Oceana County DUI Records Lookup
Oceana County DUI records are filed with the 27th Circuit Court and 78th District Court, both at 100 S. State Street in Hart. Free case searches are available through MiCOURT. Full criminal history checks run through ICHAT for $10. This page covers the court setup for OWI cases in Oceana County, how to search records online and by FOIA request, what the sheriff holds, and what state databases tie into local impaired driving cases.
Oceana County Overview
Oceana County Courts Handling OWI Filings
The 78th District Court at 100 S. State Street, Hart, MI 49420 handles misdemeanor OWI cases for the county. First and second offense cases go through this court. Phone: (231) 873-3646. District court records feed into MiCOURT for free online searches once filed. The 78th District Court is the primary court for most Oceana County DUI records at the misdemeanor level.
The 27th Circuit Court at the same address handles felony OWI. Third offense cases and OWI charges involving death or serious injury go to the circuit level. Phone: (231) 873-3646. The county website at co.oceana.mi.us links to both court departments and county services. The 27th Circuit covers Oceana County. All felony OWI records for Oceana County are centralized at the courthouse in Hart.
All OWI charges in Oceana County are filed under MCL 257.625. The statute defines OWI, sets BAC thresholds, and outlines the penalty structure for all offense levels. It applies uniformly in every Michigan county, including Oceana. The Michigan Legislature hosts the full statute at legislature.mi.gov.
| 27th Circuit Court | 100 S. State Street, Hart, MI 49420 | (231) 873-3646 |
|---|---|
| 78th District Court | 100 S. State Street, Hart, MI 49420 | (231) 873-3646 |
| County Website | co.oceana.mi.us |
| Sheriff | 216 S. Beechtree Street, Hart, MI 49420 | (231) 873-2121 |
Oceana County Court Records Portal
The Oceana County website at co.oceana.mi.us provides links to courts, the sheriff, and county services for records access. The image below shows the Michigan DUI records resource used for Oceana County OWI searches when county-specific portals are not available.
For case-level searches, MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is the direct path to Oceana County OWI filings from both the 78th District Court and 27th Circuit Court.
How to Find Oceana County OWI Records
Start at MiCOURT. It is free and searches all Michigan courts by name or case number. Results show charge type, court dates, and case disposition. Oceana County OWI cases appear with codes OD, SD, or FD. Both the 78th District Court and 27th Circuit Court feed into the MiCOURT system.
For a statewide criminal history check, use ICHAT. The fee is $10. Results come from the Michigan State Police criminal history database and cover every Michigan county. ICHAT shows all OWI convictions with no time limit. Dismissed charges and acquittals do not show up in results.
Pre-court arrest records are held by the Oceana County Sheriff at 216 S. Beechtree Street, Hart, MI 49420. Phone: (231) 873-2121. The sheriff's page is at co.oceana.mi.us. FOIA requests for arrest records go to the sheriff under MCL 15.234. Michigan FOIA requires a response within five business days. For state-level records, contact the MSP FOIA office directly.
Note: OWI convictions in Michigan are permanent. There is no expungement available for OWI under current state law. All convictions remain in the criminal history database and the Secretary of State's driving record indefinitely.
OWI Charges and Michigan Law in Oceana County
Michigan uses OWI, not DUI. Under MCL 257.625, standard OWI requires a BAC at or above 0.08%. The Super Drunk provision kicks in at 0.17% or higher, with enhanced penalties on a first offense. Under-21 drivers face a Zero Tolerance limit of 0.02%. Commercial vehicle operators must stay below 0.04%.
Other charge types also appear in Oceana County DUI records. OWVI is Operating While Visibly Impaired. No specific BAC is required. The charge needs only evidence that the driver's ability was visibly reduced. OWPD is Operating With Presence of Drugs. Any Schedule 1 substance found in a chemical test supports this charge with no need to prove impairment. Both OWVI and OWPD go through the same Oceana County courts and show up in MiCOURT the same way standard OWI does.
Third-offense OWI is always a felony. Michigan removed the lookback period in 2007, so every prior OWI on record counts, regardless of how old. A third OWI in Oceana County goes to the 27th Circuit Court. The MSP impaired driving page covers current Michigan OWI charge levels and penalties in full.
Driving Records and License Consequences
An OWI conviction in Oceana County creates two records. The criminal record goes into ICHAT. The license record is with the Michigan Secretary of State. Request a driving record at michigan.gov/sos. The driving record shows all suspensions, restrictions, and current license status tied to an OWI.
Driver Responsibility Fees for OWI total $2,000, paid as $1,000 per year for two years. These fees are separate from court fines. People with revoked licenses after multiple OWI convictions may need the Road to Restoration process to regain driving privileges. That process runs through the Secretary of State's Driver Assessment and Appeal Division and is completely separate from any Oceana County criminal case.
For any OWI case in Oceana County that led to state corrections involvement, the OTIS database from the Michigan Department of Corrections is free and searchable by name. It shows current incarceration or supervision status for anyone in the Michigan system.
Nearby Counties
Oceana County is along the Lake Michigan shoreline in west-central Lower Michigan. OWI cases near county borders may have records in these adjacent jurisdictions.