New Orleans DUI Records
New Orleans DUI records are spread across several agencies depending on how the case was handled. Most arrests go through the New Orleans Police Department, and charges move to either the Orleans Criminal District Court or the Municipal and Traffic Court at 1601 Perdido Street. If you need to find a DUI case in New Orleans, you can search court records online, submit a public records request to NOPD, or visit the courthouse in person. This guide covers each step so you know where to look and what to expect.
New Orleans DUI Laws and Charges
Louisiana defines DUI as operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher. The core statute is La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98, which sets the basic offense. A first offense is a misdemeanor. A second offense carries steeper fines and jail time under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.1. By a third offense, the charge can become a felony under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.2.
New Orleans sees a high volume of DUI arrests, partly due to the city's entertainment districts and late-night activity. Officers can stop drivers anywhere in the city. If an officer suspects impairment, a breath or blood test may follow. Under La. Rev. Stat. § 32:661, drivers in Louisiana have given implied consent to chemical testing. Refusing a test triggers automatic license suspension under La. Rev. Stat. § 32:667. Both the criminal case and the license suspension are separate proceedings.
Fourth and subsequent offenses are treated as aggravated cases under La. Rev. Stat. § 14:98.4. Penalties include prison time and vehicle forfeiture. DUI cases in New Orleans involving injury or death are charged as separate offenses and carry much longer sentences.
New Orleans Municipal and Traffic Court
Many DUI cases in New Orleans start at Municipal and Traffic Court. This court handles first-time misdemeanor DUI charges and most traffic offenses. It is located at 1601 Perdido Street. The phone number is (504) 658-8500.
The court's public records portal lets you request case documents and records online. The NOPD public records request system is through nola.nextrequest.com. You can use that system to ask for arrest reports, incident reports, and related files from NOPD.
The screenshot below shows the NOPD public records request portal where you can submit requests for DUI arrest records.
Once you submit a request through the portal, NOPD has a set number of days to respond under La. R.S. 44:1 (Louisiana's Public Records Law).
The Municipal and Traffic Court website has information on court dates, payment options, and how to look up cases. If your DUI was filed there, this is the first place to check.
The screenshot below shows the Municipal and Traffic Court page for New Orleans.
The court address is 1601 Perdido Street, and the court has jurisdiction over most misdemeanor traffic matters filed in New Orleans.
Note: Copy fees at the Municipal Court are $0.50 per page for paper copies and $25 for electronic records.Orleans Criminal District Court Records
Felony DUI cases and repeat offenses often move to Orleans Criminal District Court. This court handles more serious charges. The clerk maintains case files that become part of the public record. You can search by name or case number. NOPD Records is located at 715 South Broad Street, phone 504-658-5455.
The eClerks LA statewide portal allows free searches of court case data across Louisiana parishes, including Orleans. It is a useful starting point if you are not sure which court handled a case. You can search by defendant name and narrow by parish.
The traffic court online portal at traffic.nola.gov is another option for looking up traffic-related cases filed in New Orleans, including DUI matters processed through traffic court.
The screenshot below shows the Traffic Court online portal for New Orleans.
Use the portal to search for active cases, pending hearings, and case status in New Orleans traffic court.
NOPD Arrest Records and Crash Reports
If a DUI involved a crash, a separate crash report is filed with Louisiana State Police. You can order crash reports through the LSP Crash Reports portal for $11.50 per report. This is useful when you need documentation of a crash that led to a DUI arrest in New Orleans.
NOPD arrest records are separate from court records. An arrest record shows that a person was taken into custody. It does not mean the person was convicted. You can request NOPD arrest records through the public records portal at nola.nextrequest.com. You will need to give the name of the person, the date of the arrest, and any case or report number you have.
Driving history records for New Orleans residents can be ordered through the OMV ExpressLane portal for $20 per three-year driving record. A driving record will show DUI-related license suspensions, revocations, and other actions taken by the Office of Motor Vehicles.
Note: NOPD records staff at 715 South Broad Street can assist with in-person record requests during regular business hours.Background Checks and DUI History in New Orleans
A DUI conviction in New Orleans becomes part of a person's criminal record. The Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information (BCII) maintains Louisiana criminal records. A state background check costs $26 online. This check will show DUI arrests and convictions statewide, including those filed in Orleans Parish courts.
Criminal records in Louisiana are public under La. R.S. 44:1 unless a court has ordered expungement. A DUI that was dismissed or resulted in a first-time diversion may be eligible for expungement. Expungement does not delete the record but limits who can see it.
If you are trying to find out if someone has a DUI in New Orleans, the most direct path is to search Orleans Criminal District Court records or request through eClerks LA. These sources show case history and disposition. The BCII check gives a broader view of statewide records.