Search Grand Traverse County DUI Records

Grand Traverse County DUI records are filed with the 13th Circuit Court and 86th District Court, both located at 328 Washington Street in Traverse City. These courts handle every OWI charge in the county, from first-offense misdemeanors to multi-offense felonies and OWI cases involving injury or death. The county also operates a dedicated Sobriety Court for repeat OWI offenders through the 86th District Court. Free case searches run through MiCOURT. Full criminal history checks are available through ICHAT for $10. This page covers the court structure, online search tools, what the sheriff holds, and how Michigan OWI law plays out in Grand Traverse County cases.

13th Judicial Circuit Court

The 13th Circuit Court in Traverse City handles felony OWI cases for Grand Traverse County. Third-offense OWI charges go here, as do OWI cases involving death or serious bodily injury. The court is at 328 Washington Street, Traverse City, MI 49684. Phone: (231) 922-4701. The court's website is at circuit13.org.

Felony OWI in Michigan carries serious consequences. Third offense carries up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. OWI causing death is a 15-year felony. OWI causing serious injury is a five-year felony. License revocation follows in every case. Michigan eliminated the 10-year lookback for OWI in 2007. That means every prior OWI on a person's record counts toward determining offense level, regardless of when it happened. A third OWI in Grand Traverse County, even if the earlier two were decades ago, goes to the 13th Circuit Court as a felony. The circuit court record is searchable through MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. Felony OWI cases use the FD code.

All OWI charges in Grand Traverse County are filed under MCL 257.625. This statute defines every charge type, sets all BAC thresholds, and lists penalties at each offense level. It applies uniformly across all Michigan counties.

86th District Court OWI Records

The 86th District Court at 328 Washington Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 handles first and second offense OWI in Grand Traverse County. Phone: (231) 922-4515. The district court website is at 86districtcourt.org. First-offense OWI is a misdemeanor carrying up to 93 days in jail. A second offense can mean up to one year in jail with a mandatory minimum.

Grand Traverse County operates a dedicated Sobriety Court through the 86th District Court. This is an adult treatment court designed for repeat OWI offenders. Participants who complete the program may have their cases handled differently than standard sentencing. Contact the 86th District Court at (231) 922-4515 for information about the Sobriety Court program, eligibility, and how cases are tracked in the system.

Misdemeanor OWI cases from the 86th District Court appear in MiCOURT with the code OD for standard OWI at 0.08% BAC or SD for Super Drunk OWI at 0.17% BAC or higher. The Super Drunk charge on a first offense brings up to 180 days in jail and longer restricted license periods. Both codes are searchable for free through MiCOURT. Case entries show charge type, filing date, and case disposition. A dismissal entry is not a conviction. Review the outcome field carefully when reading results.

Statewide Search Tools

Three state-level tools cover Grand Traverse County OWI records from different angles. MiCOURT returns case-level data. ICHAT returns the full criminal history. OTIS covers corrections involvement. Using all three gives the most complete picture of a person's OWI history in Michigan.

MiCOURT is free and searches all Michigan courts by name or case number. It returns filing data from both the 13th Circuit and 86th District courts in Traverse City. Cases are coded OD, SD, or FD depending on charge type. Some very old cases may not be in the online system. For those, contact the court clerk directly for a written records request. MiCOURT is at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search.

ICHAT costs $10 per search and returns the full Michigan criminal history from the Michigan State Police database. Every OWI conviction in Grand Traverse County that resulted in fingerprinting appears in ICHAT. The MSP criminal history page is at michigan.gov/msp/services/chr. ICHAT is at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Convictions are permanent in ICHAT outside of Clean Slate eligibility for qualifying first-time offenders.

OTIS is the Michigan Department of Corrections offender search. It is free and updated regularly. It shows any person currently incarcerated or under active MDOC supervision. Repeat OWI offenders who received prison sentences appear in OTIS during any active supervision period.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office Records

The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office makes OWI arrests throughout the county, especially in areas outside Traverse City. The office holds arrest records, incident reports, and booking data for all OWI stops made by county deputies. These records are separate from court records. An arrest record exists even if charges are later dismissed or reduced.

The sheriff's office is at 851 S. Garfield Avenue, Traverse City, MI 49686. Phone: (231) 995-5000. The county website is gtcountymi.gov. FOIA requests for arrest records go to the sheriff's office in writing at that address. Under MCL 15.231, the office has five business days to respond. Include the subject's full name and approximate arrest date. Fees may apply for document retrieval and copying. The sheriff's records show who was booked and what charge was listed. They do not show the court outcome. For disposition, check MiCOURT or run an ICHAT search.

Grand Traverse County has significant OWI enforcement activity, particularly during summer months when the Traverse City area sees high seasonal traffic. The Michigan State Police also operate in the county. MSP-initiated OWI arrests may be held in state-level records rather than the sheriff's files. FOIA requests for those go to the Michigan State Police directly.

Michigan OWI Law and Grand Traverse County Cases

Michigan uses the term OWI, which stands for Operating While Intoxicated. The charge is governed by MCL 257.625. Standard OWI requires a BAC of 0.08% or above. The Super Drunk charge applies at 0.17% and carries enhanced penalties. Under-21 drivers face a Zero Tolerance limit of 0.02%. Commercial vehicle operators must stay below 0.04%.

Grand Traverse County DUI records also include two related charge types. OWVI, Operating While Visibly Impaired, does not need a specific BAC reading. The prosecution must show the driver appeared impaired to a reasonable observer. OWPD, Operating With the Presence of Drugs, requires only that a chemical test detect a Schedule 1 controlled substance. No impairment needs to be proven. Both go through the same courts and appear in the same search systems as standard OWI charges.

Implied consent under MCL 257.625c means any person who drives in Michigan is considered to have agreed to a chemical test if lawfully arrested for OWI. Refusing the test results in a one-year automatic license suspension on a first refusal. A second refusal within seven years brings a two-year suspension. The refusal is a civil matter and is separate from the criminal OWI charge.

Driving Records and OWI History

An OWI conviction in Grand Traverse County produces two separate records: one criminal, one administrative. The criminal record goes into ICHAT through the Michigan State Police. The driving record goes to the Michigan Secretary of State. Both are permanent records and both can affect a person long after the case closes.

The Secretary of State driving record shows license suspensions, restrictions, points, and current license status. Request it at michigan.gov/sos/services/driving-records. A first OWI conviction results in a 30-day suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. A second conviction brings a one-year revocation. Reinstating a revoked license requires a hearing with the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division. That process is entirely separate from the criminal court case.

Driver Responsibility Fees for OWI are $2,000 total, paid over two years at $1,000 per year. These fees are separate from court fines and must be paid to maintain license validity. Nonpayment can lead to additional suspension. For anyone currently under MDOC supervision after an OWI-related sentence, the OTIS offender search is free and updated regularly.

Nearby Counties

Grand Traverse County is in northwest Lower Michigan. OWI cases near county borders may have records in adjacent jurisdictions.