Access Manistee County DUI Records

Manistee County DUI records are maintained by the 19th Circuit Court and the 85th District Court, both at 415 Third Street in Manistee. Together these courts handle every OWI charge filed in the county, from first-offense misdemeanors to felony cases. The 85th District Court is a Michigan-certified Sobriety Court, which provides an alternative track for repeat DUI offenders who qualify. Free case searches run through MiCOURT. Full criminal history checks are available through ICHAT for $10. This page covers the courts, how to search records online, what the sheriff holds, and how Michigan OWI law applies to cases filed in Manistee County.

19th Judicial Circuit Court

The 19th Circuit Court handles felony OWI cases in Manistee County. Third-offense OWI and any OWI involving death or serious bodily injury go here. The court is at 415 Third Street, Manistee, MI 49660. Phone: (231) 723-6664. The county website is at manisteecountymi.gov.

Felony OWI in Michigan carries up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000. OWI causing death is a 15-year felony. OWI causing serious injury carries up to five years. In all felony OWI cases, license revocation follows automatically. Michigan removed the 10-year lookback period for OWI priors in 2007. There is no cutoff. Every prior OWI conviction counts when determining offense level, no matter how old. A person with two OWI convictions from 20 years ago faces a third-offense felony charge if arrested again. The 19th Circuit record is searchable through MiCOURT. Felony OWI cases use the FD case code.

All OWI charges in Manistee County are governed by MCL 257.625. That statute defines every OWI charge type, sets BAC thresholds, and establishes penalties at each level. It applies in all 83 Michigan counties.

85th District Court OWI Records

The 85th District Court at 415 Third Street, Manistee, MI 49660 handles first and second offense OWI in Manistee County. Phone: (231) 723-5010. First-offense OWI is a misdemeanor with up to 93 days in jail. Second offense carries up to one year in jail and a mandatory minimum sentence.

Manistee County's 85th District Court is a Michigan-certified Sobriety Court. This is a DWI Court program designed for repeat OWI offenders. Michigan's certified sobriety courts operate under state guidelines set by the State Court Administrative Office and the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals. The Manistee program combines substance abuse treatment, frequent court appearances, and close supervision as an alternative to standard criminal sentencing. Participants who complete the program may receive different outcomes than those who go through standard adjudication. Contact the 85th District Court at (231) 723-5010 for information on eligibility and program requirements.

Standard misdemeanor OWI cases from the 85th District Court appear in MiCOURT. The code OD applies to standard OWI at 0.08% BAC or above. SD applies to Super Drunk OWI at 0.17% or above. All cases are searchable for free at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search. Case entries show charge, filing date, and disposition. Check the outcome field carefully. A dismissal is not a conviction, and a Sobriety Court case may show a different disposition than a standard guilty plea.

Statewide Search Tools

Three state databases serve Manistee County OWI record searches. MiCOURT is the right tool for case-level data. ICHAT covers full criminal history. OTIS handles corrections status. Using all three gives the most complete view of an OWI record in Michigan.

MiCOURT is free. It searches all Michigan courts by name or case number. Results from Manistee County include filings from both the 19th Circuit and the 85th District Court. Older cases may not be online. Contact the court clerk for a written records request if MiCOURT does not return the case. The search is at micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search.

ICHAT costs $10. It searches the Michigan State Police criminal history database and returns every OWI conviction for the named person. Every Manistee County OWI conviction that led to 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. Dismissed charges do not appear.

OTIS is the Michigan Department of Corrections offender search, free and updated regularly. It shows anyone currently incarcerated or under active supervision by MDOC. Manistee County OWI offenders who received prison sentences appear in OTIS while still in the system. Completed sentences and discharged supervision are not shown.

Manistee County Sheriff's Office Records

The Manistee County Sheriff's Office is the primary enforcement agency for OWI arrests in areas outside Manistee city limits. The office holds arrest records, incident reports, and booking data for all OWI stops made by county deputies. These records are distinct from court records. An arrest record remains on file even when charges are later dismissed or reduced.

The sheriff's office is at 1525 E. Parkdale Avenue, Manistee, MI 49660. Phone: (231) 723-8393. Written FOIA requests for OWI arrest records go to the sheriff at that address. Under MCL 15.231, the office has five business days to respond. The request should include the subject's name and approximate arrest date. Fees may apply for document retrieval and copying. The sheriff's records cover the arrest. They do not show what happened in court. To get the full picture, pair a FOIA request with a MiCOURT search or an ICHAT background check.

Michigan State Police also patrol portions of Manistee County. MSP-initiated OWI arrests may be held in state records rather than the county sheriff's files. FOIA requests for those go to the Michigan State Police directly.

Michigan OWI Law and Manistee County Cases

Michigan calls impaired driving OWI, short for Operating While Intoxicated. The charge is defined in MCL 257.625. Standard OWI applies at 0.08% BAC or above. Super Drunk applies at 0.17% or higher with enhanced penalties. Under-21 drivers face Zero Tolerance at 0.02%. Commercial drivers must stay below 0.04%.

Manistee County DUI records may also include OWVI and OWPD charges. OWVI is Operating While Visibly Impaired. It does not require a specific BAC. The prosecution needs to show the driver appeared impaired. OWPD is Operating With the Presence of Drugs. A positive chemical test for a Schedule 1 controlled substance triggers this charge regardless of whether impairment is apparent. Both OWVI and OWPD are filed under MCL 257.625 and appear in the same MiCOURT and ICHAT systems as standard OWI charges.

Implied consent under MCL 257.625c means anyone driving in Michigan has implicitly agreed to a chemical test when lawfully arrested for OWI. A first refusal results in a one-year automatic license suspension. A second refusal within seven years brings two years of suspension. These are civil penalties, separate from the criminal OWI case itself. Both the civil refusal and the criminal charge proceed at the same time through different processes.

Driving Records and OWI History

An OWI conviction in Manistee County creates two records. The criminal record goes into ICHAT. The driving record goes to the Michigan Secretary of State. Both are permanent and both have real-world consequences for employment, insurance, and the ability to drive.

The SOS driving record shows all OWI-related license actions. Request it at michigan.gov/sos/services/driving-records. A first-offense OWI results in a 30-day suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. A second conviction brings a one-year revocation. Getting driving privileges back after revocation requires a hearing with the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division. That process runs separately from the criminal court case and does not affect what appears in MiCOURT or ICHAT.

Driver Responsibility Fees for OWI total $2,000 over two years. These are in addition to court fines and must be paid to keep the license valid. For people who served a prison sentence or are under MDOC supervision following an OWI conviction in Manistee County, the OTIS offender search is free and searchable by name.

Nearby Counties

Manistee County is on the Lake Michigan shore in northwest Lower Michigan. OWI cases near county borders may have records in adjacent jurisdictions.