Leelanau County Traffic Court Records
Leelanau County traffic court records are handled through the 86th District Court, which serves this area of northwest Michigan. If you need to look up a traffic case, find a citation, or request copies of court documents tied to a Leelanau County traffic matter, this page explains how to search those records, what they contain, how to respond to a ticket, and what the fees are for getting copies.
Leelanau County Overview
86th District Court - Leelanau County
Traffic cases in Leelanau County go through the 86th District Court. The Leelanau County Government Center is at 8527 E. Government Center Drive in Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Leland is the legal county seat, but most government offices, including court functions, operate out of Suttons Bay. The 86th District Court also serves Grand Traverse and Antrim County areas. For felony-level traffic crimes, the 13th Circuit Court handles those matters.
The clerk's office manages all case filings, records requests, and fine payments for traffic matters in Leelanau County. You can find current contact details, links to court pages, and department information through the county's official website at leelanau.cc. Office hours are Monday through Friday; call ahead to check current times before making the drive to Suttons Bay.
Leelanau County is a peninsula county in northwest Michigan. Traffic enforcement is handled by the Leelanau County Sheriff and the Michigan State Police. Citations from across the county funnel into the 86th District Court.
| Court | 86th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | Leelanau County Government Center, 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 |
| County Website | leelanau.cc |
| Hours | Monday through Friday (call to confirm) |
| Circuit Court | 13th Circuit Court (Grand Traverse, Antrim, Leelanau) |
The Leelanau County Sheriff's office also keeps records tied to traffic stops and arrests. Contact info is available on the county website.
Search Leelanau County Traffic Records Online
The free MiCOURT system is the main way to find Leelanau County traffic case records online. No account or login is needed. Go to micourt.courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ and select the 86th District Court. You can search by name, case number, or ticket number to pull up results.
MiCOURT shows case type, charge, filing date, current status, docket entries, and any upcoming hearings. You can filter by case type to limit results to traffic matters. Some records do not appear in the public view. Sealed cases are not accessible. Cases expunged under Michigan's Clean Slate law are removed. Drug dismissals under MCL 333.7411 and cases handled under HYTA are also excluded. Dates of birth have been hidden from public court records since April 1, 2022, as required by MCR 1.109.
The screenshot below is from the Michigan Courts official website, which is the starting point for all statewide court searches including Leelanau County cases.
The Michigan Courts site at courts.michigan.gov links to MiCOURT and provides access to court resources for Leelanau County and all other Michigan counties.
For e-filing through the 86th District Court, check MiFILE for current availability.
What Leelanau County Traffic Records Show
A traffic case file in Leelanau County documents the full timeline of the case. It begins with the citation: the date of the stop, location, citing officer, the charge, and the statute cited. As the case proceeds, docket entries log every action: court notices, scheduled hearings, filings, and rulings.
The disposition entry closes out the case. For a civil infraction, it records whether the person was found responsible, not responsible, or defaulted on the fine. Payment records may also be included. For misdemeanor traffic offenses, such as operating while intoxicated under MCL 257.625 or reckless driving under MCL 257.626, the file shows the charge, the plea or verdict, and the sentence. That can include fines, probation, community service, or a license sanction ordered by the court. More serious felony traffic matters handled by the 13th Circuit Court produce similarly detailed files with additional sentencing records.
Note: The case file does not include driver's license point information. Points are assigned separately by the Michigan Secretary of State.
The MiFILE portal screenshot below shows the state's e-filing system, which Leelanau County residents can use to file documents electronically with the 86th District Court where available.
MiFILE at mifile.courts.michigan.gov allows electronic filing with participating Michigan courts including courts serving Leelanau County.
Responding to a Traffic Ticket in Leelanau County
Civil infraction tickets issued in Leelanau County come with a 14-day response window. The ticket lists your options and the deadline. Ignoring a ticket leads to a default judgment. At that point, the Secretary of State is notified, points are added to your record, and the court can move to suspend your license.
You have three choices when you receive a ticket. First, you can admit responsibility and pay the fine shown on the ticket. Second, you can admit with an explanation by sending a written statement to the court. The magistrate reviews it and may lower the fine, but points still apply if you're found responsible. Third, you can deny responsibility and request a hearing. You choose between an informal hearing (before a magistrate, no attorneys) or a formal hearing (before a judge, officer required to appear, attorneys allowed). If you lose at the informal level, you have 7 days to appeal to the formal hearing stage.
Michigan does not allow courts to defer or withhold judgment in traffic cases. The court cannot make a ticket go away. What it can do is point you toward a court-approved driver improvement program, which may lead the Secretary of State to remove points from your record after the case is resolved. Contact the 86th District Court or check leelanau.cc for current court contact details.
Getting Copies of Leelanau County Traffic Records
Copies of Leelanau County traffic court records are available from the 86th District Court clerk's office at the Government Center in Suttons Bay. Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours. For mail requests, include the case number, the full name of the person, and the approximate date of the case. Send your request to 8527 E. Government Center Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies are $10.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. Hearing transcripts are priced under MCL 600.2543 at $3.75 per page for the original and $0.90 per page for copies, with a $50 minimum fee. Call the clerk to confirm payment options before mailing a check.
FOIA requests for county records are governed by MCL 15.231. Leelanau County has 5 business days to respond. Indigent requesters may have the first $20 in fees waived. FOIA contact information is on the county website at leelanau.cc.
Points and Driving Records in Leelanau County
Michigan's point system is managed by the Secretary of State. When the 86th District Court reports a traffic conviction or civil infraction finding, the Secretary of State assigns points to the driver's record. The court plays no role in that process after the case is resolved.
Point values for common violations: 6 points for OWI, reckless driving, fleeing police, leaving the scene of an accident, and vehicular manslaughter. Speeding 16 or more mph over the limit is 5 points. Going 11 to 15 over is 4 points. Speeding 1 to 10 over, disobeying a traffic signal, improper passing, and failing to stop for a school bus are 3 points each. All other moving violations carry 2 points. If you accumulate 12 points within any two-year period, the Secretary of State requires a reexamination of your driving privileges.
To view your driving record and current point count, contact the Michigan Secretary of State at michigan.gov/sos or call (517) 322-1624. The Leelanau County 86th District Court handles your case. The Secretary of State manages your license.
Note: A court-approved driver improvement course can sometimes result in point removal by the Secretary of State, but this is not a court action.
Cities in Leelanau County
Suttons Bay is home to the Leelanau County Government Center and is where court functions are based. Leland is the legal county seat. No cities in Leelanau County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. All traffic cases from anywhere in the county are handled through the 86th District Court at the Government Center in Suttons Bay.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Leelanau County. Each handles traffic cases through its own district court.