Kauai County Traffic Ticket Records

Kauai County traffic ticket records are maintained by the Fifth Circuit courts and can be searched online or in person at the Lihue District Court. Whether you need to look up a citation, pay a fine, or get a traffic abstract, this page covers all the ways to find and access these records.

Kauai County Fifth Circuit District Court

The Lihue District Court serves as the primary court for traffic matters in Kauai County. It is part of the Fifth Circuit, which covers Kauai and Niihau islands. The Traffic Violations Bureau at this location handles most traffic citations, including minor moving violations, speeding tickets, and parking infractions. For more serious traffic offenses, cases may be referred to the Fifth Circuit Court.

The court is located at the Puuhonua Kaulike Building at 3970 Kaana Street, Lihue, HI 96766. You can reach the Traffic Violations Bureau by phone at (808) 482-2355. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, and the court is closed on state and federal holidays. If you need certified copies of court documents, contact the Legal Documents Branch at (808) 482-2330. For District Court criminal and traffic documents specifically, you will need to contact Court Services directly rather than the Legal Documents Branch.

The court contact page lists addresses, phone numbers, and hours for each district court in Hawaii, which is useful if you need to visit or call the Lihue courthouse in person.

Note: For District Court criminal and traffic document requests, contact Court Services directly rather than the Legal Documents Branch email addresses.

How Traffic Citations Work in Kauai County

When a driver in Kauai County gets a traffic ticket, the process follows Hawaii state rules. Under Hawaii law, specifically HRS Chapter 291D, drivers typically have 21 days from the date of the citation to respond. You have a few options: pay the fine, request a hearing to contest the ticket, or in some cases request a no-contest plea with a reduced fine.

Hawaii uses three main types of traffic violation notices. A Notice of Traffic Infraction (NTI) covers non-criminal moving violations like speeding or running a red light. A Criminal Traffic Citation and Arrest (CTCA) is issued for more serious offenses. A Notice of Parking Infraction (NPI) covers parking violations. Each type has its own response process and fee structure. If you do not respond within the 21-day window, the court may enter a default judgment against you, which can affect your driver's license.

Payment can often be made online, by mail, or in person at the Traffic Violations Bureau. The eTraffic Hawaii portal lets drivers pay fines or request hearings online without visiting the courthouse. This is convenient if you live off-island or can't get to Lihue during business hours. Keep in mind that online payment is only available for NTI-type infractions, not criminal traffic offenses.

Note: If you miss the 21-day deadline to respond to a traffic infraction, contact the court right away. You may still have options, but delays can result in additional fees or license suspension.

Searching Kauai Traffic Records Online

Hawaii's statewide case search tool, eCourt Kokua, covers all circuit and district courts including Kauai's Fifth Circuit. You can search by name, case number, or citation number. The system shows case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for traffic cases that are part of the public record. It does not require an account or login to use.

For traffic infractions specifically, the eTraffic Hawaii system is the fastest tool. You can look up the status of a citation, check if a fine has been paid, or find a hearing date. This system is separate from eCourt Kokua and focuses only on traffic infractions rather than criminal cases. Both tools are free to use for basic lookups.

The traffic cases page explains the difference between infraction types, hearing procedures, and how to use the online tools available to Kauai County drivers.

Traffic Abstracts and Driver History Records

A traffic abstract is an official summary of your driving record in Hawaii. It shows violations, convictions, and license actions tied to your name and license number. The Hawaii courts charge $20 per abstract, and you can request one from the Traffic Violations Bureau at the Lihue District Court or by mail. Details on how to request an abstract are on the Hawaii Judiciary's traffic abstracts page.

A Driver History Record (DHR) is a separate document issued by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. It covers your full driving history in the state and is commonly needed for insurance purposes, employment background checks, or license reinstatement. The DHR costs $9 and must be requested through the Hawaii DOT Motor Vehicle Safety Office. You can request it by mail or in person. The abstract from the court and the DHR from DOT are two different documents and serve different purposes, so make sure you know which one you need before you apply.

Note: Employers and courts may accept either the traffic abstract or the DHR depending on the context, so confirm which document is required before you pay for it.

Kauai Police Department Records Requests

The Kauai Police Department (KPD) maintains its own records related to traffic stops, accidents, and citations. These records are separate from court records and may include incident reports, crash reports, and officer notes. KPD's Records Division is at 3990 Kaana Street, Suite 200, Lihue, HI 96766. You can reach them by phone at (808) 241-1711 or by email at kpdrecords@kauai.gov. Hours match the county: Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.

To request police records in Kauai County, you must submit a written request under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), which is HRS Chapter 92F. Your request should include a completed records request form, a copy of a government-issued photo ID, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for mailed responses. You can download UIPA request forms from the Office of Information Practices forms page. The standard criminal history record check fee at KPD is $30.

The KPD website has department contact details, the records request process, and information on other services the department provides to Kauai County residents.

Statutes and Legal Resources for Kauai County

Traffic laws in Hawaii are set at the state level, so the same rules apply in Kauai County as elsewhere in the state. Two key chapters cover most traffic citation matters. HRS Chapter 291D governs the traffic infraction system, including how fines are set, how to contest a ticket, and what happens if you miss a deadline. HRS Chapter 291C covers the rules of the road themselves, which is where specific violations are defined.

If you need legal help with a traffic matter in Kauai County, the Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii (VLSH) at vlsh.org may be a resource. They provide free or low-cost legal assistance to qualifying individuals. For general court information and self-help guides, the Hawaii Judiciary's website has a forms library with documents used in traffic cases. You can also check the district court contact page if you need to reach a specific division within the Fifth Circuit.

The county government site is a good starting point if you are not sure which office handles a specific type of record or request in Kauai County.

Note: Hawaii law requires agencies to respond to UIPA records requests within 10 business days, though complex requests may take longer. Keep a copy of any request you submit.

Cities in Kauai County

No cities in Kauai County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. For all Kauai traffic ticket records information, including court contacts, online search tools, and records request procedures, refer to this county page.

Nearby Counties

Traffic records for other Hawaii counties can be found on their respective pages. The courts and procedures in each county differ slightly, so check the county page that applies to your citation or record.