Kansas City DUI Records Search
Kansas City is the largest city in Missouri, and DUI cases here are handled by the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County. If you need to find DUI records for someone in Kansas City, you can search online through Case.net or visit the courthouse in person. The Kansas City Police Department processes hundreds of record requests each week, so plan for some wait time. Both city and county courts deal with DUI and DWI cases filed in this part of the state. Most records are open to the public under Missouri law.
Kansas City Quick Facts
Kansas City DUI Court Filings
DUI cases in Kansas City go through the Jackson County Circuit Court, which is part of the 16th Judicial Circuit. The court has two main locations. One sits in downtown Kansas City at the Albert Riederer Community Justice Complex, 1315 Locust. The other is in Independence at 308 W Kansas, Suite 127. Both handle criminal and traffic cases, which includes DUI and DWI charges filed in Kansas City.
The Department of Criminal Records at the 16th Circuit keeps case files for all criminal and traffic cases. This is where Kansas City DUI records are stored. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. You can call them at (816) 881-3000 with questions about a specific DUI case. Staff can look up records by name or case number, but they will direct you to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for full criminal history checks.
| Court | Jackson County Circuit Court, 16th Judicial Circuit |
|---|---|
| KC Address | 1315 Locust, Kansas City, MO |
| Phone | (816) 881-3000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
Kansas City also has a municipal court that deals with city-level DUI charges. The Jackson County Municipal Court hears cases that fall under local city codes. Some DUI arrests in Kansas City start as municipal cases before being sent to the circuit court for more serious charges. The path a case takes depends on the facts and whether state or city law applies to the DUI charge.
Search Kansas City DUI Records Online
The best free tool for finding DUI records in Kansas City is Missouri Case.net. This is the state court system's public portal. It lets you search by name, case number, or filing date. Criminal and traffic court records are in the system going back to 1995. You can see docket entries, charges, parties, and case outcomes for DUI cases filed in Kansas City and all of Jackson County.
Case.net also has a Track This Case tool. You put in your email or phone number, pick the case you want to watch, and you get alerts when something changes. This is handy if you need to keep tabs on a pending Kansas City DUI case. The service is free to use and does not need a login for basic searches.
The Kansas City Police Department keeps its own records too. Their Custodian of Records is Manager Natalie Cofield-Booker in the Information Management Unit. The department gets between 700 and 800 record requests each week. Police incident and arrest reports take 10 to 14 business days from the incident date to become available. For DUI arrest reports specifically, you can reach the Criminal Records Section at (816) 234-5100. The KCPD records FAQ page has full details on the request process.
Payment is needed before the police will release records. They take credit and debit cards, money orders, cash, and personal checks. Checks should be made out to "Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri." Pick up records at 1125 Locust Street in Kansas City, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Investigative reports and video take longer, about 6 to 8 weeks.
Note: Under Missouri Revised Statute 610.100, investigative reports stay closed until the case becomes inactive.
DUI Records Through State Agencies
The Missouri State Highway Patrol runs the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site, known as MACHS. This is the main state database for criminal records, and it covers DUI arrests across Kansas City and the rest of the state. A name-based search costs $15 per request. It shows open records like convictions, arrests within the last 30 days, and pending charges. Fingerprint-based searches cost $20 plus a processing fee and provide a more complete picture, including closed records.
The Missouri Department of Revenue also tracks DUI-related actions. They handle license revocations and suspensions tied to DWI convictions in Kansas City. If a driver gets a DUI in Kansas City, the Department of Revenue manages the administrative side of that case. Their records show points on a license, past revocations, and steps needed for reinstatement.
For traffic crash reports tied to a Kansas City DUI arrest, you can use BuyCrash. You need the report number, a name, and the date of the incident. This is a separate system from Case.net, so checking both can give you a fuller picture of what happened in a Kansas City DUI case. Crash reports are usually available within a few days of the incident.
Kansas City DUI Laws and Penalties
Missouri DUI laws apply to all Kansas City cases. The state calls it DWI, or driving while intoxicated. Under Chapter 577 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher. First-time DWI offenses in Kansas City are class B misdemeanors. Second offenses become class A misdemeanors. A third or later offense can be charged as a felony.
Penalties get steeper with each offense. A first DUI in Kansas City can mean up to six months in jail and a $500 fine. Second offenses carry up to one year and a $1,000 fine. For felony DWI, the court can hand down up to four years in prison. All of these outcomes become part of the person's DUI record in Kansas City and are visible through Case.net and state databases.
License suspensions are common with Kansas City DUI cases. A first offense can lead to a 90-day suspension. Refusing a breath test results in a one-year revocation under Missouri's implied consent law. The Department of Revenue handles these actions separate from the court case. So a person with a DUI in Kansas City may have records in both the court system and the Department of Revenue system.
Clearing DUI Records in Kansas City
Missouri law allows some DUI records to be expunged. Under Section 610.130 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, certain offenses can be removed from a person's record after a waiting period. The rules for DWI expungement in Kansas City are strict. Not all DUI convictions qualify. You must wait at least 10 years from the end of any sentence, probation, or parole before you can petition for expungement.
The process starts with filing a petition in the Jackson County Circuit Court. A judge will review the case and decide if the DUI record can be sealed. If granted, the Kansas City DUI record will no longer show up on most background checks. However, law enforcement and certain employers can still see expunged records in limited situations. Talk to a lawyer if you want to know whether a specific Kansas City DUI case qualifies for expungement under current Missouri law.
Kansas City Records and Sunshine Law
Missouri's Sunshine Law gives the public a right to access government records. This includes DUI arrest records, court files, and police reports in Kansas City. The law is found in Chapter 610 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. Most DUI records are open, but there are exceptions. Records from active investigations stay closed until the case is no longer active.
To make a Sunshine Law request in Kansas City, you can contact the city clerk or the police department directly. The Department of Revenue also accepts Sunshine requests for driver records tied to DUI cases. There is no set form you must use. Put your request in writing and be as specific as you can about what records you need. Copy fees are $0.10 per page under the Sunshine Law. The rate for locating records is $15 per hour, but most simple requests cost less than $5 total.
Note: Sealed DUI cases in Kansas City need an in-person visit with a photo ID to access.
Jackson County DUI Records
Kansas City sits in Jackson County, and the 16th Judicial Circuit handles all DUI cases here. The circuit court maintains records for criminal and traffic matters across the county. For more detail on the county court system, fee schedules, clerk contact information, and extra resources for DUI cases, check the full Jackson County page.
Nearby Cities
Other Missouri cities near Kansas City where you can search DUI records: