Find DUI Records in Erie County
Erie County DUI records are public documents filed through the 6th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas in Erie, Pennsylvania. The county is home to Pennsylvania's fourth-largest city, and DUI enforcement is active across the city of Erie and the surrounding municipalities. Erie County DUI records cover arrest information, charging documents, court dockets, and case dispositions for impaired driving cases filed in the county. You can search these records online through the state court portal or visit the Clerk of Records in person. This page walks through every method available for accessing DUI case records in Erie County.
Erie County Quick Facts
Erie County DUI Records and the Clerk of Records
The Erie County Clerk of Records, currently Aubrea Hagerty-Haynes, is the official custodian of criminal court records in Erie County. This office stores all DUI case files from the time charges are filed through the final disposition of the case. DUI dockets, charging documents, plea records, sentencing orders, and probation conditions are all maintained by the Clerk of Records. Public access is available for these records at the Erie County Courthouse. Certified copies are provided for official purposes and carry a fee set by the county.
The Clerk of Records also processes expungement requests when a court order is presented. Records that have been expunged are removed from the public file. For information on hours, fees, and what identification to bring, visit eriecountypa.gov/clerk-of-records. Erie County maintains records from filing through final disposition, so even old DUI cases can often be located by name or docket number through this office.
The Erie County government website at eriecountypa.gov provides links to all county offices and services. Erie County is led by County Executive Christina Vogel and a seven-member County Council. The county maintains open budget and spending data to show how public funds are used, including law enforcement and court operations that generate DUI records in Erie County.
Note: Expungements in Erie County require a signed court order before the Clerk of Records will remove case information from the public record.
How to Search Erie County DUI Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is the fastest way to find Erie County DUI records online. Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by the defendant's name or a specific docket number. The portal displays DUI case information from the 6th Judicial District, including charges, hearing dates, and disposition records. The search is free to use and available at any time. Most Erie County DUI cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas and many from the magisterial level are visible through the portal.
In-person searches are possible at the Erie County Courthouse. Go to the Clerk of Records office and ask staff to look up a case by name or docket number. You will need a valid photo ID. Copy fees apply for printed pages, and certified copies cost more. The courthouse is the best option if you need the actual documents, not just the docket summary. Erie County DUI records going back many years are stored by the Clerk's office and available upon request.
The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides a statewide criminal background check that includes DUI convictions from Erie County. The Pennsylvania State Police run this system. Use PATCH when you need a full criminal history summary rather than a specific case docket. The Erie Police Department at erie.pa.us/police conducts DUI patrols within the city, and their reports are forwarded to the DA's office for prosecution.
Erie County Court of Common Pleas DUI Cases
The Erie County Court of Common Pleas operates as the 6th Judicial District and handles all felony DUI cases in the county. The court has multiple judges, including President Judge John J. Mead and judges David G. Ridge, Erin C. Connelly Marucci, Joseph M. Walsh III, John J. Trucilla, Marshall J. Piccinini, Peter J. Sala, and Emily M. Merski. These judges preside over DUI cases at the Common Pleas level and also oversee treatment court programs for eligible offenders in Erie County.
Pennsylvania's DUI statute at 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 defines three impairment tiers. General impairment is a BAC from 0.08 to 0.099 percent. High BAC ranges from 0.10 to 0.159 percent. Highest BAC covers 0.16 percent and above. Penalties under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3804 increase with each tier and with each prior offense tracked under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3806. A third DUI in Erie County is charged as a felony. Cases involving a fatality may be charged as homicide by vehicle while DUI under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3735, which carries serious prison time and is handled only at the Court of Common Pleas level.
District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz leads prosecution of DUI cases in Erie County. The DA's office at eriecountypa.gov/district-attorney works with the Erie Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and other municipal departments to bring DUI charges in the 6th Judicial District. Sheriff Chris Campanelli's office provides court security and warrant service for DUI defendants who fail to appear.
ARD Program in Erie County
Erie County offers the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program to qualifying first-time DUI defendants under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3807. ARD is designed to give first offenders a path to dismissal without a criminal conviction. To participate, defendants must complete a supervision period, attend DUI education, pay program fees, and meet any other conditions set by the District Attorney and the court. Successful completion results in dismissal of the DUI charge and eligibility to petition for expungement of the arrest record in Erie County.
District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz's office determines ARD eligibility based on case-specific factors. Prior criminal history, the BAC level at the time of arrest, whether the DUI involved an accident, and other circumstances all affect whether an ARD offer is made. The program is administered through the 6th Judicial District, and ARD participants are supervised by Erie County probation. ARD violations can result in removal from the program and resumption of criminal proceedings. Contact the DA's office for current ARD eligibility criteria in Erie County. Note that completing ARD does not guarantee expungement, and a separate petition must be filed with the court.
Drug and Alcohol Services in Erie County
Erie County's drug and alcohol program provides assessment, referral, and treatment services for people with substance use disorders, including those ordered by the court after a DUI conviction. The county coordinates court-ordered DUI education and treatment through its Single County Authority. DUI offenders in Erie County are frequently required to complete a CRN evaluation and attend DUI safety school as part of sentencing or ARD conditions.
The county's SCA works closely with the courts, probation, and the District Attorney's office to monitor treatment compliance for DUI offenders in Erie County. Prevention programs targeting impaired driving are also part of the agency's work. For services and referrals, visit eriecountypa.gov/drug-alcohol. Chemical testing requirements following a DUI conviction in Erie County are governed by 75 Pa.C.S. § 3814, which covers ignition interlock and related conditions that may apply to your case.
Right-to-Know in Erie County
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 allows any person to request government records from Erie County agencies. Police incident reports, county administrative records, and other documents connected to DUI enforcement are potentially available through a Right-to-Know request. Erie County processes RTK requests in compliance with state law and responds within the required timeframe. Submit your request at eriecountypa.gov/right-to-know.
Fees apply for copying records in Erie County. If your request is denied or partially fulfilled, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. Criminal case files held by the Clerk of Records are judicial records and are not subject to the RTKL; they must be accessed through the court system. For legal assistance in Erie County, palegalaid.net can connect you to free legal services. The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us also has information about accessing court records statewide.
Note: Erie County's RTK office handles agency records only, and DUI court case files require a separate request to the Clerk of Records at the Erie County Courthouse.
Cities in Erie County
Erie County includes the city of Erie, which is Pennsylvania's fourth-largest city and one of the most active areas for DUI enforcement in the region. The Erie Police Department conducts regular DUI patrols and enforcement campaigns throughout the city. DUI arrests made by city officers are referred to the District Attorney and prosecuted in the 6th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas.
The city of Erie is the seat of Erie County government and home to the courthouse where all Common Pleas DUI cases are heard. The Erie Police Department can be reached through erie.pa.us/police. Pennsylvania State Police also cover portions of Erie County outside the city limits, and their DUI cases flow into the same 6th Judicial District court system.
Nearby Counties
Erie County sits in Pennsylvania's northwestern corner, bordering Ohio to the west and New York to the north. Crawford and Warren counties border Erie County to the south and east within Pennsylvania. DUI cases from near these borders may be filed in a neighboring county, so confirm the jurisdiction before searching for records.