Leon County Florida DUI records are public court files that show DUI charges, arrests, case status, and sentencing results filed inside Leon County, Florida. These records cover misdemeanor and felony DUI cases handled by the Leon County Clerk of Courts, the Leon County Courthouse in Tallahassee, and connected state systems.
People search these files for background checks, court updates, legal research, employment screening, personal reference, and insurance reviews.
Each DUI case in Leon County leaves a paper trail and a digital record across the county clerk, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The county clerk handles court documents, the FLHSMV tracks driver license actions, and the FDLE keeps a state criminal history. Reading this page gives you a clear path to look up DUI records in Leon County using official sources, with steps you can follow on your own.
What Leon County DUI Records Contain
Leon County DUI records show the full legal history of a driving under the influence case filed inside the county. Each record can include the arrest report, the court filings, the final judgment, fines, jail time, probation terms, and driver license actions. These records also show whether the case ended in a conviction, a dismissal, a plea deal, a withhold of adjudication, or a pending status. Anyone searching for a DUI record in Leon County should expect to see a mix of court data and state driver data connected to one case.
Types of DUI Charges Filed in Leon County
DUI charges in Leon County fall into a few main types. The first type is a regular DUI under Florida Statute 316.193, which covers driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher, or driving when normal faculties are impaired. The second type is a DUI with property damage, which adds a higher penalty. The third type is a DUI with serious bodily injury, charged as a third-degree felony. The fourth type is a third or later DUI, charged as a felony. The fifth type is a DUI causing death, charged as a second-degree felony. Each type gets a separate record path and a different court division.
Misdemeanor vs Felony DUI Records
Misdemeanor DUI records in Leon County cover first and second DUI offenses with no major injury or death. These cases move through the county court misdemeanor division. Felony DUI records cover third or later DUI offenses, DUI with serious bodily injury, and DUI manslaughter. These cases move through the circuit court felony division. Knowing the difference helps you pick the right clerk portal and the right search filters when you start your lookup. The case number prefix shows the division, with MM for misdemeanor, CF for felony, and CT for traffic DUI.
Where DUI Records Are Stored Locally
Locally, Leon County DUI records sit in three main places. The first is the Leon County Clerk of Courts office, which stores case files, dockets, judgments, and sentencing orders. The second is the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, which holds arrest reports and booking data. The third is the Tallahassee Police Department, which holds arrest reports for incidents inside city limits. The clerk office is the main public access point for court records, the law enforcement agencies release arrest data through public records requests.
Leon County Clerk of Court DUI Records
The Leon County Clerk of Courts is the central public office for DUI court records in Leon County. The clerk maintains dockets, judgments, court orders, case numbers, party names, and hearing dates. The clerk office serves as the official record keeper for both county court and circuit court cases. Most people start their DUI record search at the clerk office because the data is current, indexed, and open to the public.
Clerk Office Address and Contact Info
The main Leon County Clerk of Courts office sits at the Leon County Courthouse, 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. The general phone line is (850) 577-4000. The clerk office stays open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, except for state and federal holidays. The clerk office accepts in-person records requests, mail-in records requests, and online records requests through the clerk website. Visitors need a valid photo ID for in-person requests that require certified copies.
| Department | Phone | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Leon County Clerk of Courts | (850) 577-4000 | 301 S Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32301 |
| Leon County Sheriff’s Office | (850) 922-3300 | 2825 Municipal Way, Tallahassee, FL 32304 |
| Tallahassee Police Department | (850) 891-4200 | 234 E 7th Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32303 |
| FLHSMV Tallahassee Office | (850) 488-4221 | 2900 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, FL 32301 |
Online Court Records Search Portal
The Leon County Clerk of Courts runs an online portal at the official clerk website, leonclerk.com. The portal lets you search by name, case number, citation number, and filing date range. The portal covers civil, criminal, traffic, family, and probate cases. For DUI records, the right case type to pick is Criminal or Traffic based on the charge level. The portal shows case status, hearing dates, and document lists for each match. Records update daily during business hours.
The image below shows the live Leon County Clerk portal, the main public access point for Leon County Florida DUI records and court file lookups.
How to Request Certified DUI Copies
Certified copies of Leon County DUI records come from the clerk office. A certified copy carries the clerk seal and serves as a legal record for court filings, immigration cases, job applications, and licensing boards. To get a certified copy, fill out a records request form, list the case number, list the document type, and pay the certified copy fee. The clerk office charges a per-page fee plus a certification fee. Mail-in requests need a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order.
How to Search Leon County DUI Records
Searching Leon County DUI records works best with a step-by-step method. Start with the most exact detail you have, then move to broader searches when needed. Exact details give clean matches. Broad searches return extra names. A clean search saves you time and stops you from mixing up two people with the same name.
Search by Full Legal Name
Searching by full legal name is the most common method for DUI records in Leon County. Type the last name first, then the first name, then add a middle name or initial when you know it. Add a date of birth when the search returns more than one match. The clerk portal sorts results by name, year, and case type. You can narrow the list by picking the right year range, the right case type, and the right court division.
- Use the last name in the first search box
- Add first name in the second search box
- Add middle name or initial when known
- Pick the right year range for the case
- Pick Criminal or Traffic case type
Search by Case Number
Searching by case number gives the fastest, cleanest result. Leon County case numbers follow a fixed format that includes the year, the case type code, and a sequence number. A sample number looks like 2024-CF-001234 for a felony, or 2024-MM-005678 for a misdemeanor. When you have the case number from a citation, an arrest report, or a court notice, type the full number into the clerk portal search box. The portal pulls the exact case in one click.
Search by Citation or Arrest Date
Searching by citation date or arrest date helps when you know the day of the stop, but not the case number. The clerk portal lets you set a start date and an end date for the search. Set the date range to cover the day of the arrest plus a buffer of three to seven days. The portal returns cases filed in that range. Match the name on the citation to the name on the case to confirm the right file. When the date range is wide, expect more results and use a name filter to narrow the list.
Florida State DUI Record Systems
Florida keeps DUI records at the state level through three main systems. These systems connect to county records and add data on driver license actions, criminal history, and statewide court filings. A full DUI record check in Leon County often needs both county and state data to give a complete picture of the case and its outcome.
FLHSMV Driving Record Reports
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issues the official driving record report, also called an MVR report or a driver history report. The FLHSMV report shows DUI convictions, DUI administrative suspensions, DUI completion certificates, and license revocations. The report covers the last three to ten years based on the type of record. You can order an FLHSMV driving record online at flhsmv.gov, by mail, or in person at a driver license office. A Florida driver can get their own record at a low cost. Other requesters need a written consent form, or they can order a non-certified record for a higher fee.
FDLE Criminal History Background Checks
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) runs the state criminal history database, which includes DUI convictions across all Florida counties. An FDLE check shows arrests, dispositions, and final outcomes for any criminal case, including misdemeanor and felony DUIs. FDLE offers two main checks: a name-based check and a fingerprint-based check. The name-based check is faster, the fingerprint check is more exact. Both checks are open to the public with a signed release from the person on the record, or through an authorized agency under Florida law.
Florida Court Clerk Records Portal
The Florida Court Clerk Records Portal, called the Clerk of Courts Records Search, lets you look up cases in all 67 Florida counties from one site. The portal pulls data from each county clerk, including Leon County. You can search by name, by case number, or by date. The portal covers criminal, civil, traffic, and family cases. The portal works well as a backup search when the county site is slow or down. The data refresh schedule varies by county, with most counties updating within 24 to 48 hours.
DUI Laws and Penalties in Leon County
Leon County DUI law follows Florida state statutes. The Florida Statutes set the BAC limit, the penalty levels, the license suspension rules, and the court process. Knowing these rules helps you read a DUI record with the right context, so you can see why a charge carries a certain weight on the record.
Florida BAC Limits and First Offenses
Florida law sets the legal BAC limit at 0.08 for drivers age 21 and over. The limit drops to 0.04 for commercial drivers. The limit drops to 0.02 for drivers under 21. A first DUI offense in Florida carries up to six months in jail, a fine from $500 to $1,000, a license suspension of 180 days to one year, mandatory DUI school, 50 hours of community service, and vehicle immobilization. A second offense within ten years raises the fine to $1,000 to $2,000, adds a five-year license revocation, and can add up to nine months in jail. A third offense within ten years becomes a third-degree felony with a ten-year license revocation.
| Offense Level | Maximum Jail | Fine Range | License Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| First DUI | 6 months | $500 to $1,000 | 180 days to 1 year |
| Second DUI within 10 years | 9 months | $1,000 to $2,000 | 5 year revocation |
| Third DUI within 10 years | 5 years (felony) | $2,000 to $5,000 | 10 year revocation |
| DUI with Serious Bodily Injury | 5 years (felony) | Up to $5,000 | 3 year revocation |
| DUI Manslaughter | 15 years (felony) | Up to $10,000 | Permanent revocation |
Florida Statute 316.193 Explained
Florida Statute 316.193 is the main DUI law. The statute defines the offense, the BAC levels, the penalties, the aggravators, and the mitigators. The statute also defines normal faculties as a key legal phrase, so a DUI charge can apply with or without a BAC test. The statute covers driving, being in actual physical control of a vehicle, and being in physical control of a vehicle on a public road. A DUI record entry on a Leon County file points back to this statute as the legal source of the charge.
Administrative License Suspension Rules
Florida Statute 322.2615 covers the Administrative License Suspension (ALS) process. When a driver fails a breath test, refuses a breath test, or has a BAC of 0.08 or higher, the officer can place the driver under an immediate ALS. The ALS runs for six months for a first refusal, one year for a second refusal, and 180 days for a first failed breath test. The ALS is separate from the court case, so a DUI record in Leon County can show both a court case and an ALS action. The ALS can be appealed at a formal review hearing within ten days of the arrest.
Who Can Access DUI Records in Leon County
Most DUI records in Leon County are public under Florida law. The Florida Constitution and Florida public records laws give the public the right to see, copy, and use court records, arrest records, and criminal history records. A few limits apply. Sealed records, expunged records, juvenile records, and records under a court protective order stay closed to the public.
Public Records vs Sealed DUI Files
Public DUI records show full case details to anyone who asks, with no ID or purpose needed for a basic check. Sealed DUI files are closed by a court order, so even a name search returns no result. Expunged DUI files are removed from public view, so the records office returns a no record response to a public search. The clerk office keeps sealed files in a closed part of the system, separate from open dockets. A sealed record can be opened by a court order, an expungement can be reversed only under narrow conditions set by Florida law.
Expungement and Record Clearing Options
Florida law lets a person clear a DUI record under specific conditions. A first-time DUI with a withhold of adjudication can be sealed, but not expunged, after the sentence ends. A DUI with a conviction cannot be sealed or expunged in Florida, except through a governor’s pardon or a rare court ruling. A person seeking a seal must file a petition with the Leon County Clerk of Courts, serve the State Attorney, and attend a court hearing. A successful seal removes the record from public clerk searches, but the record stays with FDLE for limited criminal justice use.
Leon County DUI Records by City
Leon County covers the city of Tallahassee and the unincorporated areas of the county. Most DUI cases filed in the county happen in or near Tallahassee, the state capital and the home of Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College. The county has busy roads like Apalachee Parkway, Capital Circle, Monroe Street, and Thomasville Road, where DUI checkpoints and patrols run often.
Tallahassee DUI Court Records
Tallahassee DUI court records sit in the Leon County Clerk of Courts, the same office that covers the rest of the county. A Tallahassee DUI case carries the same court divisions, the same case formats, and the same public access rules as any other Leon County case. The Tallahassee Police Department releases arrest reports for city stops, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office releases arrest reports for county stops. Both agencies post arrest data through their own public records portals.
Surrounding Areas and Court Reach
Outside Tallahassee, the rest of Leon County includes unincorporated areas like Bradfordville, Centerville, Chaires, Capitola, and Woodville. DUI arrests in these areas go through the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, then to the same Leon County court system. People searching for DUI records in these areas use the same clerk portal and the same FLHSMV and FDLE checks as in Tallahassee. The court reach covers the full county line, no separate city court sits inside Leon County.
Leon County Courthouse Contact and Location
The Leon County Courthouse sits at 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. The courthouse serves as the main county court, circuit court, and clerk office site. The phone number for the clerk office is (850) 577-4000. Office hours run from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except state and federal holidays. Parking is available on site for a small fee, with public lots nearby on South Monroe, South Adams, and East Park Avenue.
Official Website: https://www.leonclerk.com/
Phone: (850) 577-4000
Address: 301 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET
Leon County Courthouse Location Map:
Common Questions About Leon County DUI Records
This FAQ section answers common questions about DUI records in Leon County, Florida. Each answer gives clear, direct details that go beyond the main content, so you get a deeper view of the process, the law, and the records. Read the question, then the answer, then check the related section above for the full context.
How Long Does a DUI Stay on a Leon County Record?
A DUI conviction stays on a Leon County court record for life, since the clerk office has no set deletion date for closed cases. A DUI charge that ends in a withhold of adjudication stays on the record too, the only way to remove it is through a court-ordered seal under Florida law. The FLHSMV driving record shows DUI convictions for at least 10 years from the conviction date. The FDLE criminal history keeps a DUI arrest on file for the same 10-year window for public background checks, sealed records stay on the FDLE file for limited criminal justice use. A first-time DUI with a withhold of adjudication can be sealed after probation ends, but only the court record seals, the arrest data stays on the law enforcement file. A pardon from the Florida Governor’s office is the only way to clear a DUI conviction record fully.
Can You Look Up a DUI Case Number in Leon County?
Yes, you can look up a DUI case number in Leon County using the Leon County Clerk of Courts online portal at leonclerk.com. The portal has a case number search field, type the full case number and the portal returns the case details. A case number follows a format like 2024-CF-001234 for a felony, or 2024-MM-005678 for a misdemeanor, or 2024-CT-001122 for a county traffic DUI. You can also call the clerk office at (850) 577-4000 with a name and date of birth, the clerk staff can pull the case number over the phone when the caller can show they have a right to the data. A case number lookup is the fastest path to a clean record match, so the clerk office recommends it over a name search when the number is on hand.
Are Dismissed DUI Cases Still on the Record?
Yes, dismissed DUI cases stay on the Leon County court record, even after the court drops the charge. The dismissal shows in the case status field, so anyone reading the record can see the case did not end in a conviction. The arrest data stays on the Leon County Sheriff’s Office or Tallahassee Police Department file too, since arrests create a separate public record from the court case. A person with a dismissed DUI can ask the clerk office for a certified copy of the dismissal order, then file a petition to seal the record under Florida Statute 943.059. A sealed case does not show in a public clerk search, but the FDLE still keeps the arrest for criminal justice use. A full expungement is not open to a dismissed DUI under current Florida law, since the statute only allows expungement for charges that ended in a no-action, a nolle prosequi, or a similar non-conviction outcome.
How Much Does a DUI Record Search Cost?
A basic online search at the Leon County Clerk portal is free for public users. A certified copy of a DUI record costs $1 per page for the copy, plus a $2 certification fee per document, plus a $2 records search fee when the clerk has to pull the file by hand. An FLHSMV driving record costs $8.50 for a 3-year record, $10.00 for a 7-year record, and $10.00 for a complete record, paid at the time of order. An FDLE name-based criminal history check costs $24.00, paid through the FDLE website or a live scan vendor. A fingerprint-based check costs $42.75 for the state portion, plus vendor fees. These fees can change each year, so check the official site before placing an order.
Can a DUI Record Be Removed From the Clerk Site?
A DUI record can be removed from the public Leon County clerk site only through a court-ordered seal or a governor’s pardon. A person with a first-time DUI that ended in a withhold of adjudication can file a petition to seal the record after probation ends. A person with a DUI conviction cannot seal or expunge the record under Florida law, so the conviction stays visible in a public clerk search for life. A successful seal removes the case from the public portal, the case still shows in a sealed database for criminal justice use. A governor’s pardon, which is rare, can clear a conviction record fully, the pardoned case is removed from the public site and the FDLE file. The clerk office can walk you through the seal process, the State Attorney’s office reviews every petition before it goes to a judge.
What Shows Up on an FLHSMV Report for a DUI?
An FLHSMV driving report for a Leon County DUI shows the DUI conviction date, the court case number, the county where the case was filed, the charge statute, the final disposition, the license suspension dates, and the completion of DUI school. The report also shows points on the driver license, since a DUI conviction in Florida carries no points, but the report flags the conviction as a major violation. The 3-year report shows the last 3 years of activity, the 7-year report shows 7 years, the complete report shows the full Florida driving history. Insurance companies, employers, and licensing boards all use this report for DUI record checks, since the FLHSMV report is the official state driving record.
Can a Lawyer Pull a DUI Record in Leon County?
Yes, a Florida licensed attorney can pull a DUI record in Leon County on behalf of a client. The attorney uses the same clerk portal at leonclerk.com, the attorney can also use the statewide Florida Court Clerk Records Portal for a multi-county check. The attorney can request certified copies, request full case file access, and request clerk-certified court minutes. The attorney access is open to any Florida Bar member with a valid bar number, no extra fee applies. A private investigator can pull public DUI records too, since the records are open to the public under Florida law. The attorney and the investigator can both pull FDLE and FLHSMV data with a signed release from the person on the record.