Find DUI Records in Fayette County

Fayette County DUI records are maintained by the 4th Judicial Circuit Court in Vandalia, Illinois, with the Circuit Clerk serving as the official source for all DUI case filings, court orders, and dispositions. This page covers the offices that hold these records, the state systems you can use to look up conviction and driving history data, and what to expect when searching for DUI records tied to Fayette County cases.

Fayette County Circuit Clerk

Amy Shaw is the Fayette County Circuit Clerk. Her office at P.O. Box 187 in Vandalia is the official keeper of every DUI case filed in the county. The clerk holds charge documents, plea records, hearing notes, sentencing orders, and final dispositions. If you are looking for what happened in a DUI case in Fayette County, start with the circuit clerk in Vandalia.

The circuit clerk's page at fayettecountyil.gov/circuit-clerk has office hours, contact details, and information on how to access court records in Vandalia. Full case documents usually require an in-person visit or a written request. Staff can search by name or case number and tell you what the public record contains for a specific DUI case filed in Fayette County.

Fayette County sits within the 4th Judicial Circuit. All DUI cases from Vandalia and communities throughout the county are heard at the courthouse in Vandalia. The circuit handles both misdemeanor and felony charges under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, and the clerk keeps records of each case from filing through final disposition.

Fayette County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office is located at 221 S. 7th St. in Vandalia. The sheriff enforces DUI laws in unincorporated parts of Fayette County and maintains arrest records that are separate from the court files the circuit clerk keeps. Both offices may have records that are relevant depending on what you are looking for.

Arrest record requests go through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act process. FOIA requires the office to respond within five business days. Records for closed DUI cases are generally part of the public record. Active investigation records may be withheld. The Fayette County Sheriff website at fayettecountysheriff.com has contact information for submitting FOIA requests.

The image below shows the Fayette County Sheriff website, one source for DUI arrest record information from unincorporated parts of the county.

The sheriff holds arrest data. The circuit clerk holds court case data. You may need to contact both offices to get a complete picture of a Fayette County DUI matter.

Illinois State Police Criminal History and Fayette County DUI Records

DUI convictions from Fayette County are reported to the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification after the circuit court enters a final judgment. The ISP keeps this as a permanent part of the individual's criminal history record. Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions cannot be expunged or sealed in Illinois. This rule applies to every Fayette County DUI conviction in the state system, no exceptions.

The ISP system is fingerprint-based. A Fayette County DUI arrest triggers a fingerprint submission that links the event to a statewide record. When the court later reports a conviction, the ISP attaches that outcome to the fingerprint file. The result is a complete record that includes arrests and convictions from every Illinois court that reports data to the ISP. Fayette County DUI records are included in this statewide system.

The ISP Bureau of Identification at isp.illinois.gov/BureauOfIdentification is the central state repository for this data. Conviction records are public under the Uniform Conviction Information Act. The ISP criminal history page explains the request process for getting records that include Fayette County DUI data. Individuals can also check their own record through the ISP My Record portal.

Driving Record Actions for Fayette County DUI Cases

A DUI conviction in Fayette County results in mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. The Illinois Secretary of State handles revocation as a separate administrative action, completely independent of the criminal court process in Vandalia. Getting a license back requires a formal SOS hearing. Waiting periods and conditions depend on the number of prior DUI convictions on the driver's record.

Before a case is even resolved, the Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1 may go into effect. If a Fayette County driver fails or refuses a chemical test during a DUI stop, the suspension begins 46 days after the officer issues the notice. Refusing the test on a first offense means a 12-month suspension. Failing it means 6 months. Drivers can challenge the suspension through an SOS administrative hearing. Details are at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html.

Driving record abstracts are available from the Secretary of State for $20 and show DUI convictions, suspensions, revocations, and related license actions tied to any Illinois driver. You can order one at ilsos.gov. This is a direct way to see the license history tied to Fayette County DUI cases.

DUI Charges and the Fayette County Court Process

Under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, DUI in Illinois covers more than alcohol. Impairment from cannabis, prescription drugs, controlled substances, intoxicating compounds, or methamphetamine can each support a charge. Fayette County DUI cases can involve any of these substance types. The circuit clerk's records show the specific charge type in each case file.

Charge level is based on prior offense history. A first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor, with up to one year in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. A second offense is still a misdemeanor but carries longer minimums. The third offense is a Class 2 felony. A fourth is also a Class 2 felony with a different sentencing range. Prior convictions from any Illinois court count when determining what level a new Fayette County charge will be filed as.

Certain facts can raise a charge even on a first offense. A DUI with a minor in the car, one resulting in serious injury, or one in a school zone may bring higher charges. The clerk's records show every count filed, any counts amended or dismissed, and the final outcome for each Fayette County DUI case.

The Illinois Courts website at illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court provides background on how the 4th Judicial Circuit handles cases. It is worth reviewing before contacting the Fayette County Circuit Clerk or consulting a local attorney about a DUI matter in the county.

Cities in Fayette County

No cities in Fayette County meet the population threshold for individual DUI records pages. Vandalia is the county seat and the location of the circuit court where all DUI cases in the county are heard. All records from Vandalia area DUI cases are maintained by the Fayette County Circuit Clerk in Vandalia.

Nearby Counties

Fayette County is in south-central Illinois. Bordering counties each maintain their own circuit courts for DUI cases within their jurisdictions.