Champaign DUI Records

Champaign DUI records are held by the Champaign Police Department for arrest-level information and by the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in Champaign County for all case filings, hearing records, and court dispositions. This page covers where to find Champaign DUI records, how to request them from each source, and which state systems carry conviction history and driving record data for Champaign cases.

Champaign Police Department

Chief Timothy Tyler leads the Champaign Police Department. The department handles DUI enforcement within city limits and maintains arrest records for every DUI stop made by its officers. Arrest reports, field sobriety test documentation, chemical test results, and booking records are all kept at the department level, separate from the court case file that the circuit clerk holds after charges are filed.

Champaign Police records requests go through the city's FOIA process. Illinois law requires agencies to respond within five business days. DUI arrest records for closed cases are generally available to the public. Records involving open cases or active investigations may be withheld, in whole or in part, until the case is resolved. The city website at champaignil.gov has FOIA submission instructions and contact information for the records unit.

The Champaign Police Department website provides contact information for the records division and guidance for submitting FOIA requests for DUI arrest and booking records.

6th Judicial Circuit Court and Champaign County

Champaign DUI cases that move through the court system are handled by the 6th Judicial Circuit, which covers Champaign County. The courthouse in Urbana is where Champaign cases are heard and where the official case files are kept. The Champaign County Circuit Clerk holds the formal record for each DUI case, including charging documents, hearing notes, plea entries, verdicts, sentencing orders, and final dispositions.

The circuit clerk's office can search by name or case number. Recent cases are often accessible through an online case search portal. Full document sets or older records typically require a written request or an in-person visit. For a full overview of the county court that handles Champaign cases, see the Champaign County DUI records page. The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court provides background on how the 6th Judicial Circuit operates and how DUI cases are processed in the Champaign area.

The City of Champaign website serves as the main portal for public records requests and contact information for city departments, including the police department's records unit.

Illinois State Police and Champaign DUI Convictions

Every Champaign DUI conviction that comes out of the 6th Judicial Circuit gets reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The ISP holds a statewide criminal history that covers DUI conviction data from every Illinois court reporting to the system. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions in Illinois cannot be expunged or sealed, regardless of how old the case is. All Champaign DUI convictions are a permanent part of the statewide record.

The ISP system works through fingerprints. When a Champaign Police officer arrests someone for DUI, a fingerprint submission ties that arrest to the person's state record. When the court enters a conviction, the ISP attaches it to the same record. Conviction data is public under the Uniform Conviction Information Act. The ISP criminal history page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification/CriminalHistory explains how to request a record that includes Champaign DUI conviction history. The main Bureau of Identification page at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification covers all available services.

Individuals can review their own criminal history through the CHIRP portal at chirp.isp.illinois.gov. Authorized users, including certified employers and people checking their own record, can access Illinois criminal history data through CHIRP. For Champaign DUI convictions, this is one of the quickest ways to get statewide data directly from the ISP.

Driving Record and License Actions

A Champaign DUI conviction leads to mandatory license revocation by the Illinois Secretary of State. The SOS handles this as a completely separate process from the criminal case in circuit court. Reinstatement requires a formal SOS administrative hearing. The waiting period and conditions depend on how many prior DUI convictions a driver has. A first conviction brings at least a one-year revocation. Repeat offenders face longer periods and tougher conditions before they can apply for reinstatement.

The Statutory Summary Suspension takes effect before a case goes to verdict. If a Champaign driver fails or refuses a chemical test during a DUI stop, the officer issues a notice. The suspension begins 46 days after that notice. Refusing the test on a first offense leads to a 12-month suspension. Failing the test on a first offense leads to a 6-month suspension. The suspension can be challenged through an SOS administrative hearing. Information is available at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html.

Driving record abstracts can be ordered from the Secretary of State at ilsos.gov. The abstract costs $20 and includes DUI convictions, summary suspensions, revocations, and all other license actions in the state system for a Champaign driver.

DUI Charges and How They Work in Champaign

Illinois DUI law under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 covers impairment from multiple substances, not just alcohol. Champaign Police can charge a driver based on alcohol over 0.08 BAC, cannabis, prescription drugs, controlled substances, intoxicating compounds, or methamphetamine. The case file at the Champaign County circuit clerk shows the specific charge type and the substance involved for each DUI case filed there.

The offense level depends on prior convictions. A first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor. The second is also a misdemeanor but with stricter minimums. A third offense is a Class 2 felony. A fourth is a felony as well, with different sentencing ranges. All prior DUI convictions from any Illinois court count when determining the offense level for a new Champaign charge. Certain circumstances can elevate a charge even on a first offense. Having a minor in the car, causing serious bodily harm, or driving through a school zone can all push a case to a higher level under the statute.

The Champaign County circuit clerk's records show the charges as filed, any amendments or dismissals during the case, and the final outcome. These records are the most complete official source for what happened in a specific Champaign DUI case heard in the 6th Judicial Circuit.

Nearby Cities

Other Illinois cities with DUI records pages are listed below. Each page covers local law enforcement contacts and the circuit court that handles DUI cases in that area.