An OWI in Lansing and Ingham County: how the case moves

The short version

Arrests in the City of Lansing go to 54-A District Court at City Hall. East Lansing arrests go to 54-B, and the rest of Ingham County to the 55th District Court in Mason. Felony cases go to the 30th Circuit Court in Lansing. Arrests outside the city in Eaton or Clinton County go to those counties' own courts.

Step by step

1. Arrest and booking. Lansing Police make arrests in the city; the Ingham County Sheriff, East Lansing and other local police, MSU police and the Michigan State Police cover the rest of the county. The county jail is in Mason.
2. Your license. The officer takes your plastic license and gives you a paper temporary license. If you refused the chemical test, you have 14 days to request a hearing with the Department of State (implied consent hearing guide).
3. Arraignment in district court. A first or second OWI is a misdemeanor: 54-A District Court for the City of Lansing, 54-B for East Lansing, and the 55th District Court in Mason for the rest of Ingham County.
4. Pretrial and resolution. Dismissal, a plea, or trial in district court.
5. Felony cases. A third offense, or an OWI causing serious injury or death, is a felony and goes to the 30th Circuit Court in Lansing after the district court's preliminary steps.
6. After a conviction. Sentencing, then license sanctions from the Department of State: a suspension, a restricted license, and an ignition interlock in some cases.

Which court

• 54-A District Court (Lansing City Hall), 124 W. Michigan Avenue, 6th Floor, Lansing, MI 48933, (517) 483-4433. Misdemeanor and traffic cases from the City of Lansing, including the part of the city in Eaton County. Criminal and traffic: (517) 483-4445.
• 54-B District Court (East Lansing). Misdemeanor and traffic cases from the City of East Lansing, including much of the Michigan State University campus. Call the number on your paperwork.
• 55th District Court (Mason), 700 Buhl Street, Mason, MI 48854, (517) 676-8400. Ingham County outside Lansing and East Lansing. Criminal: (517) 676-8405.
• 30th Circuit Court (Veterans Memorial Courthouse), 517-483-6500. Felony cases from Ingham County, including a third OWI offense. The courthouse is in downtown Lansing.

What this site covers. This site covers Lansing and the three counties around it: Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton. Part of the City of Lansing lies in Eaton County, but the 54-A District Court handles misdemeanor cases from the whole city, and the 54-B District Court handles cases from the City of East Lansing, part of which lies in Clinton County. Outside those cities, an arrest in Eaton County (for example Delta Township, Grand Ledge, or Charlotte) goes to the 56-A District Court in Charlotte, and an arrest in Clinton County (for example DeWitt, Bath, or St. Johns) goes to the 65-A District Court in St. Johns. Your paperwork names the court. Michigan's state rules on this site apply to all of them.

The first days after the arrest

Three deadlines and papers matter most in the first days:

• The refusal notice. If you refused the chemical test, the 14-day deadline to request a hearing runs from the officer's notice, not from your court date (14-day hearing guide).
• The temporary license. The paper license the officer gave you is what you drive on while the case is pending, if you are otherwise eligible. Keep it with you.
• The court date. It is on your citation or bond paperwork. Missing it can lead to a warrant.

Bond and release

After an OWI arrest, release conditions are set by the court, often by a magistrate. Conditions for an OWI case can include not drinking, testing, and not driving without a valid license. If a cash or surety bond is set, families sometimes use a bail bond agent; ask what the fee is and whether any of it is refundable before you sign. Bond agents serving Lansing that ask to be listed appear under bail in the directory.

Prior convictions and the charge

Michigan's penalties rise with prior convictions, and a third OWI is a felony no matter how long ago the earlier ones were. If the prosecutor wants an enhanced sentence based on prior convictions, MCL 257.625(15) says it must list them on the complaint. A lawyer can check whether the priors listed are accurate and count. The ranges are in the penalties guide.

If you cannot afford a lawyer

You can ask the court to appoint a lawyer if you cannot afford one. In Ingham County, the Ingham County Public Defender handles appointed cases; its office is at 2025 S. Washington Avenue in Lansing, phone 517-679-2979.

After a conviction

A conviction usually means a court sentence (fine, possible jail, community service, probation, and often alcohol assessment or treatment) and then license sanctions from the Department of State. The license sanctions guide explains the suspension, restricted license, and revocation rules.

Getting your car back

If you were arrested while driving, the police usually have the car towed. Call the arresting agency first, since it can tell you which company has the car and whether a release is needed before the lot will give it back. Then call the tow company and ask for the total due, the payment methods it accepts, its hours, and what you must bring, usually photo ID, the registration, and proof of insurance. Storage fees often add up each day, so it pays to move quickly. If you cannot drive, someone else may be able to collect the car with your written permission; ask the tow company what it needs.

Preparing for the first court date

The first court date in a misdemeanor OWI is usually an arraignment or pretrial, not a trial. Before it:

• read the citation and bond papers again for the court name, date, time, and any conditions;
• check the court's website or call the clerk to confirm whether you must appear in person or by video;
• if you want appointed counsel, ask the court how to apply before the date;
• bring your paperwork and a pen, and arrive early to get through security; and
• follow every bond condition, such as no alcohol or testing. A violation can lead to a new warrant.

If you cannot make the date, call the court before it, not after. Missing a court date can lead to a bench warrant and a license action.

If the arrest was in Eaton or Clinton County

Lansing sits where three counties meet. Inside the City of Lansing, misdemeanor cases go to the 54-A District Court even on the Eaton County side, and East Lansing cases go to the 54-B District Court, including from the part of East Lansing in Clinton County. Outside those cities:

• Eaton County (for example Delta Township, Grand Ledge, or Charlotte): people are booked at the Eaton County Jail in Charlotte, and misdemeanor OWI cases go to the 56-A District Court, 1045 Independence Boulevard in Charlotte. Felonies go to the 56th Circuit Court in the same building.
• Clinton County (for example DeWitt, Bath, or St. Johns): people are booked at the Clinton County Jail in St. Johns, and misdemeanor OWI cases go to the 65-A District Court, 100 E. State Street in St. Johns. Felonies go to the 29th Circuit Court in the same courthouse.

The 14-day refusal deadline, the penalties, and the license rules are the same in every county, because they are state law. Addresses and phone numbers are under Eaton County and Clinton County.

Contacts

Every office above, with its address and phone number from its official source, is on the local resources page. Call before you go; hours and procedures change.