Tazewell County DUI Records
Tazewell County DUI records are held at the Circuit Clerk office in Pekin and cover all DUI cases handled by the 10th Judicial Circuit in this county. Tazewell County shares the 10th Circuit with neighboring Peoria County but maintains its own courthouse, clerk office, and case files in Pekin. Whether you need to look up a recent DUI case or pull records from past years, the clerk's office in Pekin is the place to start your search in Tazewell County.
Tazewell County Quick Facts
Tazewell County Circuit Clerk
Lincoln C. Hobson serves as the Circuit Clerk for Tazewell County. The clerk's office at 342 Court Street in Pekin is the official keeper of all DUI case records in the 10th Judicial Circuit for Tazewell County. The office handles case filings, maintains court documents, and processes public records requests for DUI cases.
The Tazewell County Circuit Clerk at tazewell.com provides access to public case search tools and information on how to request records. Certified copies of DUI conviction orders, sentencing documents, and case dockets are available through the clerk's office. Staff can search by name, date of birth, or case number. DUI cases from all communities in Tazewell County, including Pekin, East Peoria, Washington, and Morton, are filed here.
| Circuit Clerk | Lincoln C. Hobson |
|---|---|
| Address | 342 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 |
| Phone | 309-477-2214 |
| Fax | 309-478-5792 |
| Website | tazewell.com/circuit-clerk |
Tazewell County Sheriff and DUI Arrests
The Tazewell County Sheriff's Office enforces DUI laws in unincorporated areas of the county and on county roads. The sheriff is located at 101 S. Capitol St. in Pekin and can be reached at 309-477-2270. More information is at tazewell.com/sheriff. DUI arrests made by the sheriff result in court cases at the Tazewell County Circuit Court in Pekin.
Under Illinois FOIA law, 5 ILCS 140, the Tazewell County Sheriff must release arrest reports within 72 hours of a written records request. Once a DUI case is filed in court, the public court file is maintained by the Circuit Clerk. The sheriff may hold separate internal records, but the clerk's office has the authoritative court file for each case. Illinois State Police patrol major highways through Tazewell County, including I-74. State police DUI arrests in the county are also filed at the Tazewell County courthouse.
Tazewell County has several incorporated cities and villages that maintain their own police departments, including Pekin Police, East Peoria Police, Washington Police, and Morton Police. DUI arrests made by any of these agencies result in cases filed at the Tazewell County Circuit Court.
DUI Laws and Court Records in Tazewell County
Illinois DUI law under 625 ILCS 5/11-501 covers all DUI cases in Tazewell County. A first DUI is a Class A misdemeanor. Operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or above, under the influence of drugs, or under a combination of substances that affects driving ability all qualify as DUI under state law. The Tazewell County State's Attorney prosecutes these cases through the 10th Judicial Circuit.
Repeat offenses escalate quickly under Illinois law. A second DUI requires a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail or 240 hours of community service. A third DUI is a Class 2 felony. The Tazewell County Circuit Court handles these felony cases as well. Court files for felony DUI cases in Tazewell County are larger and include more documents than misdemeanor cases, but all are public records at the clerk's office in Pekin.
Under 20 ILCS 2630/5.2, DUI convictions cannot be expunged or sealed in Illinois. A DUI conviction in Tazewell County stays in the court record forever and is also reported to the Illinois State Police criminal history system. The conviction appears in any background check done through the CHIRP system. Under 20 ILCS 2635/1, only conviction data is made available through state systems, not arrests that did not result in a guilty finding or plea.
Note: The 10th Judicial Circuit covers both Tazewell County and Peoria County. Tazewell County has its own separate courthouse in Pekin, and its case files are kept separately from Peoria County cases.
Illinois State Systems for Tazewell County DUI Records
The Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification collects DUI conviction data from Tazewell County after the court enters each disposition. All Tazewell County DUI convictions are stored in this statewide repository.
The CHIRP system shown here is the access portal used by authorized agencies and employers to retrieve conviction history from the ISP database, including DUI convictions from Tazewell County cases.
To look up your own state criminal record, including Tazewell County DUI convictions, use the ISP My Record system at no cost. The CHIRP portal handles third-party requests and requires an authorized account. The ISP Criminal History page explains what information is available and how to request it for Tazewell County cases and others across the state.
For driving records tied to Tazewell County DUI cases, use the Illinois Secretary of State. A DUI arrest triggers a Statutory Summary Suspension under 625 ILCS 5/11-501.1. First offenders who fail the breath test face 6 months out. First offenders who refuse the test face 12 months. Repeat offenders get 12 or 36-month suspensions. You can purchase a driving record abstract through the Secretary of State's website to see the full picture of license actions tied to a Tazewell County DUI.
License Revocation for Tazewell County DUI Convictions
A DUI conviction in Tazewell County results in mandatory license revocation under 625 ILCS 5/6-205. This revocation takes effect upon conviction and has no automatic end date. Reinstatement requires a formal hearing before the Secretary of State. The hearing does not happen automatically. The driver must apply for it and present documentation of treatment completion and current sobriety.
Information on the reinstatement hearing process is at ilsos.gov/departments/administrative-hearings.html. For Tazewell County residents, Secretary of State offices in central Illinois handle these hearings. The hearing looks at the driver's complete DUI history, treatment records, risk evaluation, and current circumstances. Repeat offenders from Tazewell County typically face a more demanding hearing process and may be required to complete formal treatment programs through an SUPR-licensed provider before a Restricted Driving Permit or full reinstatement is granted.
Cities in Tazewell County
Tazewell County includes Pekin, East Peoria, Washington, Morton, and several other communities. None of these cities currently exceeds the 50,000 population threshold for a qualifying city page on this site. All DUI cases from across the county are handled at the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Pekin.
Residents of East Peoria, Washington, Morton, Creve Coeur, and other Tazewell County communities can all search their DUI case records through the Circuit Clerk in Pekin, regardless of which police agency made the arrest.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Tazewell County. DUI cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred. Check the citation or court notice for the county name if you are not sure where a particular case was filed.