencing information. This page covers how to search Richland DUI records online, what the courts hold, how the Washington DOL handles license suspensions, and what fees apply when requesting copies.

Richland Municipal Court: Misdemeanor DUI Cases

Richland Municipal Court is the primary court for DUI arrests made within city limits when the charge is a gross misdemeanor. This covers a first, second, or third offense within a ten-year period. The court is located at 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352. You can call the court at (509) 942-7550 for case information, hours, and fee questions.

Court records at Richland Municipal Court are public under Washington's Public Records Act. Each case file contains the citation or charging document, a history of all hearings, any motions filed, the plea agreement or trial verdict, and the judgment and sentence. If alcohol assessment or treatment was ordered, that requirement is reflected in the case record as a condition of the sentence.

The court's records are searchable online through the Washington Courts district and municipal portal at https://dw.courts.wa.gov/. This tool covers municipal and district courts throughout the state. Enter a name to search, or use a case number if you have it. Basic case status is free to view. Full document copies require a records request to the clerk's office.

Benton County Superior Court: Felony DUI Records

A DUI becomes a felony in Washington when it is a fourth or subsequent offense within ten years, or when the case involves specific prior convictions that elevate the charge. Felony DUI cases from Richland are filed in Benton County Superior Court rather than municipal court.

Benton County Superior Court is located at 7122 W Okanogan Pl, Kennewick, WA 99336. The main phone number is (509) 736-3071. Felony DUI records from this court are searchable online through the Odyssey Portal at https://odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/odyportal. The Odyssey system covers superior courts across Washington and lets you search by party name, case number, or attorney name.

For more details on how Benton County handles DUI records at all court levels, see the Benton County DUI Records page. That page covers the full county court structure and explains how cases are assigned between the municipal, district, and superior court levels in the Tri-Cities area.

Washington DUI Laws That Apply in Richland

Washington's DUI statute is RCW 46.61.502. Under this law, driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is per se DUI. Driving while impaired by any drug or controlled substance also qualifies. The threshold is 0.04 for commercial vehicle operators and 0.02 for drivers under 21.

DUI penalties are set out at RCW 46.61.5055. A first offense with BAC under 0.15 carries a minimum of 24 hours in jail and a $350 fine. First offense with BAC at or above 0.15 or a breath test refusal requires at least 48 hours in jail and a $500 fine. These are minimums. Actual sentencing in Richland often includes much higher total costs when court fees, assessments, probation monitoring fees, and treatment costs are added.

A second offense within seven years requires at least 30 days in jail. A third offense within ten years carries a 90-day minimum. Courts may allow electronic home monitoring to substitute for a portion of the jail term. An ignition interlock device is mandatory for all DUI convictions in Washington, including those in Richland.

Online Search Tools for Richland DUI Cases

Two portals cover DUI records in Richland. For misdemeanor cases at Richland Municipal Court, use the Washington Courts public portal at https://dw.courts.wa.gov/. For felony cases at Benton County Superior Court, use the Odyssey Portal at https://odysseyportal.courts.wa.gov/odyportal.

Both portals are free and open to the public. No account or registration is needed. To search, enter the person's first and last name. Adding a date of birth helps narrow results when the name is common. The search returns basic case information: case number, filing date, court, case type, and current status. You can see scheduled hearing dates and past events in the case history.

If a case shows as "closed" or "disposed," the final outcome is listed. This can indicate a conviction, dismissal, or deferred sentence. Dismissed cases still appear in the search results but show the dismissal date and reason. If you need the full document set from the file, you must request those from the clerk's office. Online portals do not show the full text of motions, orders, or transcripts.

Washington DOL and License Suspension in Richland Cases

Every DUI arrest in Richland triggers an administrative review by the Washington Department of Licensing. This process is separate from the criminal case. The DOL acts on the arrest report sent by law enforcement and can suspend driving privileges before the court case is resolved.

Drivers have 20 days from the date of arrest to request a DOL hearing to contest the suspension. If no hearing is requested, the suspension begins automatically. For a first offense with BAC under 0.15, the suspension is 90 days. If BAC was 0.15 or higher, or the driver refused the test, the suspension is one year.

The DOL resource page at https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/duiresources.html covers suspension lengths, ignition interlock requirements, SR-22 insurance requirements, and the reinstatement process. After a criminal conviction, the court notifies the DOL separately, which may add another suspension period on top of the one triggered by the initial arrest.

Requesting Copies of Richland DUI Court Records

To get copies from Richland Municipal Court, contact the clerk at 505 Swift Blvd, Richland, WA 99352, by phone at (509) 942-7550, or visit during business hours. Non-certified copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 for the certification stamp plus $1.00 per page for each page in the document.

For felony case records at Benton County Superior Court, contact the Benton County Clerk at 7122 W Okanogan Pl, Kennewick, WA 99336, phone (509) 736-3071. The same copy fee schedule applies. You can request records by mail or in person. Mail requests should include the case number, a description of the documents needed, and payment or a check made out to the clerk's office.

Arrest reports and police records from a Richland DUI arrest are held by the Richland Police Department. These are separate from court records and require a separate public records request to the department. Most police records tied to a DUI case are releasable after the criminal case is closed, though some may be redacted to protect investigation details or third-party privacy.

If you are seeking your own record to petition for vacation of a DUI conviction, Washington law at RCW 9.96.060 allows this in limited circumstances. You must show that several years have passed, that all conditions of the sentence were met, and that no new offenses occurred. The court clerk can provide the case file, and an attorney can help determine whether you meet the requirements for vacation.