Find Clinton County DUI Records

Clinton County DUI records include OWI arrests and court cases processed through the 65A District Court and the 29th Circuit Court in St. Johns. Free searches are available through MiCOURT, the statewide case search tool. The 29th Circuit Court also offers its own case inquiry portal. For conviction history, ICHAT provides statewide criminal records for $10 per search. This page covers the courts, the search tools, and how Michigan OWI law shapes what appears in these records.

Searching Clinton County DUI Records Online

The statewide MiCOURT tool is the first stop for Clinton County DUI records. Access it at micourt.courts.michigan.gov. It is free and covers all courts in the county. Search by full name, date of birth, or case number. Case code labels to watch for: SD (Statute Drunk Driving), OD (Ordinance Drunk Driving), and FD (Felony Drunk Driving). Results show charges, hearing dates, case status, and party names.

Clinton County also offers its own circuit court case inquiry tool. The 29th Circuit Court case search is at clinton-county.org. This local tool may return results specific to the 29th Circuit more quickly than a general statewide search. It is a good supplement to MiCOURT, especially for felony OWI cases handled at the circuit level.

ICHAT is the Michigan State Police criminal history database. Find it at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. The cost is $10 per search. ICHAT shows statewide conviction history, not just case filings. It will surface OWI convictions from across Michigan that are part of the permanent criminal record. Pending cases and arrests without conviction do not appear in ICHAT. Run both MiCOURT and ICHAT if you want a thorough view of someone's OWI history.

For arrest records, the Clinton County Sheriff's Office handles FOIA requests at (989) 224-5200. The sheriff's website is at clinton-county.org. Inmate information is available by calling (866) 932-6506.

Clinton County Court Structure for OWI Cases

OWI cases in Clinton County split between two courts based on severity. The 65A District Court handles misdemeanor OWI charges, covering first and second offense OWI under MCL 257.625. The district court is at 100 E. State Street, Suite 3400, in St. Johns. For case-related questions, call the main line at (989) 224-5150, the traffic line at (989) 224-5155, or the criminal line at (989) 224-5153.

The 29th Circuit Court handles felony OWI. A third OWI offense is always a felony in Michigan. OWI causing death can bring up to 15 years in prison. OWI causing serious injury carries a maximum of 5 years. The circuit court is at 100 E. State Street, Suite 4500, in St. Johns. Reach the circuit court at (989) 224-5140. The circuit court page is at clinton-county.org.

The 29th Circuit also serves Gratiot County. That shared structure does not affect how Clinton County records are kept, but it can matter if a case was filed in one county but involves a defendant from the other. Both counties' cases are accessible through MiCOURT.

Michigan OWI Law in Clinton County

Michigan uses the term OWI, not DUI. The main statute is MCL 257.625. Standard BAC is 0.08%. The Super Drunk law kicks in at 0.17%, doubling jail time and requiring an ignition interlock device. Under-21 drivers face zero tolerance at 0.02%. Commercial drivers have a 0.04% limit. Each tier results in a different charge in the court record.

OWVI, Operating While Visibly Impaired, is a related charge that does not require a specific BAC reading. It is sometimes offered as a lesser charge through a plea. OWPD, Operating With Presence of Drugs, applies to Schedule 1 substances and is strict liability. No impairment needs to be shown, only presence of the substance. Both OWVI and OWPD records appear in Clinton County court filings alongside standard OWI charges and are searchable through MiCOURT.

Michigan's implied consent rule is under MCL 257.625c. Refusing a chemical test triggers a one-year license suspension. A second refusal within seven years brings a two-year suspension. The refusal is noted on the driving record with the Secretary of State. Michigan removed the 10-year lookback for OWI offenses in 2007, meaning every prior conviction counts when a new charge is filed.

Specialty Courts in Clinton County

Clinton County participates in two regional specialty court programs. The Mid-Michigan Regional Sobriety Court handles cases where substance abuse is a driving factor in the OWI offense. The Mid-Michigan Regional Mental Health Court addresses cases involving mental health conditions alongside criminal charges. Both programs operate through the courts in St. Johns.

These programs offer structured alternatives to standard OWI sentencing. Participants work through treatment, supervision, and court check-ins over an extended period. Completion of a specialty court program may result in a modified disposition. Cases referred to these programs still appear as court records in MiCOURT. The case number and charge remain visible, though the outcome may differ from a standard conviction.

Eligibility for specialty court programs is determined by the court. Defendants do not self-select into these programs. The court or the prosecutor's office makes referrals based on case history, severity, and assessed need for treatment. Contact the 65A District Court at (989) 224-5150 or the 29th Circuit Court at (989) 224-5140 for information about program availability.

License Status and Driving Records

An OWI conviction in Clinton County produces entries on two separate records. Criminal history is maintained by the Michigan State Police. The driving record is with the Secretary of State. Each must be requested separately from the maintaining agency.

License consequences scale with offense number. A first OWI brings a 30-day hard suspension, then 150 days of restricted driving. A second OWI within seven years results in a one-year revocation. A third OWI leads to revocation with a five-year wait for a hearing. Restoring a revoked license requires going through the Road to Restoration process. Driver Responsibility Fees of $1,000 per year for two years attach to convictions on top of court fines.

Request a Michigan driving record through the SOS driving records page. The MSP impaired driving page explains the full statewide enforcement framework and how OWI cases move through the system from arrest to conviction.

FOIA Requests and Arrest Records in Clinton County

Public records in Michigan are governed by the Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231. Government agencies must respond within five business days. Clinton County Sheriff's Office handles FOIA requests at (989) 224-5200. The Michigan State Police FOIA process is described at michigan.gov/msp. Copy fees for records typically range from $0.10 to $1.00 per page depending on the agency.

Arrest records for OWI incidents in unincorporated Clinton County come from the sheriff's office. Arrests made by local police departments, such as in St. Johns, should be requested from that city's department. Each agency maintains its own arrest records prior to charges being filed in court. Once a case is filed in court, the clerk's office is the main source for case documents.

OTIS, the Michigan Department of Corrections offender tracking system, shows people currently incarcerated or on parole for felony OWI convictions. Search OTIS at michigan.gov/corrections. Once a person completes their sentence and supervision, they come off OTIS but remain in the court record and ICHAT history.

Nearby Counties

Clinton County sits in central Michigan. The 29th Circuit also covers Gratiot County, and nearby counties have their own courts for OWI cases.