Alpena County Traffic Court Records

Alpena County traffic court records are managed by the 26th District Court, which covers Alpena and several other counties in Northeast Michigan along the Lake Huron shoreline. If you need to search a traffic case, respond to a citation, or request copies of records, this page walks through how the 26th District Court works, what online tools are available, what records contain, and what fees apply when you need official copies.

26th District Court - Alpena County

The 26th District Court sits at the Alpena County Courthouse at 720 W. Chisholm Street in Alpena. This court handles traffic civil infractions and misdemeanor traffic offenses for Alpena County, along with Alcona, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties. The 26th District Court is one of the busier district courts in this part of the state, given that Alpena is the largest population center in the region.

The clerk's office at 720 W. Chisholm Street processes fine payments, schedules hearings, and handles records requests. For general county information and department contacts, check the county website at alpena.mi.us. For more serious traffic cases that reach the felony level, those are handled by the 26th Circuit Court, which also operates out of the Alpena County Courthouse. The two courts share the building, so the physical address is the same for both.

Hours are generally Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Call the court before visiting to confirm current hours, especially around holidays. Mail requests for records go to 720 W. Chisholm Street, Alpena, MI 49707.

Search Alpena County Traffic Records Online

The main online tool for Alpena County traffic court records is MiCOURT. It is free, public, and does not require you to create an account. Go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ and select the 26th District Court. You can search by the person's name, by case number, or by traffic ticket number. The system returns available public case information quickly.

MiCOURT results include the case type, filing date, charge or infraction description, case status, full docket history, and any scheduled hearings. You can filter the results to show only traffic cases if you want to cut through other case types. Some records do not show up in MiCOURT searches. Sealed cases and cases removed under Clean Slate expungement are not visible to the public. Cases dismissed under MCL 333.7411 and HYTA cases are also excluded. Since April 1, 2022, dates of birth no longer appear in results per Michigan Court Rule 1.109 to protect privacy. This rule applies to all Michigan court systems, including the 26th District Court in Alpena.

For electronic filing, check the MiFILE available courts list to see if the 26th District Court accepts e-filed documents. Online fine payments are available through the state court ePAY system. The Michigan Courts official website at courts.michigan.gov has additional resources and links.

The Michigan trial courts directory lists direct contact information for every district court in the state, including the 26th District Court in Alpena.

Use the courts.michigan.gov trial courts directory to find current phone numbers and address information for the 26th District Court serving Alpena County.

What Alpena County Traffic Records Contain

Traffic case records from the 26th District Court in Alpena document each case from the initial citation through final resolution. The file starts with the ticket itself: the date and place of the stop, the officer who wrote it, the issuing agency, and the specific code section charged. From the moment the case is filed with the court, every event gets added to the docket log.

The disposition entry shows how the case ended. In civil infraction cases, this tells you whether the person paid, had a hearing, defaulted, or had the charge dismissed or reduced. For criminal traffic offenses, such as operating while intoxicated under MCL 257.625 or leaving the scene of an accident, the record includes the charge, plea or verdict, and sentence. Fines paid and any probation conditions may also appear. What the record does not show is your license point total. That data lives at the Secretary of State, not the court.

Note: MCR 8.119 governs public access to court records in Michigan. That rule sets out what is available, what requires a formal request, and what is restricted from public view.

The Michigan State Police iCHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT provides criminal history background checks that may supplement what you find in Alpena County traffic court records for cases involving misdemeanor or felony traffic charges.

How to Respond to a Traffic Ticket in Alpena County

Civil infraction tickets issued in Alpena County give you 14 days to respond. The deadline and your options are printed on the ticket. Missing the deadline is a bad idea. The court enters a default judgment, reports it to the Secretary of State, and that can lead to license suspension and added points on your record.

Your three choices are: admit responsibility and pay the fine on the ticket; admit responsibility with explanation, where you write to the magistrate and ask them to consider reducing the fine (though points still apply); or deny responsibility and ask for a hearing. You pick between an informal hearing before a magistrate, which is simpler, and a formal hearing before a judge where the issuing officer must attend and attorneys are allowed. Losing the informal hearing gives you 7 days to escalate to a formal hearing if you choose to appeal.

Michigan's courts cannot hold a ticket in abeyance, so there is no way to make it disappear through a program handled by the court. Some driver improvement courses, once completed, may let you ask the Secretary of State to reduce points on your driving record. That process is separate from how the court handles your case. Call the 26th District Court to ask about what first-time options or programs may apply to your Alpena County ticket.

Getting Copies of Alpena County Traffic Records

To get paper copies of traffic records from the 26th District Court, visit the clerk's office at 720 W. Chisholm Street in Alpena or send a written request by mail. Include the case number or full name and approximate date of the case. Requests without a case number take longer to process.

Plain copies are $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $10.00 for the first page plus $1.00 for each additional page. Transcripts of hearings fall under MCL 600.2543, which sets the rate at $3.75 per page for an original and $0.90 per page for a copy, with a $50 minimum charge. Ask the clerk about payment methods before you submit your request.

FOIA requests for records held by Alpena County government offices go to the county FOIA coordinator. Under MCL 15.231, the county must respond within 5 business days. Individuals who qualify as indigent under the statute get the first $20 of fees waived. Check alpena.mi.us for the correct FOIA contact and submission instructions.

Points and Driving Records for Alpena County Cases

The Michigan Secretary of State runs the state's point system. When the 26th District Court in Alpena reports a conviction or civil infraction finding, the Secretary of State adds the appropriate points to the driver's record. The court plays no role in setting or adjusting those points.

Standard point values: 6 points for OWI, reckless driving, fleeing police, leaving the scene of an accident, or vehicular manslaughter. Five points for speeding 16 mph or more over the limit. Four points for speeding 11 to 15 mph over. Three points for speeding 1 to 10 mph over, disobeying a traffic light, improper passing, and failing to stop for a school bus. Two points for all other moving violations. Hitting 12 points within two years leads to a mandatory Secretary of State reexamination of your driving privileges.

To check your current driving record, contact the Secretary of State at michigan.gov/sos or call (517) 322-1624. The 26th District Court in Alpena handles the court case; the Secretary of State manages your driving record and license status.

Note: Completing an approved driver improvement course may reduce your point total through the Secretary of State, but this is separate from any action taken by the Alpena County court.

Cities in Alpena County

Alpena is the county seat and the largest city in the county. It is also the location of the 26th District Court. No cities in Alpena County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Traffic cases from across Alpena County are handled at the Chisholm Street courthouse in Alpena city.

Nearby Counties

These counties are close to Alpena County in Northeast Michigan. Each uses its own district court for local traffic cases.