Lewes DUI Records
Lewes DUI records are filed at the Sussex County Courthouse in Georgetown after passing through a Justice of the Peace Court for arraignment. Lewes Police handle DUI enforcement inside the city, and Delaware State Police Troop 7 covers Coastal Highway and the surrounding beach area. The summer tourist season drives heavier DUI patrols on Coastal Highway and Lewes-Georgetown Highway. You can search Lewes DUI cases on CourtConnect, request an arrest report from Lewes Police, or pull a certified criminal history through SBI in Dover.
Lewes Overview
Lewes Police DUI Records
Lewes Police Department enforces DUI laws within city limits, including the historic downtown and the beach access areas. Enhanced DUI enforcement runs during the summer tourist season and special events. Regular patrols cover coastal roads and beach access points where impaired drivers are most often spotted. DUI arrest reports are available through the Lewes Police Department Records Division.
Lewes is small but draws a large summer crowd from across the region. That changes the DUI enforcement picture. Local police, DSP, and Delaware River and Bay Authority Police all run DUI patrols on the roads in and out of Lewes. Coordination ramps up around major holidays, the ferry traffic to Cape May, and beach festival weekends.
For a Lewes Police DUI report, contact the Records Division. Bring or include the defendant's full name, the arrest date, and any case or report numbers. Fees apply for copies. Open investigations can delay release of full reports.
The image below is from the Lewes city site, which links out to police department information and city services.
Use the city site to find current contact info for the Records Division.
Delaware State Police Troop 7 in Lewes
Delaware State Police Troop 7 covers the Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and coastal Sussex County area. Troop 7 troopers patrol Coastal Highway (Route 1) and the Lewes-Georgetown Highway through the resort zone. The troop files multiple DUI arrests in the Lewes area each season. The DSP newsroom documents these arrests with names, charges, bail amounts, and court assignments.
Recent Lewes DUI cases include a February 2026 incident where a Lewes man was charged with a sixth DUI after a hit-and-run crash in Milton, involving three counts of second-degree vehicular assault. A December 2023 case involved a 40-year-old Lewes man arrested for a fifth offense DUI after he was found asleep at the wheel at the intersection of Coastal Highway and Postal Lane. Multiple cases of DUI drivers causing multi-vehicle crashes on coastal highways have resulted in felony charges.
Troop 7 also coordinates with OHS and other Sussex County agencies for multi-agency DUI checkpoints on Route 1. Enforcement intensifies during the summer beach season and major holiday weekends.
Sussex County Courthouse for Lewes Records
Felony Lewes DUI cases land at the Sussex County Superior Court at 1 The Circle, Suite 2, Georgetown, DE 19947. Phone is (302) 855-7055. Hours run Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with public access starting at 8:30. The Sussex County Prothonotary's Office handles in-person record requests at the same address.
For a Lewes DUI record request at the Prothonotary's Office, complete the public records request form, provide the subject's full name and date of birth, specify a case number or incident date, present a valid government-issued photo ID, and pay the fees. The fee schedule is $10 for a record search plus $1 per page for copies. Mail requests are also accepted at the same address.
Sussex County Superior Court keeps DUI and domestic violence misdemeanors for 10 years after case closure. Felony case records run 20 years after closure, and felony arrests resulting in conviction stay 75 years. That retention covers nearly any Lewes DUI record someone might request.
DMV and SBI for Lewes DUI Records
The Georgetown DMV office at (302) 853-1000 is the closest service location for Lewes DUI license matters. After a DUI arrest the driver gets a 15-day temporary license and 15 days to request an administrative hearing. Revocation runs 3 months for a first offense, 12 months for a second, and 18 months for a third or more. The Delaware DMV also handles reinstatement, which costs about $143.75 plus completion of the alcohol program under § 4177D.
For a certified criminal history that shows any Lewes DUI conviction, the State Bureau of Identification in Dover is the official source. SBI fingerprinting costs $52.50 for a state check or $69.00 for state and federal. The report pulls from DELJIS and lists every Delaware criminal conviction, including DUI cases out of Lewes.
Coastal Lewes DUI Enforcement and Records
Lewes DUI enforcement spikes during the summer beach season and around special events. The Office of Highway Safety funds high-visibility patrols on Coastal Highway, including the Lewes-Georgetown Highway corridor that brings beach traffic into the city. OHS estimates a Delaware DUI costs $10,000 or more once attorney fees, fines, court costs, vehicle towing, missed work, and higher insurance premiums are added up.
Common Lewes DUI checkpoint sites in Sussex County include Route 1 in Rehoboth Beach. Multi-agency operations bring together DSP Troop 7, OHS, and local Sussex County agencies. The Sober Rides program offers $20 Lyft and Uber vouchers on key nights to give beachgoers a safer way home. These records appear on the state news portal after each operation, with arrest counts and screening totals.
Penalties for a Lewes DUI follow 21 Del. C. § 4177, with first offense fines of $500 to $1,500 and up to 12 months in jail, second offense (within 10 years) carrying 60 days to 18 months, third offense as a Class G felony at one to two years, and fourth offense as a Class E felony at two to five years. Each conviction shows on the Lewes DUI record at the courthouse and on the DMV driving record for at least five years.
Related Delaware DUI Record Pages
Lewes DUI cases roll up into the Sussex County court record.