Search Montmorency County DUI Records

Montmorency County DUI records are handled by the 26th Circuit Court and the 88th District Court, both based in Atlanta, Michigan. Free case lookups are available through the MiCOURT public search portal, while full criminal history reports require a $10 ICHAT search. This guide covers the courts, the sheriff's office, how to request records, and what state-level tools can help you find OWI information tied to Montmorency County.

How Courts Handle OWI in Montmorency County

Montmorency County has two courts that deal with OWI cases. The 88th District Court handles misdemeanor charges, which covers first and second OWI offenses under Michigan law. The 26th Circuit Court takes over when the charge reaches felony level, which happens on a third offense or when the OWI causes death or serious injury.

Both courts are located in Atlanta. The 26th Circuit Court can be reached at P.O. Box 789, 12265 M-32, Atlanta, MI 49709, phone (989) 785-8022. The court's website is at montmorencycourts.com. The 88th District Court shares the P.O. Box 789 mailing address and can be reached at (989) 785-8035. The District Court's page is also listed at montmorencycourts.com. Case files at both courts are public records under Michigan law.

Michigan's OWI statute, MCL 257.625, defines the offense, sets BAC limits, and determines when a case escalates from misdemeanor to felony. That law applies to every OWI case processed through Montmorency County courts.

Finding Montmorency County DUI Records Online

The MiCOURT case search is the main free tool for looking up OWI records in Montmorency County. You can search by name or case number and see charges, hearing dates, and outcomes for both the 88th District and 26th Circuit courts. MiCOURT uses charge codes including OD (OWI), SD (Super Drunk), and FD (felony drunk driving) to categorize these cases.

For a broader statewide background check, use ICHAT. That system costs $10 per search and pulls criminal conviction data from across Michigan, not just Montmorency County. It is useful when you need to confirm whether someone has prior OWI convictions elsewhere in the state. Michigan does not allow OWI convictions to be expunged, so they remain on a person's record permanently regardless of when they occurred.

The Montmorency County Sheriff's Office is located at 11045 M-32 West, Atlanta, MI 49709, and can be reached at (989) 785-4238. Their website is at montmorencysheriff.com. Arrest reports and incident records from the Sheriff's Office are public records. FOIA requests should be submitted in writing to the county. The county's official site at montcounty.org has FOIA contact information.

OWI Charge Types in Michigan

Michigan's OWI law covers several different charge types. The standard OWI applies when a driver's BAC is 0.08 percent or above. Super Drunk OWI applies at 0.17 percent or higher and brings tougher penalties even on a first offense. Drivers under 21 face charges at 0.02 percent, and commercial drivers are held to 0.04 percent. OWVI, or operating while visibly impaired, applies when a driver appears impaired regardless of BAC. OWPD covers cases involving drug presence rather than alcohol.

First and second OWI offenses are misdemeanors, heard in the 88th District Court. A third offense is a felony handled by the 26th Circuit Court. Any OWI that causes serious injury or death also becomes a felony. Felony convictions carry state prison exposure in addition to fines and license revocation. For information on how OWI penalties work across the state, the Michigan State Police impaired driving page provides a clear breakdown.

Hybrid DWI/Drug Court Program

The 88th District Court operates a Hybrid DWI/Drug Court program that serves both Alpena and Montmorency counties. This type of court is a structured treatment program for qualifying OWI offenders who have substance use issues. Participants go through regular check-ins, drug testing, treatment, and supervision in exchange for a chance at reduced penalties or other relief.

Not all OWI defendants qualify for drug court. Eligibility depends on the charge level, prior record, and whether the court determines the person is a good candidate for treatment. If you are looking up records for someone who went through the Hybrid DWI/Drug Court, be aware that participation records are sometimes handled separately from the standard court case file. Contact the 88th District Court at (989) 785-8035 for specific questions about how those records are managed.

Drug courts are part of a broader Michigan effort to reduce repeat OWI offenses through treatment rather than just incarceration. Montmorency County's joint program with Alpena County allows the region to maintain this resource despite its small population.

State-Level Sources for OWI Records

Several Michigan state agencies hold records related to OWI cases that may be connected to Montmorency County. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs OTIS, the offender tracking and information system. If someone received a state prison sentence after a felony OWI, they will appear in OTIS. Most misdemeanor cases do not result in state prison time, but felony third-offense OWI sometimes does.

The Michigan State Police manages criminal history records through its Criminal History Records unit. All Michigan courts report conviction data to MSP, and that information feeds into ICHAT. MSP also handles FOIA requests for state police records through its FOIA page. If a Michigan State Police post made an OWI arrest in Montmorency County, those records would be requested through MSP rather than the county sheriff.

License suspension and revocation records are held by the Secretary of State. If an OWI conviction led to a license action, the SOS driving records service will show it. Drivers working to restore a revoked license after OWI may also find the Road to Restoration program useful.

The Montmorency courts website provides access to court information for both the Circuit and District courts in the county.

The court system's official site is at montmorencycourts.com, shown below.

The image above shows the Montmorency County courts site, which covers both the 26th Circuit and 88th District courts and their case search options.

Montmorency County Sheriff Records

The Montmorency County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for most of the county. Located at 11045 M-32 West in Atlanta, the office handles patrol, arrests, and records for the unincorporated areas of the county. Their website at montmorencysheriff.com has contact information and office hours.

Arrest records from the Sheriff's Office are subject to FOIA under MCL 15.231. Submit a written request to the county through the FOIA process listed on the county website. Michigan agencies have five business days to respond to a FOIA request, with an option to extend by ten more days. Fees for copies depend on the volume and format of records requested.

The above image shows the Montmorency County Sheriff's resource page, which includes contact details and information on requesting records from the office.

Nearby Counties

Montmorency County sits in northeastern Michigan, surrounded by counties that share some court resources and programs.