Find DUI Records in Leelanau County

Leelanau County DUI records are filed with the 13th Circuit Court and the 86th District Court, both at 8527 E. Government Center Drive in Suttons Bay. These courts cover all OWI cases filed in the county, from misdemeanor first offenses through felony charges. The 86th District Court also runs a Hybrid DWI/Drug Court program for eligible offenders. Free online case searches run through MiCOURT. Full criminal history checks are available through ICHAT for $10. This page explains how to search Leelanau County OWI records, how to request records from the sheriff and the clerk, and what Michigan OWI law means for cases filed here.

13th Judicial Circuit Court

The 13th Circuit Court handles felony OWI cases in Leelanau County. Third-offense charges, and any OWI involving death or serious bodily injury, go to the circuit level. The court is at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suite 103, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Phone: (231) 256-9824. The county website is leelanau.gov.

The 13th Circuit serves both Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties. Leelanau cases are indexed separately by county in the case management system and in MiCOURT. Felony OWI carries up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. OWI causing death can result in up to 15 years. OWI causing serious injury carries up to five years. All felony OWI charges result in mandatory license revocation. Michigan has had no lookback period for OWI since 2007. Every prior conviction counts when determining whether a charge is a first, second, or third offense. The 13th Circuit record in Leelanau County is searchable through MiCOURT using the FD case code at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search.

All OWI charges in Leelanau County fall under MCL 257.625, the core Michigan OWI statute. It covers definitions, BAC thresholds, and penalties for each charge level. The 13th Circuit also runs a drug court program that may handle certain OWI-related cases. Contact the circuit court for details on that program.

86th District Court OWI Records

The 86th District Court at 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 handles first and second offense OWI in Leelanau County. Phone: (231) 256-8250. This is a misdemeanor-level court. First-offense OWI carries up to 93 days in jail. Second offense can mean up to one year in jail and a mandatory minimum sentence.

Leelanau County's 86th District Court operates a Hybrid DWI/Drug Court program. This treatment court is designed for repeat OWI offenders and those with substance use issues connected to their OWI charge. It combines court supervision with treatment and regular check-ins. Participants who successfully complete the program may avoid standard sentencing outcomes. Contact the 86th District Court at (231) 256-8250 for information about eligibility and how participation affects the case record.

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% or higher. The Super Drunk charge on a first offense carries enhanced penalties, including up to 180 days in jail. These cases are publicly searchable through MiCOURT at no cost. The 86th District Court serves both Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties, but cases are indexed separately. Filter by county when searching to limit results to Leelanau County only.

Statewide Search Tools

Three state databases help with Leelanau County OWI records. MiCOURT handles case-level searches. ICHAT covers criminal history. OTIS tracks corrections involvement. Each tool returns different data, and combining them gives a fuller view of a person's OWI record in Michigan.

MiCOURT is free and searches all Michigan courts. Results from Leelanau County include filings from both the 13th Circuit and the 86th District Court at Suttons Bay. Cases are coded OD, SD, or FD. Very old cases may not be online. Contact the court clerk for older records. The search tool is at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search.

ICHAT costs $10 per search. It pulls from the Michigan State Police criminal history repository at michigan.gov/msp/services/chr. Every Leelanau County OWI conviction that led to fingerprinting appears in ICHAT. The search tool is at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT. Results cover all 83 Michigan counties. Convictions are permanent. Dismissed cases and acquittals do not appear.

OTIS is the Michigan Department of Corrections offender search. It is free and searchable by name. It shows anyone currently incarcerated or under active MDOC supervision. Leelanau County OWI offenders who received prison sentences appear in OTIS during any active supervision period. Closed cases and completed sentences do not show up.

Leelanau County Sheriff's Office Records

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Office makes OWI arrests throughout the county. The office holds arrest records, incident reports, and booking data for stops made by county deputies. Arrest records exist independently of the court case. They remain on file even if the charge is later dismissed or reduced.

The sheriff's office is at 8525 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Phone: (231) 256-8800. FOIA requests for sheriff-held OWI arrest records go to the sheriff's office in writing at that address. The county clerk at the same Government Center Drive address handles court records. Phone for the county clerk: (231) 256-9824. Under MCL 15.231, both offices have five business days to respond to FOIA requests. Include the subject's name and approximate arrest date. Fees may apply for document retrieval.

The sheriff holds arrest data. The court clerk holds case filings and dispositions. To get the complete picture, request records from both offices, or pair a FOIA request with MiCOURT and ICHAT searches. The combination covers both the arrest side and the court outcome in a single research effort.

Michigan OWI Law and Leelanau County Cases

Michigan calls its impaired driving charge OWI: Operating While Intoxicated. The statute governing this charge is MCL 257.625. Standard OWI applies when BAC is 0.08% or above. The Super Drunk charge applies at 0.17% with enhanced penalties. Under-21 drivers face a Zero Tolerance threshold of 0.02%. Commercial drivers must stay below 0.04%. These limits apply throughout Michigan, including Leelanau County.

Two additional charge types appear in Leelanau County DUI records. OWVI is Operating While Visibly Impaired. It requires no specific BAC. The prosecution must show the driver appeared impaired to an ordinary observer. OWPD is Operating With the Presence of Drugs. A chemical test that detects a Schedule 1 substance triggers this charge. No proof of actual impairment is needed. Both OWVI and OWPD are filed under the same statute and appear in the same MiCOURT and ICHAT searches as standard OWI.

Implied consent is governed by MCL 257.625c. Any person who drives in Michigan implicitly agrees to a chemical test when lawfully arrested for OWI. Refusing costs a one-year automatic license suspension on a first refusal. A second refusal within seven years brings two years of suspension. The refusal is a separate civil matter from the criminal OWI charge and proceeds on its own administrative track.

Driving Records and OWI History

An OWI conviction in Leelanau County produces two separate records. The criminal record goes into ICHAT through the Michigan State Police. The driving record goes to the Michigan Secretary of State. Both are permanent. Both affect a person's ability to drive, work, and obtain insurance long after the case ends.

The SOS driving record shows all OWI-related license actions, including suspensions, restrictions, revocations, and current license status. Request it at michigan.gov/sos/services/driving-records. A first OWI conviction brings a 30-day suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. A second conviction results in a minimum one-year revocation. Getting driving privileges back after revocation requires a formal hearing with the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division. That process is independent of the criminal case.

Driver Responsibility Fees for OWI total $2,000, paid as $1,000 per year for two years. These are on top of any court fines. Nonpayment can trigger additional license sanctions. For those currently under MDOC supervision following an OWI-related sentence, the OTIS offender search is free and searchable by name.

Nearby Counties

Leelanau County is on the Leelanau Peninsula in northwest Lower Michigan. OWI cases near county borders may have records in adjacent jurisdictions.