DUI Records in Reading PA
Reading DUI records are handled through the 23rd Judicial District in Berks County. Reading is the county seat of Berks County and a major city in southeastern Pennsylvania with about 95,000 residents. The Reading Police Department handles DUI enforcement in the city, and all arrests move through the Berks County court system. This page explains how to search Reading DUI cases, find court dockets, and access arrest records through public sources available in Pennsylvania.
Reading Quick Facts
Where to Find Reading DUI Records
Reading DUI records are held within the 23rd Judicial District, which serves Berks County. DUI arrests made by Reading police flow through the Magisterial District Judge courts for initial proceedings and then move to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas for cases going to trial or involving felony charges. The Berks County Clerk of Courts maintains all physical court records at the Common Pleas level, including all Reading DUI dockets, plea entries, sentencing orders, and related filings.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free public access to Reading DUI court dockets. Search by party name and filter to Berks County. Results show charges, hearing dates, and case status. Certified copies require a direct request to the Clerk of Courts in Berks County. City of Reading open records requests can be submitted through readingpa.gov/open-records under 65 P.S. § 67.101 for police reports and city records not otherwise restricted.
How to Search Reading DUI Records
Start at the UJS Portal to search Reading DUI court records. Enter the person's full name and select Berks County from the county filter. The system returns matching cases with docket numbers, charges, and case status information. Docket sheets are free to view and download directly from the portal. They include each charge listed by statute, all hearing dates, and the final disposition of the case.
For certified copies of court records, contact the Berks County Clerk of Courts. You can visit in person or submit a written request. Bring a photo ID and the docket number if you have it. The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides statewide certified criminal history reports and covers Reading DUI convictions. These reports come directly from the Pennsylvania State Police and include all counties. DUI driving record information is maintained by PennDOT at dmv.pa.gov, which tracks license suspensions tied to DUI cases separately from court records.
Note: Police reports from the Reading Police Department require a separate records request through the city's open records process, not through the court system.
Reading Police and DUI Enforcement
The Reading Police Department conducts DUI patrols and enforcement throughout the city. Officers are trained in DUI investigation procedures including field sobriety testing and breathalyzer operation. The department works with Berks County and state agencies on enforcement campaigns targeting impaired driving. Reading police respond to DUI incidents and forward case reports to the Berks County District Attorney for charging decisions.
The Reading Mayor's Office at readingpa.gov/mayor oversees city operations and public safety initiatives, including working with police on traffic safety and DUI enforcement priorities. When a Reading officer makes a DUI arrest, the report goes through the records division and is then reviewed by the DA. Once charges are filed, the case becomes part of the public court record in Berks County.
Reading DUI Cases and the Court System
DUI cases in Reading begin at the Magisterial District Judge level. The MDJ handles the initial arraignment, bail, and preliminary hearing. Cases involving General Impairment DUI with no aggravating factors may resolve at the lower court level. Cases going to trial or involving High BAC or Highest BAC tiers, or repeat offenses, move to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas in the 23rd Judicial District for further proceedings.
The Berks County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian for all Common Pleas DUI records from Reading cases. All dockets, motions, plea agreements, and sentencing records are stored there. The Reading City Council at readingpa.gov/city-council sets local ordinances that can affect public safety priorities. The PA Courts website at pacourts.us provides guidance on accessing court records throughout Pennsylvania.
PA DUI Law and Reading
Pennsylvania's DUI law under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 sets three tiers of impairment for DUI offenses. General Impairment covers a BAC between 0.08 and 0.099 percent. High BAC covers 0.10 to 0.159 percent. Highest BAC is 0.16 percent and above. Penalties increase with each tier under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3804. First-offense General Impairment may result in probation. Highest BAC and repeat offenses carry mandatory jail time.
A third or subsequent DUI in Pennsylvania is charged as a felony. Prior offenses are tracked under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3806, and past Reading DUI records count toward the prior offense total. Chemical testing rules under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3814 govern breath and blood tests. Refusing a chemical test has its own penalties under Pennsylvania law. A Reading DUI that causes a death can lead to a charge of Homicide by Vehicle While DUI under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3735, which carries much heavier consequences than a standard DUI conviction.
ARD Program and Reading Residents
The ARD program under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3807 is available to eligible first-time DUI offenders in Reading through the Berks County District Attorney. Eligible defendants complete a supervision period, DUI education classes, and any conditions the DA requires. Completion of the program results in dismissal of the DUI charges. The arrest record can then be expunged under Pa.R.Crim.P. 320, removing it from most public records searches.
The Council on Chemical Abuse, known as COCA, serves Berks County and provides substance abuse assessment and treatment programs that are often required for ARD participation. COCA at cocaberks.org connects people with DUI education and counseling services in the Reading area. Completing a COCA program may be a condition of ARD eligibility. Prior ARD participation generally disqualifies someone from the program a second time under Pennsylvania guidelines.
Drug and Alcohol Resources in Reading
The Council on Chemical Abuse at cocaberks.org is the primary substance abuse resource for Berks County, including the City of Reading. COCA provides assessment, referral, and treatment coordination for individuals dealing with alcohol or drug problems. DUI offenders who are court-ordered to complete treatment or education programs are commonly referred to COCA or its affiliated providers. The organization works directly with courts on compliance reporting.
The Reading Health Bureau at readingpa.gov/health also provides public health services and works on substance abuse prevention efforts in the city. Pennsylvania Legal Aid at palegalaid.net offers free legal help to Reading residents who qualify based on income and need assistance with their DUI case. The PA Open Records portal at openrecords.pa.gov provides guidance on submitting records requests to state and local agencies.
The Reading Police Department is the primary DUI enforcement agency for the City of Reading, with arrest records forwarded to the Berks County District Attorney through Berks County courts.
DUI cases from Reading are processed through the 23rd Judicial District and become public records searchable through the UJS Portal once charges are formally filed.
Reading Berks County DUI Records
Reading DUI cases are prosecuted through Berks County, and all court records at the Common Pleas level are maintained by the Berks County Clerk of Courts. For more on the county court system and how to access Berks County DUI records, visit the county page below.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
DUI records for nearby cities go through their own county courts. Select a city below to search DUI records in that area.