Monroe County DUI Records

Monroe County DUI records are maintained by the County Clerk's Office, the District Attorney, and various courts in Rochester. The county is home to over 740,000 people and is part of the 7th Judicial District. Only felony convictions are filed with the Monroe County Clerk's Office. Misdemeanor DWI cases handled by town, village, or city courts keep their records at those courts. The Clerk's Office also maintains STOP-DWI program records. You can search for cases online, visit the courthouse in person, or submit mail requests.

Monroe County Court System and DUI Records

Monroe County Court in Rochester handles felony DWI cases. The Rochester City Court processes misdemeanor DWI and DWAI charges from within the city. Town and village justice courts throughout the county handle DUI cases from their jurisdictions. Each court maintains its own files. The County Clerk only stores records from Supreme Court and County Court.

The Monroe County Clerk's Office is at the Monroe County Office Building. Only felony convictions are filed here. Index numbers are assigned to cases in Supreme Court and County Court. The fee for an index number is $210. If you do not know the index number, the clerk charges $5 for every two years searched. All filed instruments must have original signatures.

The Monroe County District Attorney's Office handles all felony prosecutions. You cannot start criminal proceedings on your own. If you want to bring a criminal matter, you need to contact an attorney, law enforcement, or the DA's office. Only the parties to a case and their lawyers can see sealed records. Everyone else needs a court order to unseal them.

Important to note: federal, city, and town court proceedings are not filed with the County Clerk. Misdemeanor DWI cases from Rochester City Court, town courts, and village courts must be accessed through those specific courts. The County Clerk does not have those records. This is a common source of confusion for people trying to find DUI records in Monroe County.

How to Search Monroe County DUI Records

The WebCrims portal shows active criminal cases. Select Monroe County and search by name or case number. This free tool covers pending and recently disposed cases. You can see charges, court dates, and current status. It is the best starting point for finding out if a DWI case is active.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name and covers all 62 counties at every court level. Submit exact name and date of birth. Results include open cases and convictions. Sealed records are not shown. Results with records go through OCA review and take a few business days.

At the Clerk's Office, public access terminals are available for searching. Staff can help with searches, but fees apply for copies. For records from specific town or city courts, you must go to those courts directly. The Rochester City Court handles a large volume of misdemeanor DWI cases and has its own records system.

The DCJS fingerprint check costs $14.25 and provides the most thorough state criminal history. Schedule a fingerprint appointment, bring ID, and pay the fee. Results come by mail in three to four weeks. This covers all state agencies.

DUI Laws in Monroe County

Every DUI arrest in Monroe County is charged under VTL § 1192. DWAI at 1192(1) is a traffic infraction. DWI per se at 1192(2) is a misdemeanor starting at BAC 0.08. Aggravated DWI at 1192(2-a) applies at 0.18. Drug impairment falls under 1192(4).

First-time DWI carries $500 to $1,000 in fines, up to one year in jail, and six months of license revocation. Second offense within ten years becomes a Class E felony with fines up to $5,000 and up to four years in prison. Leandra's Law upgrades any DWI with a child under 16 to a felony. Ignition interlock is required for all convictions. The DMV penalties chart has the complete breakdown.

CPL § 160.50 seals records when cases are dismissed or the person is acquitted. All court, police, and prosecution records are sealed. They cannot be found in any public search. Only the named individual or a court order can unlock sealed records.

Monroe County DUI Records Fees

Recording and filing fees at the Monroe County Clerk are set by state law. Standard copy fees are $0.65 per page. Certified copies run $1.25. An index number search costs $5 per two-year period if you do not have the case number. A certificate of disposition from the court is $5 to $10. The OCA statewide search is $95. DCJS fingerprint checks cost $14.25.

Monroe County's STOP-DWI program is funded by fines and surcharges from DWI convictions. The program supports enforcement, prosecution, and education efforts. The county coordinator works with Rochester police, town police, the Sheriff, and State Police on patrols and checkpoints. The Clerk's Office also maintains STOP-DWI program records as part of its duties.

Monroe County DUI Resources

The NYS Court Help page explains how to get court records from any court. The eCourts portal provides free case tracking. The DCJS website covers the state criminal records system.

Judiciary Law § 255 governs access to court records. FOIL does not apply to court files. Go to the clerk of the court that handled the case. For felony records in Monroe County, that is the County Clerk. For misdemeanor DWI cases from Rochester City Court, contact that court directly. For town and village court records, reach out to each court individually. All courts charge the same copy rates under CPLR § 8019(f).

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County includes Rochester and several large towns. DUI cases from each municipality go through their own local court.

Other communities in Monroe County include Brighton, Henrietta, Penfield, Webster, and Gates. DUI cases from these towns go through their local justice courts, with felonies moving to Monroe County Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Monroe County in western New York.