Find DUI Records in Westland

Westland DUI and OWI records are filed at the 18th District Court, which is located in the city and handles all first and second offense OWI cases. Westland is in Wayne County, so felony OWI charges move to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit. This page covers the courts, police department, statewide search tools, and Michigan OWI law as it applies to Westland cases.

18th District Court - Westland OWI Cases

The 18th District Court is Westland's local court and handles all first and second offense OWI cases filed in the city. Both are misdemeanor-level charges. The court sits right in the city, sharing a building block with the Westland Police Department on Ford Road. That makes it easy to visit both in one trip if you need records from both sources.

Case searches are available through MiCOURT, the free statewide court search system. Go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search and filter by the 18th District Court. You can search by full name or case number. Results include charge descriptions, hearing dates, case status, and party information. The system covers open and closed cases. For records that predate electronic filing, contact the court clerk directly.

Certified copies of district court records from the 18th District Court can be obtained in person at the clerk's window or by mail. Call (734) 595-8770 to confirm current copy fees and what identification is required. If you are only checking case status or want basic charge details, MiCOURT handles that for free without needing to contact the court.

Westland Police Department - FOIA Records

The Westland Police Department handles OWI arrests within the city and generates the associated arrest reports, incident narratives, and chemical test documentation. These records are separate from what the court holds. To access police records tied to an OWI case, you need to submit a FOIA request to the department.

Under MCL 15.231, public agencies in Michigan must respond to FOIA requests within 5 business days. Submit your request in writing to the Westland Police Department. Include the name of the person involved, the date of the incident, and any report number you already have. Detailed requests get faster results. Vague requests take longer and may come back with partial information.

Police records typically include the officer's account of the stop, field sobriety test notes, breathalyzer or blood test results, and booking information. If the case is still open and active in court, some documents may be withheld under FOIA exemptions for pending prosecutions. After the case closes, more documents generally become available. Ask the records unit if you are unsure what is currently accessible before filing your request.

Statewide Search Tools for Michigan OWI Records

Michigan provides three public tools for OWI and criminal history searches. They are not interchangeable. Each one shows different data and serves a different purpose. ICHAT is the most complete for criminal history. MiCOURT is best for court case details. OTIS covers people in state custody. Using all three gives you the fullest result.

ICHAT is run by the Michigan State Police. At $10 per search, it pulls criminal records from all 83 counties. An OWI conviction will appear in ICHAT results along with the date, offense code, and the court that handled it. Search at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Pay by credit or debit card. Results come back quickly, often in just a few minutes.

MiCOURT is free and shows case-level data including all charges, not just convictions. That means you can see dismissed counts and reduced pleas as well. OTIS is specifically for tracking state prison offenders and may not have anything on someone whose OWI resulted in probation or county jail time. Most first and second offense OWI cases in Westland do not result in state prison.

Wayne County Circuit Court - Felony OWI Cases

A third offense OWI is a felony in Michigan. No exceptions. When a Westland resident faces a third OWI charge, the case moves from the 18th District Court to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit. The Third Circuit handles all felony criminal cases in Wayne County, including felony OWI cases that originate in Westland. Felony OWI brings possible state prison time, long license revocations, and a permanent felony conviction on record.

Felony OWI cases involving serious injury or death also go directly to circuit court regardless of prior offense count. These cases may carry different charge codes in MiCOURT than standard third-offense cases. You can search them through MiCOURT the same way you would any Wayne County circuit case, or contact the court clerk for a direct records search.

For a full look at Wayne County courts, search systems, and records access, visit the Wayne County DUI Records page. It covers all district courts in the county, the Third Circuit, and county-specific tools.

Michigan OWI Law - What Records Show

Michigan uses the term OWI, short for Operating While Intoxicated, as the legal name for drunk driving. The governing statute is MCL 257.625. The standard BAC limit is 0.08%. At 0.17% or above, the charge becomes High BAC, also known as Super Drunk. Drivers under 21 face charges with a BAC as low as 0.02%.

Michigan got rid of its 10-year lookback rule in 2007. Before that law changed, courts only counted prior OWI convictions from the past 10 years when deciding whether a new case was a first, second, or third offense. Now every prior OWI counts, no matter when it happened. A conviction from 1995 still factors into how a 2025 charge gets classified. This is one reason record searches matter so much in OWI cases.

Implied consent under MCL 257.625c means any driver on Michigan roads has already legally agreed to chemical testing if an officer suspects OWI. Refuse the test and you get an automatic one-year license suspension. That refusal is documented and can come up during court proceedings.

OWI records in Michigan are permanent. They do not expire. The only removal option is expungement under the Clean Slate law. A person with a single first-time OWI may apply after 5 years if they meet all the legal requirements. High BAC cases are not eligible. Neither are OWIs that caused injury or death. If expungement is granted, the record is sealed from public view through ICHAT, though law enforcement agencies retain access.

License consequences depend on the offense level. A first offense brings a 30-day suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. A second offense triggers a one-year revocation. Super Drunk offenders face 45 days suspended and 320 days restricted. Getting a license back after a revocation involves a hearing with the Secretary of State, not just waiting out the time period.

Driving Records vs. Court Records

These two record types are not the same, and they come from different state agencies. Understanding the difference helps you find what you need without wasting time.

A court record comes from the district or circuit court where the OWI case was filed. It shows charges, hearing dates, plea or verdict, sentencing, and probation conditions. You can access court records through MiCOURT, the court clerk, or ICHAT. A driving record comes from the Michigan Secretary of State and shows license status, suspension history, points, and traffic violations including OWI convictions. You can order a driving record at michigan.gov/sos/services/driving-records. Employers, insurers, and attorneys typically need both records when evaluating an OWI situation.

The Michigan State Police also keeps a separate criminal history database available through the MSP Criminal History service at michigan.gov/msp/services/chr. ICHAT draws on the same data but is the public-facing version. If you need a thorough review of OWI history, ICHAT is the fastest public option. The MSP Criminal History service is geared more toward agencies.

For a certified copy of an 18th District Court record, call (734) 595-8770 and ask the clerk about current fees and how to request by mail. Plain copies cost less than certified ones. Both are available if you know what form you need.

Nearby Cities in Wayne County

Other cities in the western Wayne County area also route felony OWI cases through the Third Judicial Circuit Court. District courts and police departments vary by city. Visit the pages below for OWI records in nearby communities.

View Wayne County DUI Records