Gladwin County DUI Records Search
Gladwin County DUI records come from the 80th District Court and the 55th Circuit Court, both located at 401 W. Cedar Avenue in Gladwin. The 55th Circuit is a shared court covering both Gladwin and Clare counties. Misdemeanor OWI goes to the District Court. Felony OWI goes to the Circuit Court. Gladwin County also participates in the Clare-Gladwin Recovery and Veterans Treatment Courts and the Mid-Michigan Regional Sobriety Court. MiCOURT covers all courts at no cost. ICHAT gives statewide conviction history for $10 per search.
Gladwin County Overview
55th Circuit Court: Felony OWI for Gladwin County
The 55th Circuit Court is at 401 W. Cedar Avenue, Gladwin, MI 48624. Phone is (989) 426-7451. The court page is at gladwincounty-mi.gov/departments/55th-circuit-court/. This court handles felony OWI cases filed in Gladwin County. It also covers Clare County because the 55th Circuit is a shared court serving both. Each county's cases are filed and tracked separately.
Third-offense OWI is a felony in Michigan with no exception. Michigan eliminated the 10-year lookback rule in 2007, so all prior OWI convictions count toward the offense number no matter when they occurred. A person with two older OWI convictions on their record faces a felony charge on the next arrest. OWI causing death carries up to 15 years in prison. OWI causing serious injury is up to 5 years. All of these cases land at the 55th Circuit Court.
Circuit court records are detailed and public. They cover arraignment, preliminary examination, pretrial motions, and final outcome. Probation conditions and any violations appear in the record. MiCOURT covers 55th Circuit records at no cost. Certified copies are available from the clerk at 401 W. Cedar Avenue. Call ahead to confirm fees and turnaround time for copy requests.
| 55th Circuit Court | 401 W. Cedar Ave, Gladwin, MI 48624 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (989) 426-7451 |
| Website | gladwincounty-mi.gov/departments/55th-circuit-court/ |
| Coverage | Gladwin County and Clare County (shared circuit) |
| Handles | 3rd offense OWI and above; OWI causing death or injury |
80th District Court: Misdemeanor OWI Cases
The 80th District Court is at 401 W. Cedar Avenue, Gladwin, MI 48624. Phone is (989) 426-6913. The court page is at gladwincounty-mi.gov/departments/80th-district-court/. This court handles first and second offense OWI under MCL 257.625. These are misdemeanor charges and make up most of the OWI cases filed in Gladwin County.
District court records cover the full case timeline for misdemeanor OWI. That includes arraignment, bond conditions, pretrial hearings, and either a plea or trial outcome. Dismissed charges appear in the record too. All of this is searchable through MiCOURT at no cost. The system uses case codes to identify OWI cases: SD for Statute Drunk Driving, OD for Ordinance Drunk Driving, and FD for Felony Drunk Driving when a charge has been elevated.
In-person access is available at the courthouse during business hours. The 80th District Court and 55th Circuit Court share the same building at 401 W. Cedar Avenue, which makes in-person visits efficient. Call ahead to confirm clerk hours and what records require in-person requests versus what is accessible online through MiCOURT.
The 55th Circuit Court covers both Gladwin and Clare counties. OWI records from both counties are filed separately but accessible through the same MiCOURT search by filtering by county name.
Statewide Search Tools for Gladwin County Records
Three state databases cover Gladwin County OWI records from different angles. MiCOURT covers court activity. ICHAT covers conviction history. OTIS covers corrections status for felony offenders. Each one answers a different question about a person's OWI record.
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is free. It covers all Gladwin County courts including the shared 55th Circuit. Search by name or case number. When a name search returns results from multiple counties, filter by county to isolate Gladwin records. Results include case codes, charges, hearing dates, and case status for open and closed cases.
ICHAT at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT costs $10 per search. The Michigan State Police operates this statewide criminal conviction history database. It covers all 83 Michigan counties. Use it to check if someone has prior OWI convictions from outside Gladwin County that count toward the offense level for a current charge. ICHAT does not show pending cases or dismissed charges.
| MiCOURT | micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search | Free | Court activity statewide |
|---|---|
| ICHAT | apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT | $10 per search | Conviction history statewide |
| OTIS | michigan.gov/corrections/offender-search | Free | Current and past felony offenders |
The OTIS offender search from the Michigan Department of Corrections shows Gladwin County felony OWI defendants who are currently incarcerated or on parole. After supervision ends, OTIS no longer shows them, but the court record and ICHAT data remain permanently. Driving record information is separate and goes through the Secretary of State driving records page.
Gladwin County Sheriff and FOIA Requests
The Gladwin County Sheriff's Office is at 501 W. Cedar Avenue, Gladwin, MI 48624. Phone is (989) 426-9284. The sheriff handles OWI arrests in the unincorporated parts of the county. City police departments cover arrests within city limits. Each agency maintains its own arrest records and incident reports separately from court records.
To get incident reports, arrest details, or chemical test records before a case reaches court, file a written FOIA request with the arresting agency under MCL 15.231. Send requests to the Gladwin County Sheriff at 501 W. Cedar Avenue, Gladwin, MI 48624. Michigan law requires a response within 5 business days. Copy fees typically run $0.10 to $1.00 per page. For MSP arrests, use the FOIA process at michigan.gov/msp.
Court records and arrest records serve different purposes. MiCOURT shows what was filed in court and how the case progressed. The sheriff's records show the underlying incident before filing. Both may be relevant depending on what you are trying to find. Start with MiCOURT to confirm whether a case exists, then request arrest records from the sheriff if you need the incident-level detail.
Michigan OWI Law and Gladwin County DUI Records
Michigan's impaired driving charge is OWI, not DUI. The statute is MCL 257.625. Standard OWI applies at 0.08% BAC. The Super Drunk provision at 0.17% doubles the maximum jail sentence and requires ignition interlock after conviction. Under-21 drivers face zero tolerance at 0.02%. Commercial drivers have a 0.04% limit. Each tier results in a distinct charge in Gladwin County court records.
OWVI is Operating While Visibly Impaired under MCL 257.625(3). No specific BAC is needed. The charge applies when visible impairment can be demonstrated even without a BAC reading over the legal limit. It often appears as a plea reduction from standard OWI. OWPD is Operating With Presence of Drugs under MCL 257.625(8). Schedule 1 substances trigger this charge on a strict liability basis: presence is enough, no impairment needs to be proven. Both appear in Gladwin County records and are searchable in MiCOURT.
Michigan's implied consent rule under MCL 257.625c treats driving on state roads as consent to chemical testing when an officer suspects OWI. Refusing a breath or blood test brings a 1-year license suspension on first refusal and 2 years on a second refusal within 7 years. That is a civil penalty recorded by the Secretary of State on the driving record. It does not appear in court records and must be obtained separately.
Michigan has no lookback limit on OWI convictions since 2007. All prior OWI convictions count when determining offense level in Gladwin County, no matter how old they are.
Specialty Courts Serving Gladwin County
Gladwin County participates in the Clare-Gladwin Recovery Court and the Clare-Gladwin Veterans Treatment Court. These programs are shared with Clare County through the 55th Circuit structure. They serve defendants whose OWI offense is connected to substance use or military service-related issues. Structured treatment, regular court appearances, and supervision are required. Completion can result in a modified case outcome.
The Mid-Michigan Regional Sobriety Court also serves Gladwin County. This regional program operates across a broader area and connects repeat OWI offenders with treatment resources while holding them accountable through ongoing court supervision. Cases in any of these specialty programs still appear as public court records in MiCOURT. The charge, case number, and hearing activity are all visible. The outcome may reflect program completion rather than a standard conviction.
Contact the 55th Circuit Court at (989) 426-7451 or the 80th District Court at (989) 426-6913 to ask about program availability and eligibility for a specific case. Program availability can change over time, and not all programs are accepting referrals at all times.
Driving Records and License Consequences
An OWI conviction in Gladwin County creates entries on two separate records. Criminal history is maintained by the Michigan State Police. The driving record is with the Secretary of State. These are different agencies and each record must be requested independently.
License penalties build with each offense. A first OWI brings a 30-day hard suspension then 150 days of restricted driving. Second OWI within 7 years means a 1-year revocation. Third OWI triggers revocation with a minimum 5-year wait before a reinstatement hearing. Getting driving privileges restored after revocation requires the Road to Restoration process. That involves formal hearings and documented proof of long-term sobriety.
Driver Responsibility Fees for pre-2019 convictions are $1,000 per year for two years, totaling $2,000. These go to the state treasury and are separate from court-ordered fines. Failure to pay causes additional license suspension on top of any existing suspension or revocation. The Michigan State Police criminal history page covers statewide conviction record maintenance. Request a Gladwin County driving record at the SOS driving records page.
Nearby Counties
Gladwin County shares the 55th Circuit with Clare County. These neighboring counties have their own courts for OWI cases.