Livingston County DUI Records Search
Livingston County DUI records are maintained across a circuit court and two district court divisions. The 44th Circuit Court in Howell handles felony OWI charges, while the 53rd District Court, which has a Division 1 in Howell and a Division 2 in Brighton, handles first and second offense OWI cases as misdemeanors. Michigan law refers to drunk driving as OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) under MCL 257.625, and all Livingston County case records reflect that terminology. This page explains where those records live and how to find them.
Livingston County Overview
44th Circuit Court - Felony OWI Records
The 44th Circuit Court is located at 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843, and can be reached at (517) 546-0500. More information is available at livingstoncountymi.gov/circuit-court/. This court handles all felony OWI charges in Livingston County, including third-offense drunk driving, OWI causing serious impairment of a body function, and OWI causing death. Since 2007, Michigan has had no lookback window for prior OWI convictions, so a third OWI is always a felony no matter when the earlier cases occurred. Felony OWI records at the 44th Circuit include the charging information, arraignment documents, any pretrial motions, plea agreements or trial transcripts, and the full sentencing order including any probation terms.
Public case search for the 44th Circuit Court is available through the statewide MiCOURT system. Felony OWI cases show up in MiCOURT under case type code FD (Felony Drunk Driving). Searches can be run by name or case number. MiCOURT displays party names, charge details, hearing schedules, and case status. It does not provide actual court documents. To get copies of anything in the case file, you need to contact the 44th Circuit clerk's office at (517) 546-0500 or visit in person at 204 S. Highlander Way.
| Court Name | 44th Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843 |
| Phone | (517) 546-0500 |
| Website | livingstoncountymi.gov/circuit-court/ |
| MiCOURT Code | FD - Felony Drunk Driving |
53rd District Court - Two Divisions
Livingston County's 53rd District Court operates from two locations. Division 1 is at 204 S. Highlander Way, Howell, MI 48843, phone (517) 546-0350. Division 2 is at 101 Main Street, Brighton, MI 48116, phone (810) 229-6200. First and second offense OWI misdemeanor cases are assigned based on where the offense occurred within the county. Both divisions follow the same procedures and use the same MiCOURT case numbering system, so you can search either location's records through the statewide case search tool.
The 53rd District Court handles standard OWI (0.08% BAC or above), High BAC (Super Drunk) at 0.17% or more, OWVI (Operating While Visibly Impaired), and OWPD (Operating With Presence of Drugs). In MiCOURT, these misdemeanor cases appear under codes OD (Ordinance Drunk Driving) and SD (Statute Drunk Driving). MiCOURT is free. If you need a full criminal history rather than just a case check, use ICHAT, which costs $10 per search and returns all Michigan OWI conviction history maintained by the Michigan State Police.
Knowing which division handled a case can matter when you request documents in person. If you are not sure which division to contact, start with Division 1 in Howell, which serves as the main courthouse for the county seat.
Note: When searching MiCOURT for Livingston County misdemeanor OWI cases, try both division locations if your initial search returns no results, as older cases may be indexed under either courthouse.
Statewide Databases and Livingston County OWI Records
Three Michigan statewide databases cover Livingston County DUI records. Understanding what each returns will help you use the right one for your situation.
MiCOURT is the Michigan Supreme Court's free case search tool. It covers both the 44th Circuit Court and both divisions of the 53rd District Court. You can look up cases by party name, case number, or date and see the charge, status, and resolution. Documents are not included, but MiCOURT is a solid first step to confirm whether a case exists.
ICHAT is run by the Michigan State Police and costs $10 per search. It returns a person's full Michigan criminal history, including all Livingston County OWI convictions. Courts across the state report conviction data into the MSP database after each case is resolved. ICHAT draws from that database, making it more complete than MiCOURT for conviction history research. The MSP Criminal History Records unit manages this system and can be reached at (517) 241-0606.
For felony OWI cases from the 44th Circuit Court that resulted in a state prison sentence, the OTIS offender search from the Michigan Department of Corrections is free and covers current and former MDOC supervision. Driving record information is available separately through the SOS Driving Records portal at the Michigan Secretary of State.
FOIA Requests for Livingston County DUI Records
Michigan's FOIA law, MCL 15.231, applies to all public agencies in Livingston County. If you want arrest records, incident reports, or other records that are not available through MiCOURT or ICHAT, you can submit a written FOIA request to the relevant agency. The agency must respond within five business days and may charge copying fees in the $0.10 to $1.00 per page range.
For OWI arrest records in unincorporated Livingston County, the Livingston County Sheriff is the right agency. For arrests made by city or township police departments in Brighton, Howell, or other jurisdictions, you would contact that specific department directly. Each law enforcement agency in the county handles its own FOIA requests. An incident report from a drunk driving arrest can include the officer's narrative, field sobriety test results, and chemical test data. These documents are typically available once a case has been resolved in court.
Court records at the 44th Circuit and 53rd District Court are separate from law enforcement records. The clerk's office at each court can provide certified copies of case files and dockets. Court records are not governed by FOIA but by Michigan court rules, so the process for requesting them differs slightly from a typical FOIA submission.
Note: For FOIA requests to the Michigan State Police related to statewide records, visit the MSP FOIA page for submission instructions.
OWI Law and Livingston County Case Outcomes
Every Livingston County DUI record reflects a charge or conviction under MCL 257.625. The statute defines OWI broadly to cover alcohol impairment, drug impairment, and combined impairment. BAC thresholds determine which level of charge applies. The 0.08% threshold defines standard OWI. High BAC at 0.17% applies mandatory minimum penalties on a first offense, including 48 hours in jail and 180 days with no driving at all, followed by restricted driving with an ignition interlock for the rest of a 320-day suspension. OWVI is the impaired driving charge that can be applied without a specific BAC reading, often as a plea reduction from OWI.
Michigan's implied consent law makes chemical testing mandatory for drivers lawfully arrested for OWI. A first refusal triggers an automatic one-year suspension administered by the Secretary of State. A second refusal within seven years means two years. Refusal proceedings can run alongside the criminal case. The MSP Impaired Driving page explains both the criminal and administrative sides of Michigan's OWI enforcement.
OWI convictions in Livingston County, like all Michigan OWI convictions, are permanent. They stay on both the criminal record and the driving record for life. Michigan does not provide an expungement path for OWI offenses. People who have had their license revoked due to multiple OWI convictions can seek restoration through the Road to Restoration program, though that process addresses the driving privilege only.
Nearby Counties
Livingston County is bordered by these counties, each with separate court systems handling OWI cases.