Access Fall River DUI and OUI Records

Fall River DUI and OUI records are filed at Fall River District Court for misdemeanor charges and at Bristol Superior Court for felony cases. Both courts are in Fall River, and both hold public records that you can search online or request in person from the clerk's office. Route 195 and Route 24 run through Fall River and are among the more active OUI enforcement corridors in Bristol County, contributing to a steady flow of OUI cases filed at both courts each year.

Courts for Fall River OUI Cases

Fall River has two courts that handle OUI matters. Fall River District Court takes all misdemeanor OUI charges, including first and second offenses. Bristol Superior Court handles felony OUI cases, which apply to third and subsequent offenses or charges involving serious bodily injury or death. Both courts are in Fall River, which makes in-person records requests more convenient than in counties where district and superior courts sit in different cities.

Fall River District Court is at 186 South Main Street, Fall River MA 02721. The phone is 508-675-7461. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This is where arraignments take place and where most OUI cases in Fall River are resolved. Case files here are public, and copies are available at the clerk window. If you plan to visit, call ahead to confirm hours and whether your request can be handled over the counter or needs to be submitted in writing.

Bristol Superior Court in Fall River handles felony OUI cases. It is at 441 North Main Street, Fall River MA 02720. Reach them at 508-672-7700. When an OUI case involves a third or subsequent offense, or when someone was seriously hurt, the case is elevated to Superior Court after indictment. Those records are also public and searchable through the MassCourts portal under the Superior Court docket.

Fall River District Court: Local Records

The Fall River District Court page on mass.gov provides current hours, contact details, and information about the communities the court serves in southern Bristol County.

This is the court where most Fall River OUI cases start and where misdemeanor-level charges are resolved, from the initial arraignment through final disposition.

How to Find Fall River DUI Records

The main tool for online searches is masscourts.org, which is free to use. It covers Fall River District Court and Bristol Superior Court. You can search by name or case number. The results show the charges, court dates, and how the case ended. If you are not sure how to navigate the system, the state has a guide on how to search court dockets that walks through the search steps and explains what each field in the results means.

When you need certified copies or want to review the full case file, you have to go to the court in person. At the Fall River District Court clerk's office, staff can look up cases and pull documents. Plain copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. A certified copy carries an official court seal, which is needed for legal proceedings or formal requests. Bring the name of the person you are searching and a case number if you have one.

The Massachusetts law about drunk driving page on mass.gov includes context on how OUI charges are classified and what records are generated at each stage of a case.

The mass.gov drunk driving law page covers the full range of penalties, license suspension rules, and court processes that apply to OUI cases filed in Fall River and across the state.

Fall River Police OUI Arrest Records

The Fall River Police Department makes OUI arrests within the city. Police records include arrest reports and booking data. These are separate from court case files. The Fall River Police Department is at 685 Bedford Street, Fall River MA 02720. The main number is 508-676-8511. Contact the records unit to request a copy of a police report related to an OUI arrest in Fall River.

Massachusetts State Police also patrol Route 195 and Route 24, both of which run through Fall River. These are two of the most heavily traveled roads in Bristol County and are active OUI enforcement corridors. State Police arrest reports are handled through the relevant barracks rather than city police. If an arrest was made by State Police, you need to contact them separately for that report. The court case will still appear in the Fall River District Court docket regardless of which agency made the arrest.

Fall River has one of the higher OUI arrest rates in Bristol County. The county as a whole logged 1,158 OUI charges in fiscal year 2022, and the Route 195 and Route 24 interchange near Fall River draws consistent enforcement attention given the volume of traffic moving through that zone.

Massachusetts OUI Law as It Applies in Fall River

Massachusetts refers to impaired driving as OUI, not DUI. The law is MGL c.90 § 24. It sets the legal blood alcohol limit at 0.08% for drivers 21 and older, and 0.02% for those under 21. The law also covers impairment caused by drugs or any controlled substance, not just alcohol. Bristol County sees a high rate of OUI-Drugs charges, which means a meaningful share of Fall River cases involve drug impairment rather than alcohol alone.

A first OUI offense in Fall River can mean a fine of $500 to $5,000, up to 2.5 years in jail, and a one-year license suspension. Many first offenders are offered a 24D disposition under MGL c.90 § 24D. That involves probation, a driver alcohol education program, and a shorter license loss of 45 to 90 days. A second OUI conviction brings a two-year license suspension. A third conviction means an eight-year suspension and a felony charge. These cases go to Bristol Superior Court after indictment.

RMV Records and License Reinstatement in Fall River

An OUI charge in Fall River affects the driving record at the RMV. The RMV acts separately from the court. It can suspend a license after a breath test refusal or a failed test, before the court case is even resolved. These administrative suspensions are distinct from any court-ordered suspension that follows a conviction and can stack with them in some situations.

To see what is on a driving record, request a copy from the Massachusetts RMV. An unattested record is $8. An attested record with an official seal is $20. After an OUI suspension in Fall River, reinstating a license requires going through the RMV. The process and requirements are on the RMV license reinstatement page. Reinstatement may include fees, proof of insurance, and program completion depending on the offense level. Some repeat offenders must also install an ignition interlock device before driving privileges are restored.

Sealing Fall River OUI Court Records

Some OUI records in Fall River can be sealed from public view. A 24D disposition qualifies for immediate sealing once you complete the required program. A misdemeanor OUI conviction can be sealed five years after the case fully closes. A felony OUI conviction requires a ten-year wait. You file the petition to seal at the court where the case was heard. For most Fall River OUI records, that is Fall River District Court. Felony records go to Bristol Superior Court in Fall River.

Once sealed, a record does not appear in most public background searches. Courts and law enforcement can still view it. The RMV keeps its own record of license actions, and sealing a court record does not change what the RMV shows. For a full criminal history that includes OUI charges, a CORI request can be submitted to the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services for $25. Your own CORI is available at no cost if you request it yourself.

Bristol County DUI Records

Fall River is in Bristol County. All OUI cases filed in Fall River are part of the Bristol County court system.

View Bristol County DUI Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby qualifying cities have their own DUI and OUI record pages with local court information.