Clare County DUI Records Search
Clare County DUI records cover OWI arrests and court cases handled by the 80th District Court and the 55th Circuit Court, both located at 225 W. Main Street in Harrison. You can search cases for free through MiCOURT, access criminal conviction history through ICHAT for $10, or contact the clerk's office directly. This page explains each search option, how the courts divide OWI cases, and what Michigan law requires those records to show.
Clare County Overview
Clare County Courts and OWI Cases
Two courts process OWI cases in Clare County. The 80th District Court handles misdemeanor charges, which means first and second offense OWI under MCL 257.625. Judge Hon. Joshua M. Farrell presides over the 80th District Court. The 55th Circuit Court handles felony OWI cases, including third-offense charges and OWI causing death or serious injury. Both courts sit at 225 W. Main Street in Harrison, which makes in-person visits simple.
The 55th Circuit Court is a shared court. It serves both Clare and Gladwin counties. That matters for record searches because the same circuit handles felony OWI cases from both counties. If you are searching for a case that crossed county lines, you may need to look in both Clare and Gladwin court records. The district court is specific to Clare County for misdemeanor matters.
Call the 80th District Court at (989) 539-7173 for misdemeanor case questions. Call the 55th Circuit Court at (989) 539-7131 for felony case inquiries. Staff can help you identify the right case number and explain the process for getting copies of records.
| 55th Circuit Court | 225 W. Main Street, Harrison, MI 48625 |
|---|---|
| 80th District Court | 225 W. Main Street, Harrison, MI 48625 |
| Circuit Court Phone | (989) 539-7131 |
| District Court Phone | (989) 539-7173 |
| Felony OWI | 55th Circuit (3rd offense, death, serious injury) |
| Misdemeanor OWI | 80th District Court (1st and 2nd offense) |
How to Search Clare County DUI Records
MiCOURT is the first place to look. The Michigan courts run this free search tool at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. It covers all courts in Clare County. Search by name, date of birth, or case number. When searching for OWI records, watch for these case code labels: SD (Statute Drunk Driving), OD (Ordinance Drunk Driving), and FD (Felony Drunk Driving). Results show party names, charges, case status, and hearing dates.
ICHAT is the statewide criminal history database run by the Michigan State Police. Access it at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Each search costs $10. ICHAT shows conviction history from across Michigan, not just case filings. It will show OWI convictions that are part of the permanent criminal record. It does not include arrests without conviction or cases still pending. Running both MiCOURT and ICHAT gives the most complete picture.
For arrest records not yet in the court system, file a FOIA request with the Clare County Sheriff's Office. The records contact is at ext. 4220, or email vanwagnerl@clareco.net. The sheriff's office website is at clareco.net/department/sheriff. Accident reports can be ordered through buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com. The FOIA process for Michigan State Police records is described at michigan.gov/msp.
The Clare County government site at clareco.net links to the courts page at clareco.net/department/courts, which provides additional contact details and resources for residents navigating the court system.
The Clare County Sheriff's Office site is a practical resource for understanding local law enforcement processes related to OWI arrests before cases reach the court.
The sheriff's page provides contact details useful for submitting FOIA requests for Clare County OWI arrests and incident reports.
Michigan OWI Law and What Shows in Clare Records
Michigan law calls impaired driving OWI, not DUI. The controlling statute is MCL 257.625. Standard BAC limit is 0.08%. Drivers at 0.17% or higher face the Super Drunk provision, which doubles the maximum jail time and requires an ignition interlock. Drivers under 21 face zero tolerance at 0.02%. Commercial vehicle operators have a 0.04% limit.
Two other charge types appear alongside standard OWI in Clare County records. OWVI, or Operating While Visibly Impaired, does not require a specific BAC reading. It is sometimes offered as a plea reduction from a full OWI charge. OWPD, or Operating With Presence of Drugs, applies to Schedule 1 controlled substances. No impairment needs to be proven, only presence. Both charge types show up in court filings and are searchable through MiCOURT.
Michigan's implied consent law operates under MCL 257.625c. Driving in Michigan means you agree to submit to chemical testing if an officer suspects OWI. Refusing a test results in a one-year license suspension for a first refusal, and two years if you have a prior refusal within seven years. That refusal is recorded on the driving record maintained by the Secretary of State. Michigan eliminated the 10-year lookback for OWI in 2007, so all prior convictions count regardless of age.
Note: Michigan has no lookback limit for OWI offenses. Every prior OWI conviction counts when determining whether a new charge is a first, second, or third offense.
Specialty Courts in Clare County
Clare County has several specialty court programs that handle OWI-related cases. The Clare-Gladwin Recovery and Veterans Treatment Courts operate out of the 55th Circuit. These programs offer an alternative to standard sentencing for qualifying defendants. Participants complete structured treatment and supervision in exchange for a modified sentence or reduced charges.
The Mid-Michigan Regional Mental Health Court and Sobriety Court also serve Clare County. These regional programs connect participants with treatment resources while keeping them accountable to the court. If a person's OWI case involves substance abuse or mental health issues, the court may refer the case to one of these specialty dockets. Participation is voluntary but must meet program eligibility requirements.
Cases that go through these specialty courts still generate public court records. The case will appear in MiCOURT. The outcome may differ from a standard conviction because program completion sometimes results in a different final disposition. Searching MiCOURT by name will show whether a case was routed through one of these specialty dockets.
Driving Records and License Status
An OWI conviction in Clare County results in entries on two separate records: the criminal history and the Michigan driving record. Criminal history is managed by the Michigan State Police. The driving record sits with the Secretary of State. You need to request each one separately.
A first OWI conviction brings a 30-day hard suspension, then 150 days of restricted driving. A second conviction within seven years brings a one-year revocation. A third conviction means revocation and a five-year wait before a hearing. Getting a license back after revocation requires going through the Road to Restoration process with the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division. Driver Responsibility Fees of $1,000 per year for two years also attach to OWI convictions, separate from any court fines.
Driving records can be requested through the Secretary of State driving records page. The MSP impaired driving page at michigan.gov/msp explains the broader enforcement framework statewide.
Felony OWI Records at the 55th Circuit Court
Third-offense OWI is always a felony in Michigan. So is OWI causing death or OWI causing serious injury. These cases go to the 55th Circuit Court in Clare County. The circuit court record covers arraignment, preliminary examination, pretrial motions, plea or trial, and sentencing. All of these steps are public and searchable through MiCOURT or by contacting the clerk at (989) 539-7131.
If a defendant is convicted of felony OWI and sent to prison, they may appear in the OTIS database run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. Search OTIS at michigan.gov/corrections. OTIS shows people who are currently incarcerated or on parole. After release and completion of supervision, the person exits OTIS but remains in the court record and in ICHAT.
The full text of MCL 257.625 and related statutes is available at legislature.mi.gov. Reviewing the statute helps you understand what each charge type in the court record means in terms of penalty range and case background.
Clare County's position in central Michigan means some cases involve defendants who live in nearby counties. The 55th Circuit's reach across Clare and Gladwin helps consolidate felony cases, but the record stays in Clare County if the offense happened here.
This sheriff resource page helps residents understand how local law enforcement processes OWI arrests before cases move through the Clare County courts.
Nearby Counties
OWI cases near county lines may involve courts in neighboring counties. The 55th Circuit serves both Clare and Gladwin.