Find DUI Records in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge DUI records can be found through Baton Rouge City Court, the 19th Judicial District Court, and BRPD's Records Division. Most first-offense misdemeanor DUI cases are filed at City Court, while felony DUI charges and repeat offenders go to the 19th JDC in East Baton Rouge Parish. Whether you need an arrest report, court docket, or full case file, this guide explains where to search, what each office holds, and how to request records in Baton Rouge.
Baton Rouge DUI Laws Overview
Baton Rouge DUI charges follow Louisiana state law. The base offense is defined in La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98, which makes it unlawful to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. A first offense in Baton Rouge is a misdemeanor, typically handled at City Court. A second offense triggers increased penalties under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.1, including mandatory jail time and ignition interlock requirements.
Third offenses are charged as felonies under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.2. These cases move to the 19th JDC rather than City Court. Fourth and subsequent offenses are handled as aggravated DUI under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.4. Sentences can include multi-year prison terms. Baton Rouge also sees charges for DUI with a child passenger, which carries extra penalties.
Louisiana's implied consent law at La. Rev. Stat. § 32:661 means every driver is considered to have agreed to chemical testing when stopped. Refusal leads to license suspension. The length of the suspension and any hardship license options are controlled by La. Rev. Stat. § 32:667. This suspension process runs separate from the criminal case at court.
BRPD Records Division
The Baton Rouge Police Department Records Division is the first stop for arrest reports. The division can be reached at 225-389-3839. Their records page is at brla.gov/434/Records-Division. You can request DUI arrest reports, incident reports, and related documents through BRPD. A record check fee of $20 applies for certain types of requests.
The screenshot below shows the BRPD Records Division page where you can find contact info and request procedures.
BRPD records staff can assist with walk-in requests. Bring a photo ID and the name of the person you are searching for, along with the approximate date of the incident.
Additional resource information for Baton Rouge records is available at brla.gov/3212/Resource-Information. This page lists other city departments and contact details that may be useful when tracking down DUI-related documents.
The screenshot below shows the BRPD resource information page.
Use the resource page to identify the right contact for specific types of records in Baton Rouge.
Note: BRPD records requests for third-party searches may require written authorization from the subject.Baton Rouge City Court DUI Records
Baton Rouge City Court is at 233 Saint Louis Street, Room B54. The phone number is (225) 389-5279. Most misdemeanor DUI cases filed inside Baton Rouge city limits start here. The court has its own docket system. You can search by defendant name or case number. The clerk's office at City Court can give you copies of case documents, including charging papers, dispositions, and sentencing information.
City Court records are public under La. R.S. 44:1. However, some records tied to active cases may have limited access. If a case involved a juvenile or was sealed by court order, access rules change. For most adult DUI cases, the record is open to any member of the public who asks.
The eClerks LA statewide system also indexes East Baton Rouge Parish court records. You can search there for free to see if a Baton Rouge DUI case appears in the statewide system. Results vary by how current the data is, so always confirm with the clerk if you need the most up-to-date info.
19th JDC Records for Baton Rouge DUI Cases
Felony DUI cases and more serious charges are heard at the 19th Judicial District Court. This court covers all of East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baton Rouge. The clerk of court maintains all case filings, motions, judgments, and sentencing records. You can visit the clerk's office to search in person or request copies.
The 19th JDC also handles some cases that begin as misdemeanors but are upgraded. If a DUI involved a crash with injury or if the defendant had prior convictions on record, the DA's office may file at the district court level. Case records at the 19th JDC can span years if the case involves multiple charges or appeals.
Appeals from Baton Rouge DUI convictions go to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal. That court publishes written opinions online. If you are researching how a case was decided on appeal, the First Circuit's website has a searchable opinion database.
Crash Reports and Driving Records in Baton Rouge
If a Baton Rouge DUI involved a vehicle crash, a crash report was filed with Louisiana State Police. You can order crash reports through the LSP Crash Reports portal for $11.50 per report. These reports document what happened at the scene and often reference the DUI arrest that followed.
Driving records for Baton Rouge residents show license suspensions, revocations, and other actions tied to DUI convictions. You can order a three-year driving record through the OMV ExpressLane portal for $20. This is useful if you need to see whether a suspension was issued following an implied consent refusal or a DUI conviction.
State background checks from the BCII cost $26 online. A background check will pull DUI arrest and conviction data from across Louisiana. This is separate from a driving record and covers the criminal side rather than just the license history.
Note: Driving records and BCII checks are two different documents. A driving record covers OMV actions. A BCII check covers criminal history.