Bristol County OUI and DUI Records

Bristol County DUI records are held across four district courts and three superior court locations in Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford. The county ranked third in the state for OUI charges in fiscal year 2022 with 1,158 filings, and it had the second-highest rate of OUI-Drugs cases in Massachusetts. This page covers which courts hold which records, how to search them, and how to get certified copies.

Bristol County Courts for DUI and OUI Records

Bristol County is one of the few counties in Massachusetts with three separate superior court locations. Most counties have one. Bristol has locations in Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford, which reflects the geographic spread of the county and the cities it serves. Each superior court location handles felony OUI cases from the communities in its service area. For first and second offense OUI charges, district courts handle the cases at the misdemeanor level.

The main Bristol Superior Court sits in Taunton at 138 Broadway, which is also the county seat. It handles felony OUI cases under MGL c.90 § 24 from the Taunton and Attleboro areas. The phone number is 508-823-6583.

The Bristol Superior Court in Fall River at 441 North Main Street handles felony OUI cases from the Fall River area. Fall River and the surrounding Route 24 corridor are among the highest-volume areas for OUI arrests in the county. The phone number there is 508-672-7700.

Bristol Superior Court in Fall River handles the highest volume of felony OUI matters among the three superior court locations in the county, reflecting the significant OUI enforcement activity along Route 24 and I-195.

The Bristol Superior Court in New Bedford at 182 William Street, 7th Floor handles felony OUI cases from the New Bedford area and the southern part of the county. Their number is 508-999-4940.

Bristol Superior Court in New Bedford handles felony OUI cases from the New Bedford area, including cases that originate along I-195 in the southern part of the county.

Bristol County District Courts for OUI Filings

District courts in Bristol County handle misdemeanor OUI charges, which include first and second offenses. There are four main district courts covering the county. Each serves a defined geographic area, and OUI cases from each area land at the district court for that zone. The Fall River and New Bedford district courts see the largest OUI volumes in the county.

The Fall River District Court at 186 South Main Street handles first and second offense OUI charges for the Fall River area. Their number is 508-675-7461.

Fall River District Court handles one of the highest OUI caseloads of any district court in Bristol County, consistent with Fall River's position as one of the highest-arrest cities in the county.

New Bedford District Court at 75 North 6th Street (508-999-2500) covers the New Bedford area. Taunton District Court at 120 Cohannet Street (508-821-7900) serves Taunton and surrounding towns. Attleboro District Court at 88 North Main Street (508-222-5900) covers the Attleboro area and the northeastern part of the county. Wareham District Court at 2200 Cranberry Highway (508-295-8300) serves the Wareham area near the county's southeastern border.

How to Search Bristol County DUI Records

The free tool for searching Bristol County OUI records online is MassCourts, the state's public docket portal. Search by name, case number, or ticket number. The system covers all four district courts and all three superior court locations in the county. A single name search can pull up cases from Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and other Bristol County courts at the same time.

The state's guide on how to search court dockets explains the search fields and how to filter results by court type and date. This is helpful if you want to separate district court results from superior court results, or if you need to narrow a search to a specific time period. The guide is a good first read if you have not used the system before.

For in-person access, go to the clerk's office at the court that handled the case. Bring a photo ID. The clerk can locate the file by name or case number and make copies while you wait, or ask you to return. If you are not sure which of the three superior court locations holds a felony case, call the Taunton location first since it is the main seat and can direct you. For district court cases, confirm the town where the arrest occurred to identify the right district court before visiting.

Mail requests are accepted at each courthouse. Write to the clerk at the specific location, include the case number and defendant's name, list the documents you need, and enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment. Non-certified copies are $0.05 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. A certificate of orders is $20.

Bristol County OUI Enforcement and Charge Data

Bristol County recorded 1,158 OUI charges in fiscal year 2022, making it the third-highest county in Massachusetts for total OUI filings. The county also had the second-highest rate of OUI-Drugs cases in the state. That reflects a pattern of law enforcement responding to impairment from substances beyond alcohol, which is prosecuted under the same statute as alcohol-impaired driving.

Major enforcement corridors in the county include I-195, which runs east-west through Fall River and New Bedford. Route 24 runs north-south from the Norfolk County line through Taunton and into Fall River. Route 140 connects Taunton to New Bedford. Massachusetts State Police patrol all three highways on a regular basis. Local police in Fall River and New Bedford also make a high number of OUI arrests on city streets, particularly late at night and near entertainment areas.

Under MGL c.90 § 24, a first-offense OUI carries a fine of $500 to $5,000, up to 2.5 years in jail, and a one-year license suspension. Many first-time defendants in Bristol County district courts use the MGL c.90 § 24D outcome, which gives a probationary result with a 45- to 90-day suspension and an alcohol education program. This disposition can be sealed immediately upon program completion. The court file is public either way.

Second offense OUI means fines of $600 to $10,000 and a two-year suspension. Third offense and above are felony charges sent to one of the three Bristol Superior Court locations. Felony OUI carries an eight-year license suspension and up to five years in state prison. For a full overview of Massachusetts OUI penalties, see the state's resource at mass.gov.

Driving Records and CORI for Bristol County OUI

Two record systems track OUI outcomes in Bristol County: the court file and the driving record. The court file is held at the clerk's office at whichever district or superior court handled the case. The driving record is held by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. These are separate records and require separate requests.

You can order a driving record from the RMV for $8 (unattested) or $20 (attested). The driving record shows license suspensions, reinstatements, and any OUI-related actions recorded by the RMV. It does not show the full court case record. If you need to reinstate your license following a Bristol County OUI suspension, the process is described at mass.gov.

CORI checks through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services cost $25 and show criminal court activity across all Massachusetts courts. A CORI check can confirm whether an OUI case from Bristol County appears in the statewide record. Sealed records do not show in CORI results. Standard misdemeanor OUI convictions become eligible for sealing after five years. Felony OUI is eligible after ten years. A 24D outcome can be sealed right after program completion.

Additional Bristol County Court Resources

Bristol Probate and Family Court is located at 138 Broadway in Taunton, the same address as Bristol Superior Court, and can be reached at 508-823-6589. The Probate Court handles civil family matters and is not involved in criminal OUI cases. It is mentioned here because it shares the Taunton courthouse address, which can cause confusion when people are looking for the right clerk's office. For OUI records, you want the superior court clerk, not the probate court clerk.

The Bristol County Sheriff's Department manages the county jail system and processes defendants held after OUI arrests. They do not maintain court records. For court documents, always contact the clerk at the relevant district or superior court location.

Legal aid resources in the Bristol County area include South Coastal Counties Legal Services, which serves the New Bedford and Fall River areas. Their services are income-based. If you need help understanding an OUI charge or court record in Bristol County, the state's plain-language overview at mass.gov is a useful starting point before consulting an attorney.

Cities in Bristol County

These cities in Bristol County have individual DUI records pages with courthouse details, search methods, and local legal resources.

Other communities in Bristol County, including Attleboro, Mansfield, Dartmouth, Seekonk, and Raynham, file OUI cases at the district court serving their area. Those communities do not have separate city pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

If an OUI case was filed in a county bordering Bristol, use the links below to find the right court and records information.