Sanilac County DUI Records Lookup

Sanilac County DUI records are handled by the 24th Circuit Court and the 73A District Court, both in Sandusky. OWI case information is searchable for free through MiCOURT, and a full statewide criminal history costs $10 via ICHAT. This page covers how Sanilac County courts handle OWI charges, where to get arrest records from the sheriff, and what state databases hold conviction and driving history data.

Sanilac County Courts and OWI Cases

Both courts that handle OWI cases in Sanilac County are in Sandusky at 60 W. Sanilac Avenue. The 73A District Court handles first and second OWI offenses, which are misdemeanors under Michigan law. The 24th Circuit Court handles felony OWI charges, which start with a third offense and include any OWI that causes death or serious physical injury.

The 24th Circuit Court is in Room 303 at 60 W. Sanilac Avenue, phone (810) 648-2120. Their page is at sanilaccounty.gov. The 73A District Court is in Room 302 at the same address, phone (810) 648-3250. Their page is at sanilaccounty.gov. Both courts maintain records that are accessible through MiCOURT and through in-person requests at the clerk's office.

Every OWI case in Sanilac County is filed under MCL 257.625, which defines OWI, sets BAC thresholds, and draws the line between misdemeanor and felony charges.

Sanilac County DUI Records Search Tools

The primary free tool is MiCOURT. You can search OWI cases from both the 24th Circuit and 73A District courts by name or case number. MiCOURT shows charge codes, hearing dates, and case outcomes. OWI cases appear with codes such as OD (OWI), SD (Super Drunk), or FD (felony drunk driving). It covers both court levels and updates as cases progress.

For a statewide criminal history, ICHAT costs $10 and pulls from Michigan State Police criminal history records. This is the right tool when you need to know whether someone has prior OWI convictions in other Michigan counties. OWI convictions are permanent in Michigan. There is no option to expunge them, so convictions from years or decades ago will appear alongside recent ones.

The Sanilac County Sheriff is at 65 N. Elk Street, Sandusky, MI 48471, phone (810) 648-2000. Their page is at sanilaccounty.gov. The Sheriff's Office records request procedures, including FOIA information, are at sanilaccounty.gov. You can submit a FOIA request by email at foia@sanilaccounty.net or by fax at (810) 648-5162.

OWI Laws and Penalties in Michigan

Michigan law sets multiple OWI charge levels based on BAC and impairment. Standard OWI applies at 0.08 percent BAC or more. Super Drunk OWI applies at 0.17 percent and triggers mandatory enhanced penalties even on a first offense, including longer license suspension and possible ignition interlock. Drivers under 21 face charges at 0.02 percent. Commercial drivers must stay under 0.04 percent.

OWVI, operating while visibly impaired, is a lesser charge that applies when a driver clearly appears impaired without a precise BAC reading. OWPD, operating with the presence of drugs, applies when drug presence is detected during or after a stop. These charges can be filed in addition to or instead of standard OWI, depending on the circumstances.

In Sanilac County, first and second offense OWI goes to the 73A District Court. Third offense and above, plus OWI causing injury or death, go to the 24th Circuit Court as felonies. For a plain-English breakdown of penalties by charge type, the Michigan State Police impaired driving law page is a good starting point.

Sanilac County Sheriff Office Records

The Sanilac County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. It handles most OWI arrests in unincorporated parts of Sanilac County. The office is at 65 N. Elk Street in Sandusky and can be reached at (810) 648-2000. The office's page at sanilaccounty.gov lists services, contacts, and office information.

Arrest records and incident reports from the Sheriff are public records under MCL 15.231. Sanilac County provides a dedicated FOIA and records request page at sanilaccounty.gov. Requests can go by email to foia@sanilaccounty.net or by fax to (810) 648-5162. The agency must respond within five business days. Fees apply for copies and research time depending on the volume of the request.

Arrest records show charges and details of the stop. They do not reflect what happened in court. For case outcomes, use MiCOURT or contact the Circuit or District Court clerk directly.

State Sources for OWI Records

Several Michigan state systems hold records related to OWI cases in Sanilac County. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs OTIS, the offender tracking system. Felony OWI convictions that resulted in state prison time show up in OTIS. Most misdemeanor OWI sentences do not involve state prison, but serious felony cases sometimes do.

The Michigan State Police Criminal History Records unit maintains statewide conviction data, which feeds into ICHAT. For FOIA requests targeting MSP troopers who made OWI arrests in Sanilac County, use the MSP FOIA page.

Driving record history, including license suspensions and revocations tied to OWI convictions, is maintained by the Secretary of State. The SOS driving records service shows current license status and prior actions. For those working to restore a revoked license after OWI, the SOS offers the Road to Restoration program with clinics and guidance on the reinstatement process.

Sanilac County and the Thumb Region

Sanilac County is in Michigan's Thumb region, a rural area in the eastern Lower Peninsula. OWI enforcement in the Thumb is primarily handled by county sheriffs and Michigan State Police posts. Sanilac County court records cover the entire county, including smaller cities and townships that do not have their own courts.

For traffic and OWI incidents involving state highways in the Thumb, MSP posts may hold arrest records separate from the county sheriff. In those cases, contact the relevant MSP post or submit a FOIA request through the MSP FOIA portal. Court records for those cases will still appear in MiCOURT, since all cases go through the county courts regardless of which agency made the arrest.

The image above shows the Michigan state-level DUI records reference page, which covers statewide access tools including MiCOURT, ICHAT, and OTIS for searching OWI records across all counties including Sanilac.

Nearby Counties

Sanilac County is in the Thumb area of Michigan. The counties below border Sanilac and each maintain their own court and arrest records for OWI cases.