Find DUI Records in Southfield

46th District Court: Misdemeanor OWI Cases

The 46th District Court serves Southfield and handles all first and second offense OWI cases filed within the city. The court is located at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48076. Call (248) 796-5800 to reach the clerk. This is one of the busier district courts in Oakland County. Case records here are public in most situations and can be accessed through the clerk's office window or through MiCOURT online. Older cases may not appear in MiCOURT and might require an in-person or written request to retrieve.

Michigan uses 0.08 percent BAC as the standard OWI threshold. Cases at or above that level qualify as OWI. The Super Drunk provision in Michigan law applies at 0.17 percent BAC or higher and triggers mandatory additional penalties, including required treatment and longer license suspension, even for a first offense. Zero tolerance applies to drivers under 21 at a BAC of 0.02 percent. Each offense type carries a distinct charge code and shows separately in both court records and MiCOURT search results.

Michigan removed the 10-year lookback rule for OWI in 2007. Before that change, only OWI convictions from the past 10 years counted when determining offense level. Now every prior OWI on a person's record counts, regardless of when it happened. A person with one prior OWI from 30 years ago faces second-offense penalties on a new charge. Two priors at any point in their life makes the next charge a felony. This rule affects how prosecutors and courts classify Southfield OWI cases.

Southfield Police Department: Arrest Records and FOIA

The Southfield Police Department handles OWI arrests within city limits and maintains arrest reports, incident records, and booking data for those cases. The department is located at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48076. The records unit can be reached at (248) 796-5500. To get a copy of an OWI arrest report, submit a written FOIA request to the department.

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (MCL 15.231) governs access to Southfield Police records. Anyone can submit a request. Residency does not matter, and you do not need to be the subject of the record. The department must respond within five business days of receiving a complete written request. If they need more time, they must send written notice explaining why. Arrest reports become public once the related criminal case is no longer active. Records tied to ongoing investigations are typically withheld until the case resolves.

A police arrest record and a court case record serve different purposes. The arrest record covers what the officer observed at the stop, field sobriety test results, BAC readings, and the charges filed on scene. The court record covers everything that happened afterward. Charges sometimes get reduced or dismissed. An arrest record shows an arrest happened regardless of the outcome. If you need to know how a Southfield OWI case ended in court, use MiCOURT or ICHAT rather than submitting a FOIA request to the police department. Those tools are much faster for tracking case outcomes.

FOIA requests can be submitted by mail to the records unit at the Evergreen Road address or in person during business hours. Include the full name of the person involved, the date of the arrest, and a short description of the incident. More specific requests get processed faster. Vague requests often lead to a clarification letter, which resets the five-day response deadline.

Statewide Search Tools for Southfield OWI Records

Michigan offers three statewide databases for searching DUI and OWI records. Each pulls from a different source and works differently. The right choice depends on what you need and how much you are willing to spend.

MiCOURT is free and updated regularly. It covers all Michigan district and circuit courts, including the 46th District Court and the 6th Circuit in Oakland County. Search by name, date of birth, or case number. OWI charges appear as OD (standard OWI) or SD (Super Drunk) in case codes. You can confirm whether a Southfield OWI case exists and see how it resolved without any cost. Actual court documents are not viewable online through MiCOURT. It is the best starting point for most searches.

ICHAT costs $10 per search and returns a full Michigan criminal history from the Michigan State Police database. It covers all 83 counties and shows OWI convictions alongside any other criminal matters on a person's record. ICHAT is the right tool when you need a complete picture of someone's OWI history rather than just one specific case. Given Michigan's lifetime lookback rule, an ICHAT result that shows multiple OWI convictions tells you a lot about the current offense level that person would face on a new charge.

The OTIS offender search from the Michigan Department of Corrections is free and covers people under or formerly under MDOC supervision. Southfield felony OWI cases that went through the 6th Circuit Court and resulted in a prison term appear in OTIS. Most Southfield first and second offense OWI cases will not show there since those are misdemeanors that stay at the district court level.

Oakland County 6th Circuit Court: Felony OWI

Southfield OWI cases that reach felony status transfer from the 46th District Court to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac. The 6th Circuit is at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. The clerk's office number is (248) 858-0348. The circuit court website is at oakgov.com/courts/circuit/. For a full overview of how Oakland County handles OWI records, see the Oakland County DUI Records page.

A third OWI conviction anywhere in a person's Michigan criminal history makes the next charge a felony. That case starts at the district court with an arraignment and preliminary examination. If the judge finds probable cause, the case is bound over to the 6th Circuit Court, which handles the trial or plea and issues the sentence. Southfield felony OWI cases also include OWI causing serious impairment of a body function and OWI causing death. Both go directly to the circuit court and carry much heavier penalties than standard misdemeanor OWI. Oakland County operates a Court Explorer system for public case searches online. Walk-in public access terminals are also available at the Pontiac courthouse.

Michigan OWI Law and What It Means for Southfield Cases

Southfield DUI cases are prosecuted under MCL 257.625, Michigan's OWI statute. The law sets BAC thresholds, offense levels, and penalties. Reading it helps you understand what the charge codes in court records actually mean. Standard OWI is at 0.08 percent. Super Drunk is at 0.17 percent with mandatory additional consequences. Under-21 zero tolerance applies at 0.02 percent. Each appears as a distinct entry in court records.

Implied consent under MCL 257.625c means that any driver lawfully stopped in Michigan for suspected impairment has already consented to chemical testing just by driving in the state. Refusing the test triggers a one-year automatic license suspension for a first refusal, separate from any criminal penalty. A second refusal within seven years costs two years. Prosecutors can also tell the jury that the driver refused, which often works against the defense.

OWI convictions in Michigan stay on both the criminal record and the driving record permanently. Standard expungement does not apply. Michigan's Clean Slate law created a limited option for first-time OWI convictions after five years with no additional criminal history. High BAC (Super Drunk) cases do not qualify. OWI involving injury or death does not qualify. If the court grants expungement, the record disappears from public databases including ICHAT and MiCOURT. Law enforcement agencies still retain access. If a Southfield OWI case that you believe happened does not appear in a search, Clean Slate relief is one possible reason it is not there.

Driving Records and the Secretary of State

An OWI conviction in Southfield shows up in two separate record systems managed by two different agencies. The court record is held by the state court system and reflects the criminal case. The driving record is held by the Michigan Secretary of State and reflects how the conviction affected the driver's license. Both are worth checking, and neither substitutes for the other.

The Secretary of State driving record shows license status, points, suspensions, revocations, implied consent actions, and ignition interlock requirements. OWI adds 6 points to the driving record in Michigan. Those points affect insurance rates and license standing. Unlike minor traffic violations that fall off after a set period, an OWI conviction stays on the driving record permanently. For reinstatement or insurance questions after a Southfield OWI, the SOS driving record is the document to pull.

For certified criminal history, use ICHAT or contact the Michigan State Police Criminal History Records division directly. The 46th District Court clerk can provide certified copies of individual case records for a per-document fee. Online searches through MiCOURT are informational only and do not produce certified documents. For any official use such as employment background checks or legal proceedings, you need certified copies from the court or a certified ICHAT report.

Nearby Qualifying Cities

These nearby Michigan cities have their own DUI records pages with local court and law enforcement details.