Delaware County DUI Records and Court Dockets
Delaware County DUI records are public documents filed through the 32nd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in Media, Pennsylvania. These records cover DUI arrests, case filings, court dockets, and final dispositions for impaired driving charges throughout Delaware County. The county sits directly west of Philadelphia and has active DUI enforcement across its many municipalities. Anyone can search Delaware County DUI records online or in person at the courthouse. This page explains how to find DUI cases, what records are available, and where to get certified copies.
Delaware County Quick Facts
Delaware County DUI Records Storage
The Clerk of Courts in Delaware County maintains all criminal records, including DUI filings, from the time a case is opened through final disposition. Every DUI arrest that leads to charges in Delaware County becomes part of the court record held by this office. The Clerk stores docket sheets, charging documents, plea records, sentencing orders, and any expungement paperwork. Public access to these DUI records is available at the courthouse in Media during normal business hours.
Certified copies of DUI records are available from the Clerk of Courts for a fee. These copies are often needed for legal purposes, background checks, or professional licensing. The office processes expungements upon court order, which can remove qualifying DUI records from the public file. For details on what records are on file or how to request copies, visit delcopa.gov/clerk-of-courts or call the office directly.
The Delaware County government website at delcopa.gov provides access to county services and links to offices that handle DUI records. The county also maintains an Open Data Hub that includes mapping and data innovation tools useful for researching public records across Delaware County.
Note: Expungements are processed only upon a signed court order, and the Clerk of Courts does not grant expungements independently in Delaware County.
How to Search Delaware County DUI Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal gives you free access to DUI dockets from Delaware County. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by the defendant's name or case number. Results show charge information, court dates, dispositions, and sentencing details for DUI cases filed in the 32nd Judicial District. The portal covers cases across all Pennsylvania counties, so you can narrow your search to Delaware County specifically.
In-person searches are also an option. Visit the Clerk of Courts at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media. Staff can pull case files by name or docket number. Bring a valid photo ID. Older DUI records may take more time to retrieve. You can request copies on the spot, though fees apply for printed pages and certified documents.
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, lets you run a statewide criminal background check that includes DUI convictions from Delaware County. Go to epatch.pa.gov to submit a request. PATCH results are useful when you need a summary of a person's criminal history rather than a specific court docket. The fee for a PATCH report is set by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Note: The UJS Portal shows docket-level information but does not provide copies of actual court documents, which must be obtained directly from the Clerk of Courts in Delaware County.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas DUI Cases
The Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, operating as the 32nd Judicial District, handles all felony DUI cases and more serious impaired driving charges in the county. Under Pennsylvania law at 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802, DUI has three tiers based on blood alcohol content: General impairment from 0.08 to 0.099 percent, High BAC from 0.10 to 0.159 percent, and Highest BAC at 0.16 percent or above. Higher tiers and repeat offenses bring harsher penalties under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3804.
Misdemeanor DUI cases in Delaware County begin at the magisterial district court level. If not resolved there, they move to the Court of Common Pleas. Felony DUI charges, including a third offense under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3806 or cases involving serious injury, go directly to the Common Pleas court. Homicide by vehicle while DUI is charged under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3735 and is also handled at the Court of Common Pleas level. Delaware County borders Philadelphia, which means DUI enforcement is heavy across the suburban townships that make up most of the county.
The Delaware County District Attorney's office at delcopa.gov/district-attorney prosecutes DUI cases throughout the county. The DA works with dozens of municipal police departments across Delaware County and participates in regional traffic safety initiatives. Victim and witness services are available for those affected by DUI-related crashes in Delaware County.
ARD Program in Delaware County
The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, or ARD, is available to first-time DUI offenders in Delaware County who meet the eligibility criteria set by the District Attorney. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3807, ARD allows qualifying defendants to complete a supervision period, pay fines, and fulfill other conditions in exchange for dismissal of the DUI charge. Successful completion results in no conviction on the defendant's record. This can be a significant outcome for people facing their first DUI arrest in Delaware County.
The Delaware County District Attorney's office determines who qualifies for ARD based on factors such as prior criminal history, whether anyone was injured, and the nature of the DUI charge. ARD is not available to all defendants, and the DA has discretion in making ARD offers. The court administers ARD programs through the 32nd Judicial District. More details on eligibility can be found at delcopa.gov/district-attorney. Note that ARD records may still appear in background checks even after successful completion, so consult an attorney about expungement options in Delaware County.
Drug and Alcohol Services in Delaware County
Delaware County's drug and alcohol program provides assessment and referral services for people with substance abuse issues, including those ordered by the court following a DUI conviction. The Single County Authority coordinates treatment services and DUI education programs. Court-ordered treatment through the SCA is a common condition of ARD or probation following DUI charges in Delaware County. Prevention programs also target impaired driving across the county.
Case management services help people stay on track with treatment and supervision requirements. The Delaware County drug and alcohol program works closely with the courts and probation office to monitor compliance. For information on available programs and how to access services, visit delcopa.gov/drug-alcohol. Chemical testing requirements following a DUI in Delaware County are governed by 75 Pa.C.S. § 3814, which covers ignition interlock and testing conditions.
Right-to-Know in Delaware County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 gives the public the right to request government records, including many DUI-related documents held by county agencies. Delaware County processes Right-to-Know requests through its open records office. Police incident reports, court administrative records, and other government documents related to DUI enforcement may be available under the RTK law.
To submit a request, visit delcopa.gov/open-records. Delaware County responds to RTK requests within the timeframes set by state law. Fees may apply for printing or copying documents. If your request is denied or partially denied, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. Court records themselves are typically accessed through the Clerk of Courts rather than the RTK process, since criminal case files are judicial records governed by court rules rather than the RTKL.
Note: Not all DUI records are subject to the Right-to-Know Law because criminal case files fall under judicial records rules rather than agency open records requirements in Pennsylvania.
Cities in Delaware County
Delaware County includes many municipalities, each with its own local police department that enforces DUI laws and generates DUI arrests that flow into the 32nd Judicial District court system. Upper Darby is the largest municipality in Delaware County with over 85,000 residents and is one of Pennsylvania's sixth largest communities.
Upper Darby Township borders Philadelphia directly and has one of the most active police departments in Delaware County for DUI enforcement. The Upper Darby Police Department can be reached through upperdarby.org/police. DUI cases from Upper Darby are handled through the 32nd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in Media.
Nearby Counties
Delaware County is located in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, bordering Philadelphia to the east and several other counties to the north and west. If a DUI arrest happened near a county border, confirm the correct jurisdiction before searching for records.