Cass County OWI and DUI Records

Cass County DUI records cover OWI arrests and court cases handled by the 4th District Court and the 43rd Circuit Court at the Law and Courts Building in Cassopolis. MiCOURT provides free online access to case filings, while ICHAT covers statewide criminal conviction history for $10. This page lays out how to search records, what the courts handle, and what Michigan's OWI statutes mean for what shows up in those records.

Cass County Courts for OWI Cases

Two courts share OWI jurisdiction in Cass County. The 4th District Court handles misdemeanor charges, including first and second offense OWI under MCL 257.625. The district court is at 60296 M-62 in Cassopolis and can be reached at (269) 445-4424. Most OWI cases in Cass County begin here. The district court keeps records of all case activity: arraignment, hearings, plea or trial, and the final outcome.

The 43rd Circuit Court handles felony OWI. Third-offense OWI is a felony in Michigan regardless of how much time has passed since prior convictions. OWI causing death carries up to 15 years in prison. OWI causing serious injury carries up to 5 years. The circuit court is at the same Law and Courts Building address. Reach the circuit at (269) 445-4416. The Cass County Courts website at casscourtsmi.org has additional contact information and court details.

Cass County is in southwest Michigan near the Indiana border. That location can sometimes involve OWI cases with out-of-state defendants, which can complicate record searches. MiCOURT searches by name will still return Cass County filings, but you may need to check the Indiana courts system separately for out-of-state history.

How to Access Cass County DUI Records

Start with MiCOURT. The Michigan court system operates this free tool at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. It covers all Cass County courts. Search by name or case number. When looking for OWI cases, the relevant case codes are SD (Statute Drunk Driving), OD (Ordinance Drunk Driving), and FD (Felony Drunk Driving). MiCOURT returns charges, party names, scheduled dates, and case status.

ICHAT is the Michigan State Police criminal history database. It covers statewide conviction records. Access it at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT for $10 per search. ICHAT shows OWI convictions that are permanently on record. Arrests without conviction and pending cases do not appear. Use both MiCOURT and ICHAT together for the most complete search.

For arrest records in Cass County, file a FOIA request with the Cass County Sheriff's Office. Records Division can be reached at (269) 445-1249. The county government site at casscountymi.org has additional contact information. Michigan's FOIA law under MCL 15.231 requires agencies to respond within five business days. Copy fees generally run $0.10 to $1.00 per page. The MSP FOIA process is outlined at michigan.gov/msp.

The Cass County Courts website is the dedicated resource for court-related information, including contact details for both the circuit and district courts.

The Cass County Courts site covers both the 43rd Circuit and 4th District courts and is a direct source for case-related contact information in Cassopolis.

Michigan OWI Law and Cass County Records

Michigan uses OWI, not DUI. The main law is MCL 257.625. Standard BAC limit is 0.08%. The Super Drunk provision at 0.17% doubles jail time and requires an ignition interlock. Drivers under 21 are subject to zero tolerance at 0.02%. Commercial drivers face a 0.04% limit. Each level results in a distinct charge in the court record.

OWVI stands for Operating While Visibly Impaired. No BAC reading is needed for this charge. It is sometimes offered as a lesser plea from a full OWI charge. OWPD is Operating With Presence of Drugs and applies to Schedule 1 substances. Strict liability means impairment does not need to be shown, only the presence of the substance. Both OWVI and OWPD records appear in Cass County DUI records alongside standard OWI charges in MiCOURT.

Implied consent under MCL 257.625c means drivers agree to chemical testing when suspected of OWI. Refusing a test brings a one-year license suspension for a first refusal and two years for a second within seven years. That refusal is a separate entry on the driving record. Michigan stopped using a lookback period in 2007, so all prior OWI convictions count regardless of when they happened.

Sobriety Court Options in Cass County

Cass County has a sobriety court program available through the 4th District Court. Contact the district court at (269) 445-4424 for information about eligibility and referral. These programs offer structured treatment and supervision as an alternative to standard sentencing. They are not available to every defendant. Eligibility depends on the nature of the charge, prior history, and assessed need.

Participants in sobriety court are required to check in with the court regularly, submit to drug and alcohol testing, and complete treatment components. These appearances generate entries in the court record. The case is publicly visible in MiCOURT throughout the program. Final disposition varies depending on whether the defendant completes all requirements.

The 43rd Circuit Court also has capacity for felony-level treatment programs. Defendants facing third-offense OWI or related felony charges may be evaluated for eligibility. These programs are handled separately from the district court and involve a different set of requirements. Reach the circuit court at (269) 445-4416 for current program information.

Driving Records and License Consequences

An OWI conviction in Cass County appears on both the criminal history and the Michigan driving record. The criminal history is through the Michigan State Police. The driving record is with the Secretary of State. These are two separate agencies, and you must request from each one individually.

A first OWI brings a 30-day hard suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. A second conviction within seven years triggers a one-year revocation. A third conviction leads to revocation with a five-year wait before any hearing. Getting a license back after revocation means going through the Road to Restoration process with the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division.

Driver Responsibility Fees total $2,000 over two years for an OWI conviction. These fees are separate from court fines. Failure to pay leads to additional license suspension. Request a Michigan driving record through the SOS driving records page. The MSP impaired driving page provides statewide enforcement context.

The Cass County Sheriff's Office handles OWI arrests in unincorporated areas and is the starting point for FOIA requests on arrest records before cases reach the court system.

Nearby Counties

Cass County is in southwest Michigan. OWI cases near county lines may involve courts in these neighboring counties.