Wayne County OWI and DUI Records

Wayne County DUI records are spread across two main court systems: the Third Judicial Circuit Court in Detroit handles felony OWI cases, while the 36th District Court handles first and second offense OWI cases that are charged as misdemeanors. Michigan refers to drunk driving offenses as OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) under MCL 257.625, and Wayne County court records reflect this terminology in case filings, dispositions, and sentencing documents. Searching these records requires knowing which court handled the case and what tools are available for online or in-person access.

Third Judicial Circuit Court

The Third Judicial Circuit Court sits at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226, and serves as Wayne County's trial court of general jurisdiction. You can reach the court by phone at (313) 224-5256. This court handles felony OWI cases, which include third-offense drunk driving convictions, OWI causing serious injury, and OWI causing death. Michigan removed the 10-year lookback period for prior OWI offenses in 2007, so a third offense is always charged as a felony regardless of when the prior convictions occurred. Circuit Court DUI records often include charging documents, plea agreements, jury verdicts, and sentencing orders.

The court uses the Odyssey Public Access system for case lookups. You can find the Odyssey Public Access portal on the Third Circuit's website at www.3rdcc.org. Public access kiosks are available on the lower level of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. One thing to know: actual case documents are not viewable online. You have to visit the courthouse to get copies of filings, transcripts, or court orders. The Odyssey system shows case status, hearing dates, and party information, but nothing more detailed than that.

Case type codes help when you search. In the statewide MiCOURT system, felony drunk driving cases are coded FD. That code applies to Wayne County Circuit Court OWI records just as it does elsewhere in Michigan.

The image below is from the Third Circuit's website, which hosts the Odyssey Public Access portal for Wayne County DUI records.

The site provides general case information, though documents require an in-person courthouse visit to obtain copies.

36th District Court OWI Records

First and second offense OWI in Detroit and Wayne County are misdemeanor charges handled by the 36th District Court, located at 421 Madison Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226. The main line is (313) 965-2200, and there is a dedicated records line at (313) 965-4153. The 36th District Court is the largest single district court in Michigan. It processes a high volume of drunk driving cases each year, including charges under the standard 0.08% BAC threshold and the "Super Drunk" High BAC offense at 0.17%, which carries stiffer mandatory penalties.

The court's website is www.36thdistrictcourtmi.gov, and records access is governed by Administrative Order 2020-06. For criminal history information tied to an OWI conviction, the court refers requesters to the Michigan State Police Criminal History Records unit at (517) 241-0606. You can also use the ICHAT online system, which searches criminal history statewide for a $10 fee per search. ICHAT pulls from the same database maintained by MSP and covers all 83 Michigan counties, including Wayne.

MiCOURT is a good starting point before paying for ICHAT. It's free, and misdemeanor OWI cases appear there under case type codes OD (Ordinance Drunk Driving) and SD (Statute Drunk Driving). You won't get full criminal history from MiCOURT, but you can confirm whether a case exists and check its status.

Statewide Search Tools for Wayne County OWI Cases

Michigan provides several public tools for looking up DUI records statewide. Each serves a different purpose, and it helps to know which one fits what you need.

MiCOURT is the free statewide case search system. It covers both district and circuit court cases and shows basic case information like party names, case numbers, hearing dates, and case status. For Wayne County drunk driving records, MiCOURT is a good first stop. You can search by name, case number, or date range. Results show whether charges were filed, what the offense was, and how the case resolved. Documents themselves are not accessible through MiCOURT.

ICHAT (Internet Criminal History Access Tool) costs $10 per search and returns a person's full Michigan criminal history as maintained by the Michigan State Police. This is the most complete source for OWI conviction history. ICHAT records are used by courts and agencies statewide. For Wayne County DUI records, ICHAT will show whether someone has prior OWI convictions, the offense dates, case dispositions, and sentencing details.

The OTIS system from the Michigan Department of Corrections covers offenders currently or previously under state supervision. A felony OWI conviction that resulted in a prison sentence would appear in OTIS. That includes third-offense OWI cases from the Wayne County Circuit Court that led to incarceration.

Wayne County Sheriff's Office Records

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is located at 4747 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201. The main number is (734) 941-3500. The Sheriff's Office handles arrests in unincorporated Wayne County areas and also processes bookings for certain DUI arrests made by contracted agencies. Arrest records, booking photos, and incident reports generated by the Sheriff's Office are separate from court records and must be requested directly from the Sheriff.

FOIA requests to the Wayne County Sheriff's Office are processed under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, codified at MCL 15.231. The law requires a response within five business days. You can submit a FOIA request by mail to 4747 Woodward Avenue or by contacting the department directly. Incident reports tied to a drunk driving arrest may include the officer's observations, field sobriety test results, and chemical test data. These are public records once a case is closed, though some information may be redacted if charges are pending or if the release would interfere with an ongoing investigation.

Arrest records from the Sheriff do not replace court records. They show what happened at the time of arrest but not how the case resolved in court. Use MiCOURT or ICHAT for the full picture.

The image below shows the Wayne County Government website, which links to Sheriff's Office services and records request information.

The county government portal at waynecounty.com provides links to court, sheriff, and public records resources across Wayne County departments.

Michigan OWI Law and Wayne County Cases

Michigan's main drunk driving statute is MCL 257.625, which covers OWI, High BAC (operating with a BAC of 0.17% or more), operating while visibly impaired (OWVI), and several other alcohol and drug-related driving offenses. All of these charges generate court records in Wayne County. First and second OWI offenses go to the 36th District Court. Third offense always goes to the Third Judicial Circuit Court as a felony.

Michigan's implied consent law, found at MCL 257.625c through 257.625e, requires drivers to submit to chemical testing if lawfully arrested for OWI. Refusing a test results in a one-year license suspension for a first refusal and two years for a second refusal within seven years. Refusal records show up on both driving records and, if court action results, in court records as well.

Convictions carry mandatory Driver Responsibility Fees of $1,000 per year for two years, bringing the total to $2,000 for a standard OWI conviction. Michigan eliminated the Driver Responsibility Fee program in 2019 for new convictions, but fees assessed before that date remained collectible. OWI convictions stay on both the criminal record and the driving record permanently in Michigan. There is no expungement for OWI offenses under current Michigan law, though the Road to Restoration program addresses some license restoration matters.

The MSP Impaired Driving page has a clear summary of Michigan OWI law, including BAC thresholds, penalty tiers, and license consequences. It is a useful reference when trying to understand what a Wayne County OWI record means in terms of charges and outcomes.

Driving Records and OWI History

Court records and driving records are two separate things. A Wayne County DUI record in MiCOURT or ICHAT shows the criminal case, but the driving record is held by the Michigan Secretary of State. An OWI conviction shows up on both, but you need to request them from different sources.

Driving records from the Secretary of State are available through the SOS Driving Records portal. You can request your own record or, for certain authorized purposes, someone else's. The driving record shows license suspensions, revocations, points, and any OWI-related actions taken by the SOS. This includes records of implied consent refusals, license reinstatement requirements, and any ignition interlock conditions tied to a restricted license after an OWI. Wayne County OWI convictions feed into the driving record through the court's reporting to the Secretary of State.

The MSP Criminal History Records division maintains the statewide criminal history database. Both ICHAT and law enforcement agencies pull from this system. If you need an official criminal history record for Wayne County OWI convictions, this is the authoritative source.

Cities in Wayne County

Several major cities in Wayne County have their own pages with local court and records information for DUI cases.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wayne County. Each has its own circuit and district courts handling OWI cases.