Access St. Louis County DUI Records
St. Louis County DUI records are spread across three courthouse locations in Duluth, Hibbing, and Virginia. This is the largest county in Minnesota by land area, and it is part of the Sixth Judicial District. DWI cases from across the county get filed at whichever courthouse serves that part of the region. Duluth handles cases from the southern portion, while Hibbing and Virginia cover the Iron Range and northern areas. You can search St. Louis County DUI records online through the state court system or visit any of the three courthouses in person. This page explains how the system works and where to look for case records.
St. Louis County Overview
St. Louis County DUI Court Locations
St. Louis County is unique in Minnesota because it has three separate courthouse locations. The county covers over 6,000 square miles of northeastern Minnesota, so having multiple courthouses makes it easier for people to access the court without driving hours across the county. All three handle DUI cases filed in their part of the county.
The Duluth Courthouse is the main location. It sits in downtown Duluth and handles cases from the southern half of the county including the city of Duluth itself. The courthouse has public access computers and a self-help center available at (651) 435-6535. DUI cases from Duluth police, the St. Louis County Sheriff, and Minnesota State Patrol in the Duluth area all come through here.
Under Minnesota Statute 169A.20, driving while impaired is a crime whether caused by alcohol, controlled substances, or cannabis. The legal limit is 0.08 BAC. St. Louis County law enforcement patrols city streets, Iron Range highways, and remote rural roads. DUI arrests can happen anywhere in this vast county.
| Duluth | Duluth Courthouse, Duluth, MN Court page |
|---|---|
| Hibbing | 1810 E. 12th Avenue, Hibbing, MN 55746 Phone: (218) 274-6007 Court page |
| Virginia | 300 South Fifth Avenue, Virginia, MN 55792 Phone: (218) 305-7021 Court page |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (all locations) |
| Court Administrator | Rhonda Duesler |
| District | Sixth Judicial District |
The Hibbing Courthouse at 1810 E. 12th Avenue covers the central Iron Range. Free parking is available in the surface lot and on the street. Enter through the main door near the parking lot on 18th Street. The Virginia Courthouse at 300 South Fifth Avenue handles cases from the eastern Iron Range and surrounding area. The ADA entrance is Door #2. Both Hibbing and Virginia locations are open the same hours as Duluth.
Search St. Louis County DUI Records Online
The Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) system covers all three St. Louis County courthouse locations. Search by name, case number, or citation number. The results will show which courthouse the case is assigned to. This is important because you need to know which location to contact if you want copies of physical documents.
MCRO is free to use. You can view case details including charges, hearing dates, and dispositions. Public documents filed in the case are available for download. DWI cases appear under criminal and traffic case types. If you search by defendant name, keep in mind that pending cases without a conviction may not show up. The citation number from the traffic ticket is often the most direct way to find a specific case.
For a more complete search, the BCA criminal history system costs $8 per name search. It pulls from a statewide fingerprint-linked database. The BCA search catches DUI records from all counties, not just St. Louis. This matters when checking someone's full DWI history because Minnesota counts prior offenses from any county when determining charge levels.
You can also request copies by mail. Send a completed Copy Request Form to any of the three courthouse locations. Include the case number or the defendant's full name and date of birth. Court staff will process the request and let you know the cost.
Note: Documents filed before July 2015 may not be fully available online through MCRO for St. Louis County DUI cases.
St. Louis County Court Records Portals
Each St. Louis County courthouse has its own page on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. The Duluth courthouse page shows the location and available services for the main St. Louis County court facility.
This page links to the court calendar, copy request forms, and local court programs. It also lists hours and parking information for the Duluth location.
The MCRO system provides statewide access to St. Louis County DUI records. You can search all three courthouse locations from one search page. The State Law Library guide offers additional resources for understanding how to search court records and conduct criminal history searches.
Use the MCRO system to search DUI records across all St. Louis County court locations at once.
St. Louis County DUI Charges and Penalties
Minnesota law sets four degrees of DWI charges. St. Louis County prosecutors use the same framework as every other county. A fourth-degree DWI under Section 169A.27 is a misdemeanor for first-time offenders with no aggravating factors. Max penalty: 90 days in jail and $1,000 fine.
Third-degree DWI under Section 169A.26 applies when one aggravating factor exists. That could be a prior DWI within ten years, a BAC at or above 0.16, or having a child under 16 in the vehicle. This is a gross misdemeanor with up to one year and $3,000. Second-degree adds another factor. Same maximums but judges tend to impose stiffer sentences.
First-degree DWI is a felony under Section 169A.24. It applies when a person has three or more qualified prior incidents within ten years or any prior felony DWI. The maximum sentence is seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine. A mandatory minimum of three years applies under Section 169A.276.
On the administrative side, license revocation is automatic under Section 169A.52. Failing a chemical test means 90 days for a first offense. Refusing the test means one year. Repeat offenders face plate impoundment, vehicle forfeiture, and the ignition interlock program under Section 171.306. The interlock device blocks the car from starting if your breath reads 0.02 or higher.
What St. Louis County DUI Records Show
DUI case records in St. Louis County include the criminal complaint, which states the facts of the arrest. It describes what the officer saw, the field sobriety tests, and chemical test results. Breath test or blood draw numbers are in the complaint. The defendant's name, date of birth, and address are listed along with the specific statute violations charged.
The docket tracks the case from start to finish. You can see every hearing, motion, and order. The disposition shows whether the person was convicted, acquitted, or had charges dismissed or reduced. Sentencing details include jail time, fines, probation, chemical dependency evaluations, and treatment programs ordered by the court. License-related consequences like revocation and ignition interlock are handled separately through DVS but tie back to the same case.
Most St. Louis County DUI records are public. Anyone can request them. Some documents may be sealed or restricted by court order. The court charges per-page fees for copies and higher rates for certified copies.
Cities in St. Louis County
St. Louis County covers a large area with many communities. DUI cases from all of them go through one of the three county courthouses.
Other communities in St. Louis County include Hibbing, Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, and many smaller towns across the Iron Range and north woods. All DUI cases are processed through the St. Louis County District Court system.
Nearby Counties
St. Louis County borders several other counties. If a DUI happened near a county line, the case may have been filed in one of these courts instead.