Farmington Hills DUI Records
DUI and OWI records in Farmington Hills, Michigan are filed and maintained through the 47th District Court and the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court, depending on the charge level. This guide covers how to search case records, request police reports, and use statewide tools to find OWI history in Farmington Hills.
47th District Court - Farmington Hills
The 47th District Court handles first and second OWI offenses in Farmington Hills. These are misdemeanor-level charges. The court is located at 31605 W. 11 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. You can reach the court by phone at 248-871-2900. Most OWI case records are public and available through the court clerk's office or online through MiCOURT.
First-offense OWI is charged under MCL 257.625. It is a misdemeanor. A second OWI within the person's lifetime is also a misdemeanor handled at district court. Michigan removed the 10-year lookback rule in 2007, so all prior OWI convictions count regardless of when they happened. The 47th District Court serves Farmington Hills and the City of Farmington.
| Address | 31605 W. 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48336 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 248-871-2900 |
| Case Search | MiCOURT (free) |
| OWI Jurisdiction | 1st and 2nd offense (misdemeanor) |
To search cases online, use the MiCOURT public case search at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. It is free. You can search by name, case number, or date of birth. OWI cases appear as OD (Operating While Intoxicated) or SD (Super Drunk). You do not need an account. Records go back many years for most districts.
Farmington Hills Police Department Records
The Farmington Hills Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency making OWI arrests in the city. They maintain arrest records, incident reports, and booking data. The department is at 31655 W. 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336. Their records division can be reached at 248-871-2600.
To get a copy of an arrest record or incident report, you submit a FOIA request. Michigan's Freedom of Information Act is MCL 15.231. The department must respond within 5 business days. They can grant the request, deny it, or ask for an extension. If granted, copies cost a per-page fee. Some records tied to open investigations may be withheld.
Police records differ from court records. An arrest record shows the arrest itself. It may not reflect the final outcome of a case. If charges were dropped or the person was found not guilty, the police record still shows the arrest. Court records show what actually happened in the case. Both types of records can be useful depending on what you need.
What you can typically get through a FOIA request to Farmington Hills Police:
- OWI arrest reports and incident narratives
- Booking records with charge details
- Breathalyzer and chemical test records (in some cases)
- Officer notes and field sobriety test information
FOIA requests can be submitted in person at the police department or by mail. Some departments accept email requests. You must identify the record you want with enough detail for staff to locate it. The name and approximate date of the arrest are usually enough.
Statewide OWI Record Search Tools
Michigan offers several statewide tools to search DUI and OWI records. Each serves a different purpose. Some are free. Some charge a small fee. The right tool depends on what you need.
ICHAT is the Internet Criminal History Access Tool run by the Michigan State Police. It covers criminal conviction records from all 83 Michigan counties. A search costs $10. You can search by name and date of birth. OWI convictions appear on ICHAT results because they are criminal convictions, not just traffic violations. Go to apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT/Login.aspx to start a search.
MiCOURT is free. It searches active and recent court cases across Michigan district and circuit courts. It does not go as far back as ICHAT but it is a good starting point. You can search by name or case number. Results show case status, charges filed, and next court date if applicable.
OTIS is the Offender Tracking Information System run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. It shows people currently incarcerated or on parole or probation for felony OWI offenses. A third or subsequent OWI is a felony in Michigan. OTIS is free at michigan.gov/corrections/offender-search.
| Tool | Cost | Coverage | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICHAT | $10 | All 83 counties | Criminal conviction history |
| MiCOURT | Free | District and circuit courts | Active or recent cases |
| OTIS | Free | MDOC offenders | Felony OWI, incarcerated persons |
Oakland County 6th Circuit Court
Farmington Hills is part of Oakland County, which means felony OWI cases go to the 6th Circuit Court. A third OWI offense anywhere in Michigan is a felony under MCL 257.625. Those cases move from district court to circuit court after the preliminary examination. The circuit court is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. You can call 248-858-0348.
Oakland County uses a Court Explorer system that lets the public search case records online. You can access circuit court records through the county's court website at oakgov.com/courts/circuit/. Public access terminals are also available inside the courthouse for anyone who wants to search in person. Farmington Hills OWI felony cases appear in the circuit court system under the defendant's name.
For full details on Oakland County court resources, fees, and how to get certified copies of court records, see the Oakland County DUI Records page.
Michigan OWI Law - What It Means for Records
Michigan uses OWI, not DUI, as the legal term. OWI stands for Operating While Intoxicated. The main statute is MCL 257.625. It sets out all the offense levels and penalties. Michigan law covers several BAC thresholds.
The standard OWI threshold is a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher. Michigan also has a "Super Drunk" provision for a BAC of 0.17 percent or higher. That carries harsher penalties including longer license suspensions and mandatory treatment. Drivers under 21 face a zero-tolerance standard set at 0.02 percent BAC under Michigan's minor-in-possession rules.
Implied consent is a separate part of Michigan law. Under MCL 257.625c, drivers who refuse a chemical test face an automatic license suspension. The refusal is recorded and can be used in court. Implied consent violations show up in Secretary of State driving records separately from the OWI criminal case.
Michigan does not have a lookback limit for OWI priors. Every prior OWI in a person's lifetime counts when determining whether a new charge is a first, second, or third offense. A third OWI is a felony. It can carry up to 5 years in prison. License revocation is mandatory after a second conviction within 7 years or a third conviction at any time.
Michigan's Clean Slate law allows first-time OWI convictions to be expunged after 5 years if the person has no other convictions. If expunged, the record is no longer public. It will not show on ICHAT results. However, law enforcement and courts can still see expunged records in some circumstances.
Driving Records and Secretary of State
Court records and driving records are two separate systems. An OWI conviction appears in both. But they are maintained by different agencies and show different information.
The Michigan Secretary of State keeps driving records. A driving record shows license status, suspensions, revocations, points, and traffic-related convictions including OWI. You can get a driving record from any Secretary of State branch office or online through the SOS website. Standard driving records go back 7 years. A complete record goes back further and costs more.
Court records show the full criminal case history. They include charges filed, plea or verdict, sentencing, fines, and probation conditions. Court records are public unless sealed. You access them through the court clerk, MiCOURT, or in person at the courthouse. For a Farmington Hills OWI case, start with the 47th District Court clerk or MiCOURT online. If the charge was a felony, go to the 6th Circuit Court records office in Pontiac.
If you need a certified copy of a court record, you must contact the court clerk directly. Certified copies cost a fee and may take a few days to process. Online systems like MiCOURT show information but do not produce certified documents.