Search Lansing DUI Records

Lansing DUI and OWI records are handled through the 54A District Court, which serves the city and operates a DWI Sobriety Court program for eligible defendants, while felony-level Operating While Intoxicated cases go to the Ingham County Circuit Court. Arrest records from the Lansing Police Department are available through a separate FOIA process, and statewide databases including MiCOURT and ICHAT let you search OWI case history across all of Michigan without visiting a courthouse in person.

54A District Court - OWI Records and Sobriety Court

The 54A District Court on West Michigan Avenue handles all misdemeanor OWI cases originating within the City of Lansing. That includes standard first offense OWI charges at 0.08% BAC or higher, High BAC charges for drivers testing at 0.17% or above, and OWI with a minor in the vehicle. The 54A District Court also runs a DWI Sobriety Court program. This is a supervised treatment alternative for eligible defendants who meet the court's criteria and opt in rather than going through a standard criminal sentence.

The sobriety court program involves regular check-ins, substance abuse treatment, and monitoring over a set period. Participants who complete the program successfully may see different outcomes than those on a traditional track. Not every defendant qualifies, and acceptance is at the court's discretion. If you are looking for case records from someone who went through sobriety court, those records are still maintained by the court clerk and are available through the same public records process as any other case.

The 54A District Court clerk maintains all case files. Records are public under Michigan law. You can search cases through the statewide MiCOURT portal using case type codes OD (Ordinance Drunk Driving) or SD (Statute Drunk Driving). You can also search by name, case number, or date range. For in-person access to case files or to get certified copies of documents, contact the clerk's office directly. The court's website is at lansingmi.gov/181/54-A-District-Court.

54B District Court - East Lansing and MSU Area

The 54B District Court in East Lansing handles OWI cases that originate in East Lansing and the Michigan State University campus area. If an OWI arrest took place within those jurisdictions rather than within Lansing city limits, the case goes to 54B rather than 54A. The two courts are nearby but serve different geographic jurisdictions, and records for East Lansing OWI cases will be at 54B, not 54A.

MiCOURT covers both the 54A and 54B District Courts. When searching for cases from the greater Lansing area, it is worth checking both courts if you are not certain which jurisdiction the incident occurred in. The 54B District Court is located at 101 Linden Street in East Lansing. Their phone number is (517) 351-7000. As with 54A, you can use MiCOURT to search cases with the OD or SD case type codes for OWI-related matters.

Lansing Police Department - Arrest Records and FOIA

The Lansing Police Department handles OWI enforcement within city limits. When an officer makes an OWI arrest, they prepare an incident report, conduct or arrange a breath or blood test, and complete the booking process. Those arrest records belong to the Lansing Police Department, not the courts. Getting copies of those records requires a separate FOIA request to the department.

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 requires the department to respond within 5 business days of receiving your written request. The agency can provide the records, ask for a brief extension, or deny the request with a written explanation. If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal. Submit written FOIA requests to the Lansing Police Department at 120 W Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48933. The city's main website at lansingmi.gov has additional guidance on city FOIA procedures and contact information.

When submitting a FOIA request, include the subject's full name and date of birth. If you know the date of the OWI incident, include that too. The department may charge a fee to cover staff time and copying costs. You can ask for a cost estimate before they pull the records if you want to know what to expect. Simple single-incident requests are generally low cost, but larger requests covering multiple incidents or longer time periods may cost more.

Statewide Search Tools for Lansing OWI Cases

Michigan maintains several statewide databases that cover OWI records from all 83 counties, including Ingham. These tools are useful when you want to check whether someone has OWI history elsewhere in Michigan, or when you want to quickly confirm case details without visiting a courthouse.

ICHAT is the Michigan State Police criminal history tool. It costs $10 per search and returns statewide conviction data. Every OWI conviction reported to the state appears in ICHAT, covering both misdemeanor and felony charges from any Michigan county. Arrests that did not lead to conviction, dismissed charges, and acquittals do not appear in ICHAT. For pending cases or cases that were not convicted, MiCOURT is the correct tool to use instead.

OTIS is the Michigan Department of Corrections offender search, covering individuals currently in state prison or under MDOC parole and probation. It is free. Anyone with a felony OWI conviction who received a state prison sentence will appear in OTIS. The MSP Criminal History Records service provides a more formal certified background report, suitable for employment or licensing purposes where official documentation is required. The Ingham County courts also have their own case search portal at courts.ingham.org, which can be a useful supplement to the statewide MiCOURT search.

Ingham County Circuit Court - Felony OWI Cases

Felony OWI cases from Lansing go to the Ingham County Circuit Court, which is the 30th Judicial Circuit. Under Michigan law, a third or subsequent OWI offense is always a felony, and any OWI that caused death or serious bodily injury is also charged as a felony. The circuit court handles those matters separately from the 54A District Court, and the case records are maintained independently at the circuit court clerk's office.

Michigan ended the 10-year lookback for OWI priors in 2007. Any prior OWI conviction counts toward a felony third offense charge, no matter how old it is. A driver with two prior OWI convictions faces a felony on any new OWI arrest. Felony OWI carries potential state prison time rather than county jail. The 30th Circuit Court records are searchable through MiCOURT using case type code FD for Felony Drunk Driving, or through the Ingham County courts portal at courts.ingham.org. See the Ingham County DUI Records page for full courthouse details and access instructions.

Michigan OWI Law - Charges Filed in Lansing Cases

Michigan does not use the term DUI in its statutes. The charge is OWI, Operating While Intoxicated, under MCL 257.625. The standard BAC limit is 0.08%. Drivers under 21 face a zero-tolerance rule at 0.02%. Commercial vehicle operators must stay below 0.04%.

The High BAC or Super Drunk charge applies at 0.17% BAC or above. A first-time High BAC offense is still a misdemeanor, but the penalties are much worse than a standard first OWI. Mandatory license suspension is 45 days with no driving at all, followed by a 10.5-month restricted driving period. Jail time on a first High BAC conviction can reach 180 days. Ignition interlock is commonly ordered as a condition of any restricted driving privileges during that period.

Michigan's implied consent law means that any driver on a public road has already consented to a breath or blood test. Refusing triggers an automatic 1-year license suspension on the first refusal. That suspension runs through the Secretary of State's administrative process, separately from whatever happens in criminal court. An OWI dismissal in court does not reverse an implied consent suspension that was already put in place.

OWI convictions are permanent in Michigan. They stay on the criminal record indefinitely. Clean Slate legislation created a limited path to expunge a first-time OWI after 5 years have passed, but High BAC convictions and OWI cases involving death or serious injury cannot be expunged. Anyone thinking about expungement or license restoration should review the Road to Restoration resources from the Secretary of State for current eligibility rules and next steps.

Driving Records and OWI History in Lansing

An OWI arrest and conviction in Lansing creates two separate records. The court file is held at the 54A District Court or the Ingham County Circuit Court. The driving record is held at the Secretary of State. These are different systems. Courts report convictions to the SOS, but the SOS also runs its own administrative record tied to license actions that can operate independently from criminal proceedings.

Court records document the legal case from arrest through sentencing. Driving records track license status, points, and alcohol-related driving convictions. A dismissed court case does not automatically reverse a license suspension that the SOS put in place based on an implied consent refusal or a temporary suspension at the time of arrest. The two tracks stay separate, and clearing one does not automatically clear the other.

To get a Michigan driving record, use the Secretary of State. The SOS driving records page explains online and mail request options. A standard driving record costs $11. OWI convictions appear on the driving record for the life of the license. Points from OWI convictions also stay on record, though the rolling 2-year window used for suspension and insurance rating purposes means older points have less practical impact as time passes.

For a full criminal background check that covers statewide OWI conviction history, ICHAT is the standard starting point at $10 per search. For certified documentation needed by an employer or licensing board, the MSP Criminal History Records service provides a formal report covering all reported OWI convictions statewide. That report documents conviction status, offense date, and charge details but is not a full court transcript or certified copy of court records.

Nearby Cities

These Michigan cities also have OWI records pages with court contact information, FOIA guidance, and statewide search tools.