Find DUI Records in Antrim County

Antrim County DUI records reflect OWI arrests and criminal cases filed in the 13th Circuit Court and 86th District Court, both based in Bellaire. The 13th Circuit serves Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties together, making it a regional court with a wider case volume than many rural Michigan circuits. You can search Antrim OWI records through MiCOURT, ICHAT, or direct contact with the county courts at 203 East Cayuga Street in Bellaire.

13th Circuit and 86th District Court: How OWI Cases Are Handled

Antrim County is part of the 13th Judicial Circuit, which covers three counties: Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau. This is a multi-county circuit, which means circuit judges rotate or maintain caseloads across all three. The circuit court website is circuit13.org, and it handles all felony OWI matters from Antrim County.

The 86th District Court handles misdemeanor OWI cases. First and second OWI offenses are misdemeanors under Michigan law. The district court is at 205 East Cayuga Street in Bellaire, just one block from the circuit court. Both share the same phone number for general inquiries.

Michigan OWI law is codified at MCL 257.625. The law sets the BAC limit at 0.08% for standard OWI, 0.17% for the Super Drunk enhancement, and 0.02% for drivers under 21. Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI) under MCL 257.625(3) is a separate but related charge that carries lighter penalties than standard OWI.

Michigan has not had a 10-year lookback limit since 2007. Every prior OWI conviction counts when charging a new offense. A second conviction anywhere in Michigan, no matter when it happened, makes a new arrest a potential third offense and a felony. This lifetime lookback rule sets Michigan apart from most other states.

Searching Antrim County OWI Records Online

Two statewide tools cover Antrim County OWI cases. Both pull from Michigan court records. The right tool depends on what you are trying to find.

MiCOURT (Free): The MiCOURT Case Search covers all 83 Michigan counties, including Antrim. Search by name or case number. OWI charge codes to look for include OD (OWI with drugs or controlled substances), SD (Super Drunk, BAC 0.17% or higher), and FD (felony drunk driving). Results show case status, charge details, and scheduled hearing dates. No fee required.

ICHAT ($10 per search): ICHAT returns a person's full Michigan criminal history. The $10 fee covers a statewide name search. Results include OWI arrests, charges, and dispositions from all 83 counties. OWI convictions are permanent on this record. ICHAT is the right tool when you need a complete criminal background picture rather than one specific case.

Antrim County Sheriff and FOIA Records Access

The Antrim County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for incidents in unincorporated parts of the county. OWI arrests by the sheriff's department generate incident reports, booking records, and breath or blood test documentation. These records are available through a written FOIA request under MCL 15.231.

FOIA requests must be submitted in writing. The agency has 5 business days to respond. Requests can be granted, denied with an explanation, or extended with notice to the requester. Typical OWI records sought through FOIA include the initial incident report, field sobriety test results, and any dashcam or body camera footage, if available.

Antrim County has several municipalities with their own police departments. If the OWI arrest was made by a village or township officer rather than the sheriff, direct your FOIA request to that specific agency. The responding department is listed on the arrest report and also on the case filing in MiCOURT.

OWI Penalties and How They Work in Michigan

The penalties for OWI in Michigan escalate sharply with each conviction. A first offense carries up to 93 days in jail, fines up to $500, and a 30-day license suspension followed by 150 days restricted. The penalties are set by MCL 257.625 and apply across all Michigan counties, including Antrim.

A second OWI conviction means up to 1 year in jail, higher fines, and a minimum 1-year license revocation. The court may also order vehicle immobilization. A third OWI is a felony. It brings 1 to 5 years in state prison, mandatory vehicle forfeiture in some cases, and a mandatory license revocation as a habitual offender.

The Super Drunk provision adds another layer. A BAC of 0.17% or higher on a first offense doubles the maximum jail time to 180 days and extends the license restriction period. Super Drunk cases are still misdemeanors for a first offense but are treated more seriously than standard OWI.

Implied consent refusal, under MCL 257.625c, triggers a separate automatic 1-year suspension. This is a civil action, not a criminal one, but it shows on the driving record and can affect insurance rates and future license reinstatement efforts.

Driving Records and License Restoration

An OWI conviction in Antrim County generates both a court record and a driving record entry. The Michigan Secretary of State maintains the driving record. You can order one through the SOS driving records page. Employers, insurers, and licensing boards often request this document separately from the criminal record.

The Road to Restoration program offers free clinics for people seeking to restore a revoked Michigan license. These clinics explain what the Secretary of State expects in a license appeal hearing, what documents to prepare, and how substance use evaluations factor into the decision. They do not guarantee restoration, but they give people a realistic view of what the process involves.

The MSP Criminal History Record is another document sometimes required by licensing boards or courts. It is separate from ICHAT but draws on the same state data. OWI convictions appear on both, and they remain permanent unless expunged under Clean Slate rules.

The Michigan OTIS database tracks people currently under MDOC supervision. If a person received a prison sentence for a felony OWI out of Antrim County, OTIS can show current custody status and expected release information.

Clean Slate Expungement for Antrim County OWI Cases

Michigan's Clean Slate Act gives some first-time OWI misdemeanor convicts a path to expungement. The waiting period is 5 years from the later of the sentence date or the end of probation. During those 5 years, no new convictions are allowed. After the wait, the person files a petition in the court that handled the original case.

For Antrim County misdemeanor OWI cases, that petition goes to the 86th District Court. The judge reviews it and decides whether to grant expungement. Approval is not guaranteed. The court weighs the person's conduct since conviction and the nature of the original offense.

For certified court records from Antrim County OWI cases, contact the 13th Circuit Court or 86th District Court at 231-533-6353. The clerk's office can provide certified copies for a fee, which varies by document type and page count. Certified copies are typically required for insurance purposes, professional licensing, or court proceedings in other jurisdictions.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Antrim County. Each has its own circuit and district courts handling OWI cases.