Baltimore DUI Records

Baltimore DUI records are public documents held in the Baltimore City court system, and most can be searched online at no cost. Anyone can look up DUI and DWI case filings, charges, court dates, and dispositions through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. Baltimore handles its own courts as an independent city, separate from any county. The City has a Circuit Court and multiple District Court locations spread across neighborhoods. This guide covers where to search, what you will find, how to get copies, and how local law enforcement handles DUI enforcement in Baltimore.

Searching Baltimore DUI Records Online

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the main tool for finding Baltimore DUI records. It is free and open to the public. You do not need to make an account. Search by name, case number, or citation number. Baltimore City criminal records go back to 1993 in the system, so you can find cases that are decades old. The database updates within 10 minutes of a clerk adding new information, making it one of the more current public record tools in the state.

When you search for a Baltimore DUI case, you can find the case number, filing date, all charges listed with their statutory citations, case status, judge and courtroom assignment, hearing dates, and the final disposition. The record also shows the party's full legal name, address, date of birth, race, gender, height, and weight. It shows the arresting officer's name and badge number, the date and time of the stop, and the location of the traffic stop down to the road and block. Vehicle information including the license plate may also appear. That is a lot of detail for a free public search.

One thing to note: some records are taken offline after certain case outcomes. If a Baltimore DUI case ended in a nolle prosequi, dismissal, acquittal, or a stet that is more than three years old, the record may no longer appear in Case Search. That does not mean it is expunged. It just means the online summary is no longer visible. To find those cases, you may need to go to the courthouse in person.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal provides free access to Baltimore DUI filings going back to 1993 for criminal matters.

The Case Search portal covers all Baltimore City District and Circuit Court DUI cases and is updated within minutes of clerk entry.

Baltimore City Courts That Handle DUI Cases

Baltimore is unique in Maryland. It is an independent city with no county affiliation, so it runs its own courts rather than sharing with a county. All Baltimore DUI cases are handled either by the Baltimore City Circuit Court or one of several Baltimore City District Court locations. The court that handles your case depends on how the charges were filed and whether the case went to Circuit Court.

The Baltimore City Circuit Court sits at 100 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The clerk can be reached at 410-333-3733. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Clerk Keiffer Mitchell oversees this office. You can also email cityclerk@mdcourts.gov for general questions. The Circuit Court handles more serious DUI cases and appeals from District Court. The Eastside Courthouse at 1400 East North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21213 (phone 410-333-2020) handles cases in the eastern part of the city. For links to clerk information, visit mdcourts.gov/clerks/baltimorecity.

Baltimore has several District Court locations. The Central Booking location at 300 E. Madison Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 (phone 410-333-1521) is where many DUI defendants are first processed. Three other District Court offices serve different parts of the city. The Wabash location is at 5800 Wabash Avenue (410-767-0140). The Patapsco location is at 700 E. Patapsco Avenue (410-678-4900). The Hargrove location is at 2510 Hargrove Street (410-733-8600). You can find directory listings for all Baltimore City District Court offices at mdcourts.gov/district/directories/baltimorecity.

Note: Baltimore City is legally separate from Baltimore County, which is a different jurisdiction with its own courts. Make sure you are searching the right system.

Baltimore Police and DUI Enforcement

The Baltimore Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for DUI enforcement within city limits. Their main administrative offices are at 242 W. 29th Street, Baltimore, MD 21211. The Central Records Division, which handles records requests, is at 242 W. 29th Street, Room 106. Call the police records line at 410-396-2255 for questions about police records. To get a police report related to a DUI arrest in Baltimore, you need to submit a request under the Maryland Public Information Act. Processing can take up to 30 days.

Baltimore runs DUI checkpoints on a regular basis. Enforcement tends to concentrate in the downtown core and entertainment districts, especially on weekends and during major events. The city has also partnered with ride-sharing services to push alternatives to driving after drinking. Baltimore operates several specialty courts tied to substance abuse issues, including drug treatment courts and mental health courts. For veterans who face DUI charges, Baltimore City has a Veterans Treatment Court that may offer alternative pathways depending on the circumstances of the case.

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services maintains the CJIS Central Repository, which holds statewide criminal history records including Baltimore DUI arrests.

What Baltimore DUI Records Contain

A Baltimore DUI record is not just a single document. It is a collection of filings, orders, and notes that build up as a case moves through the court. The first piece is the charging document, which lists the specific statute violated. For most DUI cases in Baltimore, that is Transportation Article § 21-902. Maryland draws a line between DUI, which requires a BAC of .08 or above, and DWI, which covers impairment at a BAC of .07. Both charges appear in the record. Drug-related impairment charges may appear under subsections (c) and (d) of the same statute.

Court records show what happened at each stage: arraignment, bail review, motions hearings, and the final disposition. The disposition tells you whether the person was convicted, received a probation before judgment (PBJ), had the case dismissed, or was acquitted. A PBJ under Criminal Procedure § 6-220 lets a first offender avoid a conviction on their record if they complete probation. That outcome still shows in case records, though under a different status than a standard guilty finding. Sentencing details, fines, and any conditions like ignition interlock or alcohol treatment also appear in the case file.

Records also note 12 points assessed on a Maryland driver's license for a DUI conviction, or 8 points for a DWI. Those points stay on the driving record for two years from the violation date and can trigger license suspension or revocation through the MVA.

Getting Copies of Baltimore DUI Records

If you want more than the online summary, you can go in person to the Baltimore City Circuit Court clerk's office at 100 N. Calvert Street. Copies of case documents cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can search by name if you do not. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For older records or large requests, call ahead to confirm availability.

Police arrest records are held separately by the Baltimore Police Department. Those are not in the court system. To request a copy of a DUI arrest report in Baltimore, file a Maryland Public Information Act request with the police department. You can do this by mail or in person at 242 W. 29th Street, Room 106. The department has up to 30 days to respond to most requests. There is no standard fee for the request itself, but copying costs may apply depending on the volume of documents involved.

Note: Criminal history records compiled statewide are held by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services through the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository. These are not the same as individual court case records.

Maryland DUI Laws and Baltimore Cases

All Baltimore DUI cases fall under Maryland state law. The core statute is Transportation Article § 21-902, which defines both DUI and DWI. A first DUI conviction in Baltimore carries a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail. A second offense brings a fine of up to $2,000 and up to two years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five days. A third offense can mean up to $3,000 and three years in prison. Maryland's Noah's Law requires ignition interlock for all alcohol DUI convictions, and that applies to Baltimore cases just like anywhere else in the state.

When a person is stopped for DUI in Baltimore and fails a breath test showing BAC of .08 or above, the officer takes their license on the spot. The driver gets a 45-day paper license. On day 46, the suspension kicks in. The driver has 10 days from arrest to request a hearing with the MVA, at a cost of $150, to challenge the suspension. Refusing the test triggers a 270-day suspension for a first refusal and a two-year suspension for a repeat refusal. These are administrative actions that happen separate from the criminal case in Baltimore courts.

Resources like People's Law Library provide plain-language explanations of Maryland DUI law that can help Baltimore residents understand the process.

Baltimore DUI Expungement

Expungement under Criminal Procedure § 10-105 allows some Baltimore DUI records to be removed from public view. Not all DUI outcomes qualify. Outright dismissals, acquittals, and nolle prosequi outcomes are generally eligible for expungement. A DUI conviction in Baltimore is not eligible for expungement under current Maryland law. A probation before judgment outcome became eligible starting October 1, 2024, but only after 15 years have passed since the entry of the PBJ. That waiting period is long, and not everyone will qualify.

To pursue expungement for a Baltimore DUI case, you file a petition in the Baltimore City court where the case was heard. The filing fee is $30. There is no fee if the case ended in an acquittal or dismissal. The state has 30 days to object. If no one objects, the court may grant the order. Once granted, the record is removed from Case Search and from most public databases. The process can take several months from start to finish in Baltimore City courts.

Nearby Cities

These nearby Maryland cities also have DUI records accessible through Maryland Judiciary Case Search.