Find DUI Records in Rochester Hills
DUI and OWI records in Rochester Hills, Michigan run through the 52nd District Court Division 1, which is located right in the city, and through the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court for felony-level offenses. This page explains where those records are kept, how to search them, and what tools are available for looking up OWI history in Rochester Hills.
52nd District Court Division 1 - Rochester Hills
The 52nd District Court, Division 1 is the local court for Rochester Hills OWI cases at the misdemeanor level. It is at 700 Barclay Circle, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. Call 248-853-5553 to reach the clerk's office. First and second OWI offenses are misdemeanors in Michigan and stay at the district court level through sentencing.
The court handles all first-offense OWI cases under MCL 257.625. A first OWI can result in up to 93 days in jail, fines, and a license suspension of 30 days followed by restricted driving for 150 days. A second OWI carries up to 1 year in jail and a longer license suspension. Michigan has no lookback period for OWI priors since the law changed in 2007. Every prior conviction counts, regardless of when it happened.
Division 1 of the 52nd District Court covers Rochester Hills and the City of Rochester. If you need records specifically from Rochester Hills cases, call the clerk's office and confirm which cases fall under this division. MiCOURT searches across all Michigan courts at once, which makes it the simplest starting point for online searching.
| Address | 700 Barclay Circle, Rochester Hills, MI 48307 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 248-853-5553 |
| Case Search | MiCOURT (free) |
| OWI Jurisdiction | 1st and 2nd offense (misdemeanor) |
To search Rochester Hills OWI cases online, go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. No account is needed. Search by name or case number. OWI cases appear with charge codes OD or SD in the system. MiCOURT is updated regularly and shows both open and closed cases. For older records not in the online system, contact the 52nd District Court clerk directly.
Rochester Hills Police Department Records
The Rochester Hills Police Department makes OWI arrests in the city. They keep arrest records, incident reports, and booking files. Their address is 1000 Rochester Hills Drive, Rochester Hills, MI 48309. The records division number is 248-656-3600.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231, gives you the right to request police records. You submit a written FOIA request identifying the record you want. The department must respond within 5 business days. They can grant the request, deny it with a legal reason, or ask for more time. If granted, you pay a copying fee set by the department.
Police records and court records tell different stories. An arrest record confirms an arrest happened. It does not show the case outcome. Charges can be dropped, reduced, or resolved in court after the arrest. If you need to know what happened in court, search MiCOURT or contact the district court clerk. Use both record types together for a complete picture.
Common records available through a Rochester Hills Police FOIA request include arrest reports and offense narratives for OWI incidents, booking records and charge information, and field sobriety and chemical test documentation where applicable. Records for minors, ongoing investigations, or cases under court seal may be restricted or partially withheld.
FOIA requests can be submitted in person at police headquarters or mailed to the records unit. Be specific about the date, name, and type of incident you are looking for. Vague requests slow the process down and can lead to clarification requests that extend the 5-day window.
Statewide DUI and OWI Record Databases
Michigan has three main statewide tools for searching DUI and OWI records. They cover different types of information and different time periods. Using more than one gives you a more complete picture.
ICHAT is the Internet Criminal History Access Tool run by the Michigan State Police. It covers criminal conviction records from all 83 counties. A search costs $10. You search by name and date of birth. OWI convictions appear because they are criminal matters, not just traffic violations. ICHAT results reflect the official state criminal history. Access it at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT/Login.aspx.
MiCOURT is the free court case search tool. It is the best place to start when looking up a specific case. You do not need an account. Search by name, case number, or date of birth. Results show the charge type, case status, hearing dates, and outcome. It covers both district and circuit court cases. Some older cases may not appear online and require a clerk request.
OTIS is the Offender Tracking Information System from the Michigan Department of Corrections. It is free. Use it to check if someone is currently incarcerated or under MDOC supervision for a felony OWI. A third OWI offense in Michigan is a felony. OTIS is at michigan.gov/corrections/offender-search.
| Tool | Cost | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|
| ICHAT | $10 | All Michigan criminal convictions |
| MiCOURT | Free | Court cases, charges, outcomes |
| OTIS | Free | MDOC-supervised offenders |
Oakland County 6th Circuit Court
Felony OWI cases from Rochester Hills are handled by the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court. In Michigan, a third OWI is a felony under MCL 257.625. Those cases begin in district court and move to circuit court after a preliminary examination. The 6th Circuit Court is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. Phone: 248-858-0348.
Oakland County's Court Explorer system lets the public search circuit court records online at oakgov.com/courts/circuit/. You can search by name or case number. Public access computers are available inside the Pontiac courthouse for walk-in use. District court records for Rochester Hills are at the 52nd District Court location in the city itself, not in Pontiac.
For more detail on Oakland County courts, how to get certified copies, and other county-level resources, see the Oakland County DUI Records page. That page covers the full court system and access options across Oakland County.
Michigan OWI Law - Key Facts for Records Searches
The main Michigan OWI statute is MCL 257.625. It covers all OWI offenses, BAC thresholds, and penalties. Knowing the law helps you understand what the charge codes and case outcomes mean when you find a record.
Standard OWI applies when BAC is 0.08 percent or higher. Michigan also charges Super Drunk OWI when BAC is 0.17 percent or higher. Super Drunk carries extra penalties including mandatory treatment and longer license suspensions. The Super Drunk provision was added to Michigan law in 2010. It shows up in case records as a separate charge code from standard OWI.
Drivers under 21 face the Michigan zero-tolerance law. A BAC of 0.02 percent or higher results in charges. Under-21 OWI cases are also handled at the district court level. The record will show the specific charge type, which differs from the adult OWI charge code.
Implied consent is part of Michigan law under MCL 257.625c. Driving in Michigan means you consent to chemical testing when lawfully stopped. Refusing the test triggers automatic license consequences separate from any criminal penalties. The refusal shows up in Secretary of State records and can be used in court as evidence of guilt consciousness.
Michigan's lifetime lookback rule means all prior OWI convictions count. There is no cutoff at 10 years or any other period. A person arrested for their third OWI 25 years after the second one is still charged as a third offender. That makes the felony threshold easier to reach and explains why some older OWI cases are relevant to current charges.
Michigan allows first-time OWI expungement under the Clean Slate law after 5 years with no other convictions. An expunged record drops off ICHAT and public court records. It does not disappear from law enforcement databases. If you search for someone and find nothing, it is possible an expungement occurred.
Driving Records vs. Court Records
Many people confuse court records with driving records. Both may show an OWI conviction, but they are different systems with different purposes. Knowing which one to check depends on what you need.
The Michigan Secretary of State maintains driving records. A driving record shows license status, points, suspensions, and traffic-related convictions. An OWI conviction adds points and triggers license sanctions. Standard driving records cover 7 years. Complete records go back further. You can order a driving record at any SOS branch or through the SOS website.
Court records show the criminal case history. Charges filed, plea entered, verdict, and sentence. For Rochester Hills OWI cases, start with MiCOURT or call the 52nd District Court Division 1 clerk. Felony cases require a check of 6th Circuit Court records in Pontiac. Certified copies of court records require a direct request to the clerk and carry a fee. Online searches through MiCOURT are informational only and do not produce certified documents.