Lancaster County DUI Records Search
Lancaster County DUI records are public documents filed with the Court of Common Pleas in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The 2nd Judicial District serves Lancaster County, one of the most populous counties in the state and the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. DUI enforcement is active throughout the county, and case records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Lancaster County Courthouse. You can search Lancaster County DUI records online through the UJS Portal or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers where records are stored, how to search them, and what local resources are available.
Lancaster County Quick Facts
Lancaster County DUI Records Office
The Clerk of Courts for Lancaster County maintains all criminal court files at the Lancaster County Courthouse. This includes DUI dockets, charging documents, plea agreements, and sentencing orders for every case heard in the 2nd Judicial District. Staff can search by name or docket number and produce copies of records during regular business hours. The clerk's office in Lancaster handles a large volume of DUI cases given the county's significant population and active law enforcement presence.
Lancaster County is known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country, home to large Amish and Mennonite communities and a strong agricultural heritage. It is one of the most visited counties in Pennsylvania, with heavy traffic on rural routes that are also sites of DUI enforcement. The Lancaster City Police Department at cityoflancasterpa.com/police handles DUI enforcement within the city, while the Lancaster County Sheriff and Pennsylvania State Police cover the broader county area.
The Lancaster County official website provides access to county departments including the courts and Clerk of Courts. For DUI records specifically, the clerk's office is reachable at lancastercounty.gov/clerk-of-courts. The Lancaster County court system processes one of the larger DUI dockets in Pennsylvania outside of major metropolitan areas.
| Court |
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas 2nd Judicial District 50 North Duke Street Lancaster, PA 17602 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | lancastercounty.gov/clerk-of-courts |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
| County Website | lancastercounty.gov |
How to Search Lancaster County DUI Records
The easiest way to search Lancaster County DUI records is through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Select the Court of Common Pleas and enter the name of the person. The system returns matching docket entries from Lancaster County with case numbers, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. This service is free and available at any time. If you already have a docket number, you can enter it directly for faster results.
For the full physical case file, visit the Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 North Duke Street in Lancaster. Bring a photo ID and the name or case number you need. The clerk's office is well staffed and experienced with high case volumes. Certified copies of court orders and decrees require a fee and can be ordered through the clerk's office during business hours.
Note: Lancaster County DUI records can also be accessed through the PATCH criminal history system at epatch.pa.gov. PATCH shows statewide conviction records and is a fast way to confirm whether someone has prior DUI convictions beyond Lancaster County.
Lancaster County Court DUI Cases
The Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas is one of the busiest in Pennsylvania and handles a large volume of DUI cases each year. As the 2nd Judicial District, it applies Pennsylvania DUI statutes to every case. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802, DUI is divided into three tiers. General impairment covers a BAC from 0.08 to 0.099 percent. High BAC runs from 0.10 to 0.159 percent. Highest BAC is 0.16 percent and above, and that tier carries the most serious mandatory minimums under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3804.
Lancaster County judges follow state sentencing guidelines closely. A first DUI often results in probation or a short license suspension. Second and subsequent offenses carry mandatory minimum jail terms that increase with each prior conviction counted under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3806. A third offense is a felony under Pennsylvania law. Fatal DUI crashes in Lancaster County may result in charges under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3735 for homicide by vehicle while DUI.
The Lancaster County District Attorney's office prosecutes all DUI cases in the county. The DA works with local police departments, the Lancaster County Sheriff at lancastercounty.gov/sheriff, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Traffic safety is a stated priority for the Lancaster County DA given the volume of both local and tourist traffic throughout the county. All case information is trackable through the Pennsylvania Courts website and UJS Portal.
ARD Program in Lancaster County
Lancaster County offers the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for eligible first-time DUI offenders. ARD is authorized under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3807. Defendants accepted into the Lancaster County ARD program avoid a criminal conviction by completing probation, a drug and alcohol assessment, DUI safety school, and other requirements set by the court. After finishing the program, they can apply to expunge the DUI arrest from their record. This is a significant outcome for those who qualify in Lancaster County.
ARD eligibility in Lancaster County is determined by the District Attorney. The review considers the BAC level recorded under 75 Pa.C.S. § 3814, whether an accident or injury occurred, and whether any passengers under 14 were in the vehicle. Prior criminal history is also reviewed. Defendants who do not qualify for ARD or who fail to complete the program proceed through the standard criminal process in Lancaster County.
Note: Lancaster County processes a substantial number of ARD applications each year. Contact the District Attorney's office early if you believe you may qualify for the program in Lancaster County.
Drug and Alcohol Services in Lancaster County
Lancaster County's Single County Authority coordinates a comprehensive range of drug and alcohol services for county residents. Courts routinely order DUI defendants to complete a drug and alcohol evaluation as part of their sentence or ARD conditions. The evaluation determines the appropriate level of care. Lancaster County offers a wide range of services including DUI safety school, outpatient counseling, residential treatment referrals, and case management.
Given Lancaster County's size and population, the county maintains a broad network of treatment providers. Residents can also access services voluntarily before any court involvement. For information on available programs and how to get an assessment, visit lancastercounty.gov/drug-alcohol. Free legal resources are also available through palegalaid.net for those who qualify by income.
Right-to-Know in Lancaster County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 allows any person to request public records from Lancaster County government agencies. Requests go to the county's open records officer. Records potentially available include police incident reports, arrest logs, and government correspondence. The county has five business days to respond. A denial or partial response can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Court records in Lancaster County, including DUI dockets, are managed under Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules and are not covered by the RTK Law in the same way as executive agency records. To access court records, use the UJS Portal or visit the Clerk of Courts in Lancaster. For RTK requests to county agencies, submit to the Lancaster County open records office at lancastercounty.gov/open-records. Appeals go to openrecords.pa.gov.
Cities in Lancaster County
Lancaster city is the county seat of Lancaster County and the center of the 2nd Judicial District. All DUI cases from within Lancaster city limits and throughout the county are heard at the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. The Lancaster City Police Department conducts DUI enforcement within the city.
Lancaster city is the seat of county government and the location of the Lancaster County Courthouse where all DUI case records are maintained.
Nearby Counties
Lancaster County is in southeastern Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Each neighboring county handles its own DUI records through a separate court system. DUI records are filed where the offense occurred.