Charlevoix County OWI Records

Charlevoix County DUI records cover OWI arrests and court cases processed through the 33rd Circuit Court and 90th District Court at 301 State Street in Charlevoix. These public records are searchable online through MiCOURT at no cost or through the ICHAT criminal history database for $10 per search. The county also provides an online case search portal through cms.jcmsinfo.com/charlevoix/, which gives direct access to local court filings without going through the statewide tools.

33rd Circuit Court and 90th District Court: OWI Case Structure

Both the 33rd Circuit Court and the 90th District Court are located at 301 State Street in Charlevoix. The two courts share the same building but handle different charge levels. Misdemeanor OWI cases, first and second offenses, go to the 90th District Court. Felony OWI cases, third or subsequent offenses and OWI causing death or serious injury, go to the 33rd Circuit Court.

The circuit court number is 231-547-7200. The district court number is 231-547-7201. Both courts are part of the Charlevoix County court system maintained at charlevoixcounty.org. Court staff can confirm case status and explain the process for obtaining certified records.

Michigan OWI law is found at MCL 257.625. The standard OWI charge applies at BAC 0.08% or higher. The Super Drunk provision applies at BAC 0.17% or higher and doubles the maximum jail time on a first offense. Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI) under MCL 257.625(3) is a lesser charge for cases where impairment is observable even if the BAC falls below 0.08%. Drivers under 21 face a zero-tolerance rule at 0.02% or higher.

Michigan eliminated the 10-year lookback in 2007. All prior OWI convictions in Michigan count permanently. A person with a prior OWI from any year faces enhanced charges on a second arrest. A second prior means a third arrest is a felony, regardless of when those earlier convictions happened.

Charlevoix County Online Case Search and Statewide Tools

Charlevoix County offers a local case management search portal in addition to the statewide options. This gives searchers three ways to look up OWI records from this county.

Charlevoix County Online Case Search: The county provides direct access to local court records through cms.jcmsinfo.com/charlevoix/. This portal pulls directly from the county's case management system. It is a useful first stop for Charlevoix-specific searches and may return more current or detailed local information than the statewide tools in some cases.

MiCOURT Case Search (Free): The MiCOURT portal covers all 83 Michigan counties. Search by name or case number. OWI charge codes to note: OD for drug-impaired OWI, SD for Super Drunk, FD for felony drunk driving. Results are free and include case status and hearing information.

ICHAT ($10): ICHAT returns a full Michigan criminal history for a $10 fee. It covers all counties and includes all OWI arrests, charges, and dispositions. This is the right tool when you need a complete picture of a person's criminal record rather than details on one specific case.

Charlevoix County Sheriff Records and FOIA

The Charlevoix County Sheriff's Office handles OWI arrests in the unincorporated county and on county roads. Incident reports, arrest records, and chemical test documentation from these arrests are available under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231.

To request records, submit a written FOIA request to the sheriff's office at 1000 Grant Street. The agency has 5 business days to respond. The response will grant the request, deny it with a stated reason, or notify you of an extension if more time is needed. Fees may apply for copying and redacting records.

OWI arrests in the city of Charlevoix are handled by the Charlevoix city police department, not the sheriff. If the arrest occurred within city limits, your FOIA request should go to the city police, not the county sheriff. The arrest report will list which agency made the stop and arrest. Checking this detail first saves time and avoids sending your request to the wrong office.

OWI Penalties Under Michigan Law

Michigan OWI penalties are set by MCL 257.625 and apply uniformly across all counties, including Charlevoix. The penalties escalate with each conviction and with the BAC level at the time of arrest.

A first standard OWI (BAC 0.08 to 0.16%) carries up to 93 days in jail, fines up to $500, and a 30-day license suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. Community service is also common. A first Super Drunk OWI (BAC 0.17% or higher) doubles the maximum jail time to 180 days and extends the restricted driving period to 320 days.

A second OWI within 7 years carries up to 1 year in jail, fines up to $1,000, and a minimum 1-year license revocation. Vehicle immobilization and an ignition interlock device requirement often accompany a second conviction. A third OWI is a felony, regardless of when the prior convictions occurred. It carries 1 to 5 years in state prison, fines up to $5,000, and a mandatory license revocation as a habitual offender.

OWI causing death is also a felony and carries up to 15 years. OWI causing serious injury carries up to 5 years. These felony charges go directly to the 33rd Circuit Court in Charlevoix. The severity of these charges means an Alpena or Emmet County felony OWI charge could end up in a different circuit court depending on where the offense occurred.

The implied consent rule under MCL 257.625c applies to every OWI stop in Michigan. Refusing a breath or blood test triggers an automatic 1-year license suspension. This is separate from the criminal charge and shows on the driving record regardless of how the OWI case turns out.

Driving Records and License Restoration After OWI

An OWI conviction in Charlevoix County affects the criminal record and the Michigan driving record. These are separate documents held by different agencies. The Michigan Secretary of State maintains the driving record. You can request one through the SOS driving records page.

License sanctions after an OWI in Michigan depend on conviction history. A first OWI brings a 30-day suspension. A second OWI brings at least a 1-year revocation. Habitual offender status, reached after multiple convictions, carries a mandatory revocation with no fixed reinstatement date. To get a revoked license back, the person must petition through the Secretary of State's Driver Assessment and Appeal Division (DAAD).

The Road to Restoration program offers free clinics that explain the appeal process. These clinics cover what documents to prepare, what a substance use evaluation requires, and how the hearing panel evaluates requests. They are available statewide and helpful for anyone navigating the restoration process after an OWI revocation.

The Michigan OTIS database tracks active MDOC supervision. If a Charlevoix County felony OWI resulted in a prison sentence, OTIS shows current custody and supervision status. It is free and publicly searchable. The MSP Criminal History Record is a separate formal document sometimes required by employers or professional licensing boards alongside ICHAT.

OWI Expungement and Clean Slate in Charlevoix County

Michigan's Clean Slate Act opened a limited path to expunge a first-time misdemeanor OWI conviction. The law requires a 5-year waiting period from sentencing or the end of probation, no new convictions during that time, and a formal petition to the original court. For Charlevoix County misdemeanor OWI cases, that means filing at the 90th District Court at 301 State Street.

The judge has discretion. Clean Slate does not guarantee approval. The court weighs the person's behavior since conviction and the nature of the original offense. Most successful petitions come from people with clean records during the full waiting period and documented rehabilitation efforts.

To get certified copies of court records from Charlevoix County OWI cases, contact the 33rd Circuit Court at 231-547-7200 or the 90th District Court at 231-547-7201. The clerk can confirm current fees and the required request form. Certified copies are commonly needed for professional licenses, insurance matters, or legal proceedings in other states.

Nearby Counties

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