Search Ramsey County DUI Records

Ramsey County DUI records are filed at the District Court in St. Paul, which makes up the entire Second Judicial District on its own. If you need to find a DWI case in Ramsey County, you can search online through the state court records system or visit the courthouse in person. Ramsey County is the smallest county in Minnesota by area but the second most populated, covering St. Paul and its surrounding suburbs. The District Court handles a large volume of impaired driving cases each year. This page covers how to search for DUI records in Ramsey County, what the charges involve, and how to get copies of court documents.

Ramsey County DUI Court Records

The Ramsey County District Court handles all DUI and DWI cases filed in the county. It sits in St. Paul, the state capital. Ramsey County is the only county in the Second Judicial District, so the court has its own dedicated administration. It processes criminal, traffic, family, and civil matters for more than half a million residents.

St. Paul is the largest city in Ramsey County. Other communities include Maplewood, Roseville, White Bear Lake, Shoreview, and New Brighton. DUI arrests from any of these places get filed at the Ramsey County courthouse. The county's urban setting and major highways like I-94 and I-35E mean a steady flow of DWI cases through the court system.

Minnesota's DWI law is found in Statute 169A.20. It makes it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or above, or while impaired by a controlled substance, cannabis, or THC product. Commercial drivers face a lower limit of 0.04. Every charge filed under this statute in Ramsey County creates a court record.

How to Search Ramsey County DUI Records

The primary tool for finding DUI records in Ramsey County is Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). It is free to use. Select Ramsey County from the drop-down, type in a name, case number, or citation number, and the system returns matching cases. You can see charges, hearing schedules, case outcomes, and the full register of actions.

MCRO works well for basic lookups of Ramsey County DUI records. The system shows documents filed electronically after July 1, 2015. You can view and download them at no charge. Older records or documents not available online can be requested from the Court Administrator. You can visit the courthouse in St. Paul, call, or submit a written request by mail or fax.

Keep in mind that pending criminal cases without a conviction might not appear in a name search. Using the case number or citation number gives you more complete results. If you do not have either of those, provide the full name and date of birth when contacting the court.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) maintains a statewide criminal history database. A search costs $8 per name and uses fingerprint matching. This is a better tool for formal criminal history searches than MCRO. It covers DUI convictions from Ramsey County and all other Minnesota counties.

Ramsey County Court Search Portal

The Ramsey County court page provides local court details, programs, calendar information, and links to the MCRO search system.

Ramsey County is the only county in the Second Judicial District. This means the court has its own administrative structure, separate from the multi-county districts used elsewhere in Minnesota.

DWI Penalties in Ramsey County

DUI charges in Ramsey County follow Minnesota's four-degree system. The charge depends on the driver's blood alcohol level, prior history, and other factors at the time of arrest.

A fourth-degree DWI is a misdemeanor under Statute 169A.27. This is the lowest level and applies when no aggravating factors are present. It carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Most first-time offenders in Ramsey County get probation, community service, and a requirement to complete treatment or education.

Third-degree DWI under Statute 169A.26 is a gross misdemeanor that kicks in when one aggravating factor is present. Aggravating factors include a BAC of 0.16 or higher, having a child under 16 in the car, or a prior DWI within ten years. The penalty goes up to one year in jail and $3,000 in fines. Second-degree DWI requires two or more aggravating factors.

First-degree DWI is the most serious charge. Under Statute 169A.24, it is a felony. It applies when the driver has three or more qualified prior incidents within ten years or a previous felony DWI. Penalties include up to seven years in prison and $14,000 in fines. Ramsey County processes a significant number of felony DWI cases each year due to its large population.

License Actions and Ramsey County DUI Cases

A DUI arrest in Ramsey County starts two separate tracks. The criminal case goes to the District Court in St. Paul. The administrative license revocation is handled by the Department of Public Safety.

Under Statute 169A.52, failing a breath test at 0.08 or above triggers a 90-day license revocation for a first offense. Refusing the test leads to a one-year revocation. The officer gives the driver a temporary 14-day license at the time of arrest. Drivers have 60 days to petition for review of the revocation.

The ignition interlock program lets some drivers keep limited driving privileges during the revocation. Under Statute 171.306, the device checks for alcohol before the car starts. The Driver and Vehicle Services division manages enrollment. Minimum participation is two years for most offenders. License reinstatement follows the rules in Statute 171.178, which outlines what conditions a driver must meet before getting their license back.

MCRO Public Access System

Use MCRO to search Ramsey County DUI records at no charge from any device with internet access.

The system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Select Ramsey County and enter a name or case number to begin your search.

Cities in Ramsey County

Ramsey County covers St. Paul and many suburbs. All DUI cases from anywhere in the county go through the District Court in St. Paul.

Other communities in Ramsey County include Maplewood, Roseville, White Bear Lake, Shoreview, New Brighton, Arden Hills, and Little Canada. All DWI arrests from these cities go through the Ramsey County District Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ramsey County. A DUI case gets filed in the county where the arrest happened.