Wexford County DUI Records

Wexford County DUI records are maintained by the 28th Circuit Court and the 84th District Court, both located in Cadillac. Free OWI case searches are available through MiCOURT, Michigan's public court search tool, and full statewide criminal history reports run $10 through ICHAT. This page explains how OWI cases are processed in Wexford County, where to get sheriff arrest records, what the 28th Circuit covers, and what state databases hold related conviction and driving data.

Wexford County Court Structure for OWI

Two courts at 437 E. Division Street in Cadillac handle OWI cases from Wexford County. The 84th District Court processes first and second OWI offenses, which are misdemeanors under Michigan law. The 28th Circuit Court handles felony OWI charges, including third-offense OWI and any OWI causing death or serious injury.

The 28th Circuit Court is reachable at (231) 779-9450. The county's main court information page is at wexfordcounty.org. The 84th District Court is at the same address, phone (231) 779-9515, with email contact at ddecator@wexfordcounty.org. It is important to note that the 28th Circuit covers both Wexford and Missaukee counties. Felony OWI cases from either county go through the same Circuit Court in Cadillac.

All OWI charges in Wexford County are governed by MCL 257.625, Michigan's operating while intoxicated statute, which defines the BAC limits and charge levels.

How to Search Wexford County DUI Records

The primary free tool is MiCOURT. Michigan's public case search covers both the 28th Circuit and 84th District courts. Search by name or case number and you will find charge codes, court dates, and outcomes. OWI cases use codes OD (standard OWI), SD (Super Drunk), and FD (felony drunk driving). MiCOURT confirms whether a case exists and its current status.

For a full statewide criminal background check, ICHAT provides a report for $10. It draws from Michigan State Police conviction data across all counties and is the best option when you need to determine whether someone has prior OWI convictions outside Wexford County. Michigan does not allow OWI expungements, so convictions stay on the permanent record regardless of when they occurred.

The Wexford County Sheriff is at 1015 Lincoln Street, Cadillac, MI 49601, phone (231) 779-9216. Their site is at wexfordsheriff.org. The Sheriff's Office also handles accident reports through a separate page at wexfordsheriff.org. FOIA requests go to wcso@wexfordcounty.org or by mail to 1015 Lincoln Street. Michigan agencies must respond within five business days to FOIA requests.

OWI Charge Types in Michigan

Michigan's operating while intoxicated law covers several charge categories. Standard OWI applies at a BAC of 0.08 percent or above. Super Drunk OWI applies at 0.17 percent or higher and triggers mandatory enhanced penalties even for a first offense, including longer license suspension and possible ignition interlock requirements. Drivers under 21 are held to 0.02 percent under the state's zero-tolerance law. Commercial drivers face a limit of 0.04 percent.

Beyond those thresholds, OWVI, operating while visibly impaired, applies when a driver clearly appears impaired without a firm BAC reading. OWPD, operating with the presence of drugs, covers drug-impaired driving. Both can be filed in addition to or instead of standard OWI depending on the facts of the stop and arrest.

In Wexford County, first and second offense OWI cases go to the 84th District Court as misdemeanors. Third offense and above, plus OWI causing death or serious injury, go to the 28th Circuit Court as felonies. The Michigan State Police impaired driving law page explains each charge level and its penalties in plain terms.

Wexford County Sheriff Records and FOIA

The Wexford County Sheriff's Office handles arrests throughout the county and is the primary source for OWI arrest records in unincorporated areas. The office is at 1015 Lincoln Street, Cadillac, MI 49601, phone (231) 779-9216. Their main site is at wexfordsheriff.org. Arrest records are public under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231.

To request records, submit a FOIA request by email to wcso@wexfordcounty.org or by mail to 1015 Lincoln Street. Describe the specific records you need, including dates and any identifying information about the case. The office must respond within five business days and may extend by ten more for complex requests. Fees depend on the scope of what is requested. Accident reports are handled separately through wexfordsheriff.org and may be relevant if the OWI involved a crash.

Arrest records reflect what someone was charged with at the time of arrest. They do not include the court outcome. For how a case ended, use MiCOURT or contact the clerk at the 84th District Court (231) 779-9515 or the 28th Circuit Court (231) 779-9450.

The image above shows the Wexford County Sheriff's records resource page, which includes contact information and FOIA request procedures for obtaining OWI arrest and incident records from the office.

State-Level OWI Data Sources

Several Michigan state databases hold records tied to Wexford County OWI cases. The Michigan Department of Corrections runs OTIS for tracking state prisoners and parolees. Felony OWI convictions that resulted in state prison time will appear in OTIS. Most misdemeanor OWI sentences involve local jail, not state prison, but felony third-offense cases sometimes result in state prison time.

The Michigan State Police maintains statewide criminal history records through the Criminal History Records unit. Courts report convictions to MSP, and that data feeds ICHAT. For any OWI arrests made by MSP troopers in Wexford County, use the MSP FOIA page to request those records separately from the county sheriff.

License status and driving history are tracked by the Secretary of State. Use the SOS driving records service to check for suspensions and revocations tied to OWI convictions. For people working to reinstate a revoked license after OWI, the SOS Road to Restoration program provides information on the hearing process and eligibility requirements.

Shared Circuit Court with Missaukee County

The 28th Circuit Court covers both Wexford and Missaukee counties. This means that felony OWI cases from both counties are processed through the same court in Cadillac. When searching MiCOURT or requesting Circuit Court records, cases from Missaukee County may appear alongside Wexford County cases under the same circuit.

If you need records specifically tied to a Missaukee County OWI arrest, those cases still go through the 28th Circuit in Cadillac for felony matters. The 84th District Court at the same address covers only Wexford County at the misdemeanor level. For Missaukee County misdemeanor OWI, the applicable district court is different. Keep that in mind when using MiCOURT to narrow results by location or case number.

Nearby Counties

Wexford County is in northwestern Michigan. The following counties border Wexford or share court resources, including the 28th Circuit.