Local resources: courts, jail, police, and the Department of State
The offices an OWI case in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County passes through, with the address and number from each office's own website or an official source. Confirm hours by phone before you go.
How an OWI case moves here
- Arrest and booking. Ann Arbor Police make arrests in the city; the Washtenaw County Sheriff, township police, university police and the Michigan State Police cover the rest of the county.
- 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).
- Arraignment in district court. A first or second OWI is a misdemeanor heard in the district court for the place of arrest: the 15th District Court for the City of Ann Arbor, or one of the 14A or 14B courts for the townships and other cities.
- Pretrial and resolution. Dismissal, a plea, or trial. The prosecutor must list any prior convictions on the complaint if it wants an enhanced sentence.
- Felony cases. A third offense, or an OWI causing serious injury or death, is a felony; after the district court's preliminary steps it goes to the Washtenaw County Trial Court (22nd Circuit).
- After a conviction. Sentencing, then license sanctions from the Department of State: a suspension, a restricted license, and an ignition interlock in some cases.
Courts
Which district court hears your case depends on where you were stopped. Your citation or bond paperwork names the court; when in doubt, call it.
15th District Court (Ann Arbor Justice Center)
301 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Misdemeanor and traffic cases from the City of Ann Arbor, including University of Michigan Regents ordinance violations.
14A-1 District Court (Pittsfield Township)
4133 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Misdemeanor and traffic cases from Pittsfield Township.
14A-2 District Court (Ypsilanti)
415 W. Michigan Avenue, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Misdemeanor and traffic cases from the City of Ypsilanti (including Eastern Michigan University), Ann Arbor, Augusta, Salem and Superior townships, and the Village of Barton Hills. Call the number on your paperwork.
14A-3 District Court (Chelsea)
122 S. Main Street, Chelsea, MI 48118
The City of Chelsea, the Village of Dexter, and Dexter, Lima, Lyndon, Northfield, Scio, Sylvan and Webster townships.
14A-4 District Court (Saline)
1000 N. Maple Road, Saline, MI 48176
The cities of Saline and Milan, the Village of Manchester, and Bridgewater, Freedom, Lodi, Manchester, Saline, Sharon and York townships.
14B District Court (Ypsilanti Township)
7200 S. Huron River Drive, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Ypsilanti Township cases.
Washtenaw County Trial Court (22nd Circuit Court)
101 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Felony cases countywide, including a third OWI offense. Public hours for the civil/criminal division are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Law enforcement
Ann Arbor Police Department
301 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
City police, on the second floor of the Justice Center. The number is the non-emergency line; call 911 in an emergency.
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and Jail
Patrols much of the county and runs the county jail. Use the county's website for current jail and inmate information.
Prosecutor, public defender, and the Department of State
Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office
Prosecutes criminal cases in Washtenaw County.
Washtenaw County Public Defender
Represents people the court finds unable to afford a lawyer. The 14A court tells defendants without a lawyer to call this office as soon as possible with their case number.
Michigan Department of State: Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight (OHAO)
P.O. Box 30196, Lansing, MI 48909
Implied consent (refusal) hearings. A hearing request must be made within 14 days of the officer's notice, online or by mail to this address. The phone number is the Department of State's main line printed on the request form.
The Department of State and your license
License sanctions in Michigan come from the Michigan Department of State, not the court. If you refused the chemical test, the request for an implied consent hearing goes to its Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight within 14 days of the officer's notice, online or by mail to P.O. Box 30196, Lansing, MI 48909. Step by step: the 14-day hearing guide.
After a conviction, the department suspends, restricts, or revokes the license depending on the offense and your record, and an ignition interlock is required for some restricted licenses. See the license sanctions guide. Interlock providers serving Ann Arbor are listed in the directory as they are added.