Search Dearborn DUI Records

Dearborn DUI records are handled by the 19th District Court for misdemeanor OWI cases, with felony charges moving to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit. Michigan law refers to drunk driving offenses as OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) under MCL 257.625, so Dearborn court records use that term in filings and dispositions. Both courts maintain public records, and you can search for Dearborn OWI cases using free statewide tools before requesting documents in person.

19th District Court: Dearborn OWI Cases

The 19th District Court is the local court for Dearborn OWI cases charged as misdemeanors. It sits at 16077 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126, and can be reached at (313) 943-2060. The court's website is available through the City of Dearborn at dearborn.gov. First and second offense OWI charges in Dearborn go through this court, including standard OWI at 0.08% BAC and High BAC cases at 0.17% or more.

The 19th District Court handles all misdemeanor-level drunk driving charges for the city. That includes Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI) cases, zero-tolerance charges for drivers under 21, and High BAC offenses. Each of these generates a public court record. The record typically includes the charging document, any plea or verdict, and the sentencing order. To look one up online, use MiCOURT, which is free and covers all Michigan district courts including the 19th. Search by name or case number. Misdemeanor drunk driving cases appear under the SD or OD case type codes.

Documents are not available through MiCOURT. The system confirms whether a case exists and shows its status, but you have to contact the court or visit in person to get actual filings. Call (313) 943-2060 to ask about records access and any applicable copy fees.

Dearborn Police Department Records and FOIA

Dearborn Police Department handles OWI arrests in the city. The department is located at 16099 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126. Arrest records, incident reports, and booking information from Dearborn DUI arrests are held by the police, not the court, and must be requested separately. Michigan's FOIA statute, MCL 15.231, gives you the right to request these records. Agencies must respond within five business days.

The Dearborn Police FOIA Unit can be reached at (313) 943-2230. For police-specific records, email Police-FOIA@dearborn.gov. General city records go through FOIA@dearborn.gov. Dearborn Police uses a NextRequest online portal for submitting and tracking FOIA requests, which you can find through the city's website.

Walk-in pickup hours at the Dearborn Police Department are Monday and Wednesday 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4:00 p.m., and Friday 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. If you need a crash report from a DUI-related accident, Dearborn Police uses the CLEMIS online system for crash report access. Ask the department for the direct link when you call or submit your FOIA request.

Arrest records show the officer's observations, field sobriety test results, BAC readings at the time of arrest, and the charges filed. They do not show how the case ended in court. For the court outcome, search MiCOURT or run an ICHAT query.

Statewide Search Tools for Dearborn OWI Cases

Michigan provides three main public tools for searching DUI records. They cover different pieces of the picture, and it often makes sense to check more than one.

MiCOURT is the free statewide court case search. It covers the 19th District Court in Dearborn and the Third Judicial Circuit for felony cases. Search by name or case number. Results show whether an OWI case was filed, the charge type, and how it resolved. Misdemeanor cases appear under SD or OD codes. There is no fee, but there are no documents either. Use MiCOURT to confirm a case exists before paying for more detailed records.

ICHAT costs $10 per search and returns a person's full Michigan criminal history as maintained by the Michigan State Police. It covers all 83 counties, including Wayne. For Dearborn DUI records that involve multiple offenses or span many years, ICHAT is more thorough than MiCOURT. It shows conviction dates, offense codes, dispositions, and sentencing outcomes. Because Michigan has no 10-year lookback for prior OWI offenses, knowing a person's full history is important when reading a current case's charge level.

The OTIS system from the Michigan Department of Corrections covers offenders under state supervision. A Dearborn OWI case that resulted in a prison sentence would appear in OTIS. These are almost always third-offense or higher felony cases handled by the Third Circuit.

Wayne County Courts and Felony OWI

Dearborn is in Wayne County, and felony OWI cases originating in Dearborn are transferred to the Wayne County Third Judicial Circuit Court at 2 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. Felony charges include third-offense OWI, OWI causing serious impairment of a body function, and OWI causing death. The Third Circuit uses the Odyssey Public Access (OPA) system at www.3rdcc.org for public case lookups. That system shows basic case information but not actual court documents.

For a full picture of how Dearborn OWI cases move through the Wayne County court system, including the structure of the Third Judicial Circuit and the 36th District Court, see the Wayne County DUI Records page. That page also covers the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, which handles arrests in unincorporated parts of the county outside Dearborn's jurisdiction.

Michigan OWI Law and Dearborn Cases

All Dearborn OWI arrests are charged under MCL 257.625. The law covers several offense types based on the BAC reading at arrest. Standard OWI applies at 0.08% or more. High BAC applies at 0.17% or more and triggers mandatory minimum penalties that are steeper than standard OWI. Drivers under 21 face charges if their BAC is 0.02% or above under Michigan's zero tolerance rule. The charge type affects what appears in the court record and what penalties follow.

Michigan's implied consent law requires any driver lawfully arrested for OWI to submit to chemical testing. Refusing results in a one-year license suspension for a first refusal. A second refusal within seven years brings a two-year suspension. Refusal records appear on the driving record and may also be noted in court documents if the case went to a hearing on the refusal.

OWI convictions in Michigan are permanent on both the criminal record and the driving record. No standard expungement applies. The only exception is Michigan's Clean Slate law, which allows expungement of a first-time OWI conviction after five years if certain conditions are met. The law is narrow and does not apply to High BAC offenses or cases involving injury or death.

Driving Records: SOS and MSP

A Dearborn OWI conviction shows up on both the criminal record and the driving record. The driving record is held by the Michigan Secretary of State, not the court, and must be requested through the SOS Driving Records portal. The driving record covers license suspensions, revocations, points, and any ignition interlock conditions tied to a restricted license after an OWI. It does not include arrest details or criminal history information.

For official criminal history records, the Michigan State Police Criminal History Records division is the source. ICHAT draws from that database. If you need a certified criminal history record for a Dearborn OWI case, contact MSP directly. Law enforcement agencies and courts use that system for official background purposes.

Nearby Cities in Wayne County

These cities in Wayne County also have local court and records information for DUI cases.