Search Spokane County DUI Records

Spokane County is the largest county in eastern Washington and processes a significant volume of DUI cases each year. Misdemeanor DUI cases from unincorporated areas go to Spokane County District Court. The City of Spokane has its own municipal court that handles a large share of the county's DUI docket. Spokane Valley Municipal Court, Cheney Municipal Court, and other city courts handle cases within their respective boundaries. Felony DUI charges go to Spokane County Superior Court. All of these records are accessible to the public through Washington's online court portals or by contacting the court clerk at 1116 W Broadway Ave in Spokane.

How to Search Spokane County DUI Records Online

Two free online portals cover Spokane County DUI cases. The Odyssey Portal covers Spokane County Superior Court. This is where felony DUI cases are filed and where you can find information about charges, hearings, verdicts, and sentencing. Search by name or case number. The portal is updated regularly and generally reflects current case status.

For misdemeanor DUI cases from Spokane County District Court, Spokane Municipal Court, Spokane Valley Municipal Court, and Cheney Municipal Court, use the Washington Courts public case search. This statewide portal covers district and municipal courts. It lets you search across courts at once or narrow to a specific one. Enter a name and select Spokane County to see cases from all courts in the area.

Spokane Municipal Court handles a large number of DUI cases. The city of Spokane has a substantial population and its own police department, which means the municipal court docket is active. If you are looking for a DUI case that happened inside Spokane city limits, this is usually the right court. For Spokane Valley, that city contracts with Spokane County for court services, so Spokane Valley Municipal Court cases may appear under Spokane County District Court in the search tool, depending on how the record was indexed.

Spokane County Superior Court: Felony DUI Cases

Washington law defines felony DUI under RCW 46.61.502. A person faces felony charges when they have four or more DUI convictions within the prior ten years, or when they have a prior vehicular homicide or vehicular assault conviction. Felony DUI is a Class B felony, carrying up to ten years in prison and fines up to $20,000. Spokane County Superior Court handles all felony-level DUI cases from across the county.

The courthouse is at 1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260. The Superior Court Clerk's office number is (509) 477-2211. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk's office processes records requests, issues certified copies, and can help you identify a case number if you have limited information. Given the volume of cases in Spokane County, having a case number or approximate date on hand will speed up your visit or call.

Superior Court felony cases typically move through arraignment, pretrial hearings, and then either a plea or trial. The Odyssey portal tracks all of these stages. If a person was convicted, the sentencing order and any probation conditions will also be part of the public record. These documents can be requested from the clerk's office.

District Court and Municipal Courts: Misdemeanor DUI

Spokane County District Court handles misdemeanor DUI cases from unincorporated parts of the county. The District Court Clerk can be reached at (509) 477-4750. The court operates out of the Spokane County Public Safety Building. Most records from this court are searchable through the statewide portal.

Washington's penalty structure for misdemeanor DUI comes from RCW 46.61.5055. First offenses with BAC below 0.15 require at least 24 hours in jail and a $350 fine. First offenses with BAC at 0.15 or above, or with a breath test refusal, require at least 48 hours and a $500 fine. Second offenses carry a minimum of 30 days in jail and 60 days of electronic home monitoring, plus a $500 fine. Third offenses require 90 days in jail, 120 days EHM, and a $1,000 fine. Judges can impose more than the minimum, and many do.

Spokane Municipal Court is the busiest court in the county for DUI cases. It handles all DUI arrests made by Spokane Police Department within the city. The court is separate from the county district court, though both appear in Washington's public case search system. If you are unsure which court handled a case, search both by name and compare results.

What DUI Records Show

A DUI court record contains several layers of information. The charging document lists the statute, the date of the alleged offense, and the specific facts supporting the charge. Docket entries show every hearing and its outcome. If the case resolved through a plea, the plea agreement is part of the file. If it went to trial, the verdict and any post-trial motions are included. The sentencing order details jail time, fines, probation length, and any conditions like alcohol treatment or ignition interlock requirements.

What the court file doesn't include is the underlying police report. Police reports are law enforcement records, held by the arresting agency. For DUI arrests by Spokane Police Department, contact SPD's records division. For arrests by Washington State Patrol on county roads or freeways, contact WSP. For arrests by the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, contact the Sheriff. Those reports include field sobriety test results, breath test readings, officer observations, and other details that are not duplicated in the court file.

Background check companies often pull from court databases. The accuracy of those reports varies. For official purposes, go directly to the court. The Odyssey portal and the statewide search tool are both maintained by Washington's Administrative Office of the Courts, which makes them the most reliable starting point.

License Suspensions After a Spokane County DUI

Every DUI arrest in Washington triggers a parallel process with the Department of Licensing. The criminal case and the license suspension move on separate tracks. A driver can have their license suspended before the criminal case is resolved, and a suspension can happen even if criminal charges are later dropped.

Under Washington's implied consent law, a driver who fails a breath test or refuses one faces an automatic administrative license action. There is a 20-day window to request a hearing with DOL to contest the suspension. First-offense suspensions for a failed test typically last 90 days. A refusal leads to a one-year revocation. More details are available at dol.wa.gov. DOL records are separate from court records and won't show up in the Odyssey portal.

Requesting Copies of Spokane County DUI Records

Washington's Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, establishes your right to inspect and copy public records. Court records are public unless a specific exemption applies. Juvenile records and sealed records are not public. For adult DUI cases, the full court file is generally available.

Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certified copies start at $5 for the first page and $1 for each page after that. You can request records in person at the courthouse on W Broadway Ave, by mail, or by phone. Mail requests should include the case number or defendant name, an approximate date, a description of what you need, and a check or money order for the estimated fees. The Superior Court Clerk's office at (509) 477-2211 can answer questions about how to submit a request and what fees to expect.

Additional Resources

For general information about Washington courts and how they work, visit courts.wa.gov. The site includes a directory of all courts statewide, information about how to navigate the court system, and links to court forms. Legal aid resources in Spokane include Spokane County Legal Services and the Volunteer Lawyers Program. For DUI-specific legal questions, the Washington State Bar Association can help connect you with a licensed attorney. The bar's website includes a referral service for people who need help finding a lawyer in Spokane County.