Salem DUI Records
Salem is the state capital of Oregon with a population near 175,000. DUI records in Salem are held by both the Salem Police Department and the Marion County Circuit Court. The city runs a municipal court, but it is not a court of record. That means most DUII case files are stored at the county level. Salem Police keep their own arrest reports and incident logs. You can search for DUI records by contacting the court clerk, the police records division, or by using the city's online request portal.
Salem Quick Facts
Salem Police DUI Records
The Salem Police Department handles DUI arrest reports and incident files through its Records Division. To get a copy of a DUI record, you need to fill out the Public Records Request Form. This form is a PDF that you can download from the police records page. Once filled out, submit it to the Records Division by email.
If you do not hear back within two business days, the department asks that you call to confirm your request was received. Assume the email did not go through if there is no reply. This step helps avoid delays in getting your DUI records.
Salem Police records cover arrest details, officer notes, and booking data. They do not include court outcomes or sentencing. For that side of a DUI case, you need to go to the court system. The police file and the court file are two separate records held by two different offices.
Note: Salem Police cannot provide driving records, criminal history reports, or vital records such as birth and death certificates. Driving records come from the Oregon DMV. Criminal histories are available through the Oregon State Police.
Salem Municipal Court and DUI Records
The Salem Municipal Court is at 2850 Broadway St NE, Salem, OR 97303. The lobby is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone hours run from 8 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 5 p.m. Call 503-588-6146 and press option 5 to reach the court. The fax number is 503-588-6441.
This court is not a court of record. Staff there cannot pull full case files for DUI cases. They also cannot give legal advice about a pending or past case. If you need court records from a Salem DUII case, you must contact the Marion County Circuit Court instead.
Recording devices are not allowed in the Salem Municipal Court without permission. You can email the court at SalemMuniCourt@cityofsalem.net for general questions.
DUI Records Through the Salem Portal
Salem runs a GovQA portal where you can submit and track public records requests online. This is the fastest way to request DUI records held by the city. The portal lets you check the status of your request and pay any fees that apply. Visit the Salem GovQA portal to start.
Closed requests are purged from the system after three years. This follows Oregon retention laws. The city is required to retain only the charging document and the judgment from a case. Other parts of the file may not be kept long term. Fees for records vary based on the type and size of the request.
Note: The GovQA portal only covers records held by the City of Salem. It does not include county court files or state records. For those, you need to contact Marion County Circuit Court or the Oregon State Police.
Marion County Court DUI Records
The Marion County Circuit Court handles all felony DUII cases from Salem. The courthouse is at 100 High St NE, Salem. You can reach the clerk at 503-588-5105. This is where full DUI case files are stored and where you can get copies of court documents.
Oregon law defines driving under the influence under ORS 813.010. A person can be charged with DUII for driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a mix of both. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08% for most drivers in Oregon. Court records for these cases are public.
Penalties for DUII in Oregon increase with each offense. Under ORS 813.100, the court must impose minimum penalties upon conviction. These can include jail time, fines, and treatment programs. A diversion option may be open to some first offenders under ORS 813.400. Diversion records still show up in the court file.
Records Not Found at Salem Courts
Several types of records are not available through the Salem Municipal Court or the city's records office. Knowing where to go saves time.
- Driving records are held by the Oregon DMV, not the city or court.
- Criminal history reports come from the Oregon State Police.
- Full court records for DUI cases are at the Marion County Circuit Court.
- Marriage and death certificates are handled by Vital Statistics.
Each office has its own request process and fees. Start with the right source to avoid being sent back and forth between agencies.
How to Search Salem DUI Records
The Oregon Judicial Case Information Network and Oregon eCourt Case Information both cover Marion County cases. You can search by name or case number to find DUI filings, court dates, and outcomes from Salem cases. Go to courts.oregon.gov to start a search.
These tools show basic case data. They list charges, filing dates, and current status. Full documents are not shown online. To get copies of actual court papers from a Salem DUI case, contact the Marion County clerk or visit in person at 100 High St NE.
Note: Some case details may be sealed or restricted by the court. Online results do not always show every part of a DUI record. Check with the clerk if you need a complete file.
Salem DUI Records and State Law
As the state capital, Salem is home to many of the agencies that shape DUI law in Oregon. The legislature meets here. The Oregon State Police headquarters is nearby. The DMV central office is in Salem as well. All of these play a role in how DUI records are created, stored, and shared.
License suspension for a DUI is handled separately from the criminal case. The DMV acts on its own under ORS 813.500. A person arrested for DUI in Salem can face both a court case and a DMV hearing. Both create public records.
Under ORS 192, the public has a right to view government records in Oregon. This applies to DUI records held by the city, the county, and state agencies. Some files may be exempt from release if they involve ongoing investigations or protected information.
Marion County DUI Records
Salem is in Marion County, and all DUII court cases are filed through the Marion County Circuit Court. The county court serves Salem and other cities across the county. For more on the county court system, filing fees, and related resources, visit the Marion County DUI records page.