Emmet County Traffic Court Records

Emmet County traffic court records are handled by the 90-2 District Court in Petoskey. If you need to search for a traffic case, respond to a citation, or get copies of court documents, this page covers the full process. The 90-2 District Court manages civil infractions and misdemeanor traffic matters throughout Emmet County. The 57th Circuit Court, also in Petoskey, handles the more serious felony traffic cases. Both courts operate out of 200 Division Street.

90-2 District Court - Emmet County

The 90-2 District Court is located at 200 Division Street, Suite G12, in Petoskey. Judge Angela J. Lasher presides. The court administrator is Brandon Stapor, and Deputy Administrator Wendy Viles also helps manage court operations. Traffic and information clerk Ashley Sero handles routine traffic inquiries. Magistrate Katrina Martin handles informal hearings and certain other matters. For probation, contact Chief Probation Officer Heather McCreery at (231) 348-1750.

The main district court line is (231) 348-1750. The 57th Circuit Court, which is on the same floor at Suite 100, is at (231) 348-1748 with a fax at (231) 348-0616. The circuit court is led by Chief Judge Charles W. Johnson. The 7th Probate Court, which Emmet County shares with Charlevoix County, is also at 200 Division Street with Chief Judge Valerie K. Snyder presiding. Probate matters go through (231) 348-1765. Friend of Court is at (231) 348-1711.

The Emmet County main line is (231) 348-1700. The county website at emmetcounty.org has links to all departments. The courts main page at emmetcounty.org/government/courts has specific court contact information. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The screenshot below is from the Emmet County website, the official source for county department contacts and services.

Emmetcounty.org links to the 90-2 District Court, the 57th Circuit Court, and other county offices you may need for traffic record matters.

How to Search Emmet County Traffic Records

The fastest way to search Emmet County traffic court records is through MiCOURT, the state's free public case search system. Go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ and select the 90-2 District Court. Search by name, case number, or ticket number. No account or fee is needed. Results come back with case type, charge, filing date, docket entries, and current case status.

You can use the filter tools in MiCOURT to narrow results by case type (traffic, criminal, or civil) and by status (open, pending, adjudicated, disposed, or closed). This makes it easier to find specific types of cases without sorting through unrelated results. Some cases do not appear in MiCOURT. Sealed records are not visible. Expungements under Clean Slate are removed. Cases resolved under MCL 333.7411 for drug offenses or under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act are excluded. Dates of birth have been hidden from public view since April 1, 2022, per MCR 1.109.

The 90th District Court page at emmetcounty.org has local court details and links to resources specific to the 90-2 District Court. The Emmet and Charlevoix Bar Association at emmetcharlevoixbarassociation.com also has court information that may be useful.

MiCOURT covers the 90-2 District Court and provides free access to Emmet County traffic case information.

What Emmet County Traffic Case Records Include

An Emmet County traffic case file begins with the citation or complaint. It captures the ticket number, the specific charge, the date and location of the stop, and the officer's information. From there, each step in the case is logged as a docket entry. Hearing dates, appearances, any motions, and continuances are all added to the record as they happen. When the case closes, the final disposition entry records the outcome.

For civil infractions, the disposition might show "responsible" with a fine amount or "not responsible" if the case was dismissed. For criminal traffic offenses such as OWI under MCL 257.625, reckless driving under MCL 257.626, or fleeing police, the record is more involved. It includes the charge, any plea, the sentence, and conditions of probation if that was part of the outcome. If community service or a treatment program was ordered, those conditions appear as well. Certified copies of any part of the case file are available from the clerk at (231) 348-1750. The certified copy fee at the 90-2 District Court is $5.00 per document plus $1.00 per page, which differs slightly from the statewide standard.

Note: Court records show what happened in the case. Your driving record and current point total are held by the Secretary of State, not the court.

Responding to a Traffic Ticket in Emmet County

Most civil infraction tickets in Emmet County give you 14 days to respond. Check your ticket carefully for the deadline and the fine amount. If you don't respond, the 90-2 District Court enters a default judgment. Points are assessed by the Secretary of State, and your license can face suspension if fines go unpaid.

Three main options are available. Paying the fine and admitting responsibility closes the case right away. Admitting with an explanation means you write to Magistrate Katrina Martin with details about your situation. She can reduce the fine if the circumstances warrant it, but she cannot remove points, since that is the Secretary of State's call. Denying responsibility lets you go to a hearing. An informal hearing is before the magistrate, no attorneys, and you have 7 days to appeal if the outcome goes against you. A formal hearing is before Judge Lasher, attorneys are allowed, and the officer who issued the ticket will be present.

Michigan law does not allow courts to take traffic cases under advisement. The 90-2 District Court in Petoskey cannot offer a deal where attending a class makes the case vanish from the record. However, the Secretary of State does have a separate program where completing an approved defensive driving course can reduce your driving record points. That is worth looking into if points are the main issue for you.

The Emmet County courts page covers local court procedures and is a good resource before you decide how to respond to a citation.

The Emmet County courts page at emmetcounty.org lists court contacts, hours, and links to both the district and circuit courts in Petoskey.

Requesting Emmet County Traffic Record Copies

To get copies of Emmet County traffic records, contact the 90-2 District Court clerk at 200 Division Street, Suite G12, Petoskey, MI 49770. You can walk in during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) or send a written request by mail. Include the case number or the party name and approximate filing date. Regular copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies at this court cost $5.00 per document plus $1.00 per page, which is somewhat different from the general statewide rate.

Transcript fees for court hearings follow MCL 600.2543 rates: $3.75 per page for an original and $0.90 per page for copies, with a $50 minimum charge. For FOIA requests directed at Emmet County government records (not court records), submit a written request to the county. Under MCL 15.231, the county has 5 business days to respond. The first $20 in fees is waived for people who qualify as indigent. Court records are a separate process and go through the court clerk, not FOIA.

The Sobriety Court program for OWI and DUI offenders is also offered in Emmet County. Contact Heather McCreery at (231) 348-1750 to learn about eligibility and how participation may affect your case. Juvenile Drug Court matters go through (231) 348-1765.

Emmet County Traffic Cases and Driver's License Points

After the 90-2 District Court in Petoskey enters a civil infraction finding or criminal traffic conviction, it reports that to the Michigan Secretary of State. The Secretary of State then posts the points to the driver's official record. The court cannot change or remove those points. Only the Secretary of State has that authority.

Michigan's point values are set by the state and are the same in every county. At the high end, 6-point violations include OWI (MCL 257.625), reckless driving, fleeing or eluding police, leaving the scene of an accident, and vehicular manslaughter. Speeding 16 or more mph over the limit earns 5 points. Going 11 to 15 mph over the limit is 4 points. Speeding 1 to 10 over, running a red light or stop sign, improper passing, and failing to stop for a school bus each bring 3 points. Every other moving violation starts at 2 points. Twelve points in a two-year period triggers a Secretary of State reexamination. If you fail or don't attend, your license can be suspended or restricted.

Check your driving record through the Michigan Secretary of State at michigan.gov/sos or by calling (517) 322-1624. If you want a broader look at your criminal history, the ICHAT system at michigan.gov/ichat runs statewide searches for $10 each.

The 90th District Court page on the Emmet County site has specific information about the local court, including contact details and links for traffic cases.

Cities in Emmet County

Petoskey is the county seat and the location of the 90-2 District Court at 200 Division Street. No other cities in Emmet County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All traffic cases in Emmet County are heard and processed at the Petoskey courthouse.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Emmet County in northern Michigan. Each has its own district court for local traffic matters.