Brevard County Florida DUI records are public court files that show driving under the influence charges filed in Brevard County, Florida. These files live in the county clerk system and connect to statewide driver record systems when needed.
People search these records for background checks, court case updates, job screening, license actions, and personal review. Knowing where each record sits saves time and avoids false matches. This page walks through the county search, the state driving record abstract, statewide criminal history tools, and the rules that decide how long a DUI stays on file. Each section breaks the process into plain steps so anyone can run a proper search from home.
What Are DUI Records in Brevard County
A DUI record in Brevard County holds the court file for any driving under the influence charge filed in the county. The record shows the arrest date, the charge level, the case number, court actions, plea, and final sentence. Brevard County DUI records may appear in traffic dockets, misdemeanor court files, or felony court files based on the charge. A first DUI with no injury is usually a misdemeanor. A fourth DUI, a DUI with serious injury, or a DUI manslaughter charge moves into felony court. Each charge level sits in a different case type in the clerk system.
Types of DUI Records Filed in Brevard County
Brevard County files several types of DUI records based on the charge details and court track. Knowing the charge level helps narrow the search.
- Traffic misdemeanor DUI for a first or second arrest with no injury
- Criminal misdemeanor DUI handled in county criminal court
- Felony DUI for third or fourth offenses or DUI with injury
- DUI manslaughter file handled in felony court
- BUI or boating under the influence records filed through marine patrol citations
- Wet reckless plea records that replaced a DUI charge
Where DUI Records Are Stored
Court files stay with the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. Driver license actions stay with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Statewide criminal history sits with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Each system holds a different slice of the DUI story.
Who Can See These Records
Most DUI court files are public under Florida law. Anyone can search by name or case number through the clerk website. Sealed or expunged files are private and will not show in a standard search. Juvenile records are also sealed.
How to Search Brevard County DUI Records
Brevard County DUI records searches work best when run through the county clerk system first. The clerk site holds the full court file, so the search returns the case number, court track, hearing log, and sentence. After the county search, the FLHSMV driving record abstract fills in the license action side. FDLE covers out-of-state arrests and statewide criminal history.
Brevard County Clerk of Court Records Search
The main county point for DUI record lookup is the Brevard County Clerk website at https://www.brevardclerk.us/. Start with the last name, first name, and date of birth. Add a year range if the date of arrest is known. Pull the case number from the first search result. The case number opens the full docket view with every filing, hearing, plea, and sentence. Use the case number for any copy request.
Brevard County Court Case Search Portal
The court case search tool sits on the clerk site and lets users look up criminal and traffic cases by name, citation, or case number. The portal shows open cases, closed cases, and disposed cases. Closed cases that ended with a withhold of adjudication still appear in the public file. Select the DUI or traffic criminal case type to filter out non-related matches.
Criminal Court Records Lookup
The criminal court page on the clerk site lists every felony DUI, misdemeanor DUI, and DUI traffic criminal case filed in the county. The page separates pending cases from disposed cases. Disposed cases show the final plea and sentence.
Required Details for a DUI Record Search
A search runs cleaner when each input field holds solid data. Below is a list of fields that help the clerk system return one match.
- Full legal name with middle initial
- Date of birth
- Race and sex if known
- Approximate arrest year or filing date
- Case number or citation number if available
Florida State DUI Record Systems
State DUI records go past the county court file and pull in license suspensions, administrative reviews, prior convictions, and sealed entries. Florida runs three core systems. Each one answers a different question about a DUI case. A full search needs data from all three.
FLHSMV Driving Record Abstract
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles driving record abstract is the official three-year or seven-year driver history. It shows every DUI citation, every DUI conviction, and every license suspension tied to the driver. The record is sold through the FLHSMV site at https://www.flhsmv.gov/. The certified version is accepted by employers, courts, and insurance carriers.
FDLE Criminal History Records
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement runs the statewide criminal history database. A name-based search through FDLE shows every arrest, every disposition, and every sealed entry flag. The record is open to the public for a small fee. FDLE results show arrests from every county, including arrests that did not lead to a court file.
Florida Court Clerks Statewide Search
The Florida Court Clerks portal pulls case data from every county clerk in the state. The statewide search lets a user check DUI records across counties without running each county one at a time. The tool works for civil, criminal, and traffic cases.
How Long DUI Records Stay in Florida
DUI records stay on file for years. The exact retention rule depends on the record type. A driving record abstract shows DUI convictions for at least seven years. Court files stay for decades. Sealed or expunged records come off the public search after the court order is signed.
Court Record Retention Rules
Florida court records follow the retention schedule set by the Florida Department of State. Misdemeanor DUI court files are kept for at least five years after the case closes. Felony DUI files are kept for at least ten years after the case closes. Felony DUI manslaughter files are kept permanently.
Driving Record Retention Rules
Under Florida Statute 322.2615, the driver record abstract shows DUI convictions for at least seven years from the conviction date. A second or third DUI shows on the record for a longer period based on the offense level. CDL holders see DUI convictions stay on the record for life.
Expungement and Sealing Options
A first-time misdemeanor DUI with no priors and a withhold of adjudication may qualify for a sealing or expungement. The filing goes through the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. The clerk confirms eligibility and forwards the order to FDLE. After the seal, the record drops from the public statewide search.
DUI Record Search by Other Florida Counties
People move across Florida. A DUI arrest in Brevard County may show up on a driving record with priors from a different county. The statewide search pulls from every Florida clerk, but a focused county search gives cleaner data. Below is a quick list of the other counties that often connect to a Brevard County DUI search.
Miami-Dade County DUI Court Records
Miami-Dade DUI court records sit on the clerk website at miamidadeclerk.gov. The portal supports name search and case number search. The county uses a separate traffic criminal track for DUI cases.
Hillsborough County DUI Records
Hillsborough DUI records sit on the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court site. The county splits cases between criminal court and county court based on charge level.
Orange County DUI Court Records
Orange County DUI cases appear on the Orange County Clerk of Courts portal. The county runs a heavy caseload, so name searches often return multiple matches. Case number search gives the cleanest result.
Duval County DUI Records
Duval County DUI files sit with the Duval County Clerk of Courts. The county uses a unified docket that shows every hearing in one view.
Broward County DUI Records
Broward DUI cases sit on the Broward County Clerk of Courts site. The county splits DUI files between county criminal court and circuit criminal court.
Palm Beach County DUI Records
Palm Beach DUI records sit on the Palm Beach County Clerk portal. The site supports name search, citation search, and case number search.
Pinellas County DUI Records
Pinellas DUI records sit on the Pinellas County Clerk portal. The portal pulls from the Clearwater courthouse and the St. Petersburg courthouse.
Request Steps for Brevard County DUI Records
Running a Brevard County DUI records request is a staged process. Each step builds on the one before it. Skip a step and the search can miss a license action or a sealed file.
Step 1: Confirm Name and Date of Birth
Pull the legal name and date of birth before the search starts. A name mismatch will throw off the result. Cross-check any alias or nickname against the legal record on file with the clerk.
Step 2: Run the County Court Search
Open the Brevard County Clerk portal and run a name search. Select the criminal or traffic criminal case type. Capture every case number returned. Open each docket to confirm the match.
Step 3: Capture the Case Number
The case number is the key to every certified copy request. Save the number, the court division, the filing date, and the charge level. A short note with each case keeps the request organized.
Step 4: Submit a Certified Copy Request
Submit a certified copy request through the clerk site, by mail, or in person. Pay the certified copy fee. Pick up the copy or wait for the mail. A certified copy carries a raised seal and a clerk signature.
Step 5: Check the State Driving Record
Pull the FLHSMV driving record abstract through the FLHSMV site. The abstract shows any license suspension from the DUI case. The result is the full license action view that the county file does not always cover.
Costs, Fees, and Processing Times
Fees vary by record type. The clerk charges a per-page copy fee and a certification fee. The FLHSMV charges a fee for the driver abstract. FDLE charges a small fee for the criminal history search. Below is a basic fee table for reference.
| Record Type | Standard Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk regular copy | $1.00 per page | Same day online |
| Clerk certified copy | $7.00 per document | 1 to 3 business days |
| FLHSMV driver abstract | $8.00 for 3-year | Same day online |
| FLHSMV 7-year abstract | $10.00 | Same day online |
| FDLE criminal history | $24.00 | Same day to 5 days |
| Clerk apostille | State fee plus clerk fee | 5 to 10 business days |
Standard Copy Fees in Brevard County
The clerk charges $1.00 per page for a regular copy. A certified copy runs $7.00 per document plus the per-page fee. A certified copy carries the raised seal needed for court, immigration, and insurance use.
Certification and Apostille Fees
An apostille is needed when the certified copy goes to another country under the Hague Convention. The Florida Department of State handles the apostille. The clerk certifies the copy before the apostille request.
State Driving Record Fee
The FLHSMV driving record abstract is sold in two versions. The three-year abstract costs $8.00. The seven-year abstract costs $10.00. CDL holders see a longer history.
Common Issues With Brevard DUI Record Searches
Searches hit common walls. Most problems come from name matches, split records, sealed files, or out-of-state priors. Each issue has a fix.
Common Name Matches
A name like John Smith returns multiple matches. Add the date of birth, middle initial, and race filter to narrow the list. If the date of birth is unknown, add the arrest year range.
Records Split Across Systems
A DUI case often has a court file with the clerk and a license action with FLHSMV. The court file shows the plea and sentence. The FLHSMV abstract shows the license suspension. Pull both for the full record.
Sealed or Expunged Files
A sealed or expunged DUI record drops from the public search. A standard search will not return the case. The driver can confirm a sealed file by running a personal FDLE criminal history check.
Out-of-State Convictions
An out-of-state DUI shows on the FLHSMV driving record as a prior. The court file sits with the other state. A Florida-only search will miss the out-of-state file. The driver abstract pulls the out-of-state prior into the seven-year window.
Brevard County Office Contact
The Brevard County Clerk of Courts handles DUI record requests for the county. The clerk office serves all Brevard County cities, including Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville, Cocoa, Rockledge, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, and Cape Canaveral. The main office sits in the county courthouse complex in Titusville. Call the clerk office before visiting to confirm hours and document needs.
Brevard County Clerk of Courts
400 South Street
Titusville, FL 32780
Phone: (321) 637-2004
Website: https://www.brevardclerk.us/
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brevard DUI Records
The questions below cover the most common issues raised during a Brevard County DUI records request. Each answer pulls from current Florida law, the Brevard County Clerk of Courts site, and the FLHSMV driver record system. The answers give plain steps so users can act on the result without extra research.
Is a DUI record public in Brevard County?
Yes. DUI court records are public under Florida law. Anyone can run a name search on the Brevard County Clerk of Courts site and pull the case number, charge level, plea, and sentence. Sealed or expunged records drop from the public search. Juvenile DUI records are also sealed by default. A Florida DUI driving record abstract from the FLHSMV is also public but is sold as a certified copy through the FLHSMV portal. The abstract shows license suspensions, DUI convictions, and prior offenses for the last three or seven years.
Can DUI charges be removed from a Florida record?
A first-time misdemeanor DUI with no priors and a withhold of adjudication may qualify for a sealing or expungement. The process starts at the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. The clerk confirms eligibility and forwards the order to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. After the seal, the public court file drops from the public search and the FDLE criminal history shows the record as sealed. A felony DUI conviction cannot be sealed or expunged. A withhold on a felony DUI still faces tight eligibility rules. Legal help is a good idea before filing.
How long does a DUI stay on a Florida driving record?
Under Florida Statute 322.2615, a DUI conviction stays on the FLHSMV driving record for at least seven years from the conviction date. CDL holders see DUI convictions stay on the record for life. The court file stays much longer based on the Florida retention schedule. Misdemeanor DUI court files are kept for at least five years after the case closes. Felony DUI files are kept for at least ten years. A sealed or expunged record drops from the public view but stays in the sealed court file.
Are BUI records treated the same as DUI records in Florida?
A BUI or boating under the influence charge follows similar rules as a DUI but is filed under a different statute. The court file sits with the county clerk. The driver record abstract does not always show the BUI on the public abstract because the conviction involves a boat, not a motor vehicle. Insurance carriers sometimes check for BUI through the FDLE criminal history. A BUI arrest is still a criminal charge and shows on a full background check.
Can I run a free Florida DUI records lookup?
A free name search runs on the Brevard County Clerk site and the Florida Court Clerks statewide portal. The free search shows the case number and the basic docket. The certified copy, the FLHSMV abstract, and the FDLE criminal history each carry a small fee. The FLHSMV certified abstract costs $8.00 for three years and $10.00 for seven years. The FDLE criminal history costs $24.00. The certified copy is the version accepted by employers, courts, and immigration offices.
What is the difference between a citation and a conviction record?
A citation is the ticket issued at the time of arrest. The citation feeds the court file. A conviction record is the final court outcome after plea or trial. The court file shows the citation at the top and the conviction at the bottom. A withhold of adjudication with no conviction still sits in the court file. A dropped charge or a no-file decision removes the case from the public record.
How do I request a certified copy of a Brevard County DUI case?
Submit a certified copy request to the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. The request needs the case number, the document type, and the requestor name. Pay the $7.00 certification fee plus the per-page copy fee. Pick up the copy at the clerk office or ask for a mail copy. A certified copy carries the clerk seal and signature needed for court, insurance, and immigration use. Mail copies add processing time. Online requests through the clerk portal move faster.