Wayne County Traffic Ticket Records

Wayne County has more traffic ticket records than any other county in Michigan. The court system here includes over 20 district courts, with the 36th District Court in Detroit handling the highest case volume in the state. You can search Wayne County traffic ticket records online through MiCOURT, request copies in person, or submit a written request by mail to the court that issued your citation.

Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court Records

The 3rd Circuit Court sits at 2 Woodward Avenue in Detroit. This court handles felony traffic offenses in Wayne County, including third-offense OWI cases, reckless driving causing injury, and other serious traffic crimes. It also hears appeals from the district courts. If you need records from a case that went beyond the district court level, this is where you look. The clerk is Delphia O'Neal, and the Legal Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

To get copies of Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court traffic records, you can visit in person or send a written request by mail. Bring the case number or the full names of the parties involved. Standard copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 to $10.00 depending on the document. Payment in person is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Mail requests need a check or money order made out to the Wayne County Circuit Court.

The court at 2 Woodward Avenue also keeps civil cases over $25,000 and domestic relations matters that may include traffic-related orders. Complete case files with all pleadings are stored here. Hearing transcripts require a separate request and may take longer to get. Call (313) 224-5261 for help with your request.

The 3rd Circuit Court handles the most serious traffic cases in Wayne County. Most drivers will not have records here. Your case is almost certainly at one of the district courts listed below.

The 3rd Circuit Court building at 2 Woodward Avenue is close to the 36th District Court, making it possible to visit both courts on the same trip if needed.

36th District Court Wayne County Traffic Records

The 36th District Court at 421 Madison Street in Detroit is the busiest district court in Michigan. It handles traffic tickets for Detroit residents along with criminal and civil cases. The Traffic Division can be reached at (313) 965-4186, and the main court number is (313) 965-4158. Chief Judge William C. McConico oversees the court's operations. Most Wayne County traffic ticket records you need will be here if the citation was issued in Detroit.

Public access terminals are on the first and second floors of the courthouse. They are free to use and open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can look up case records, register of actions, and party information at no cost. Printing costs $1.00 per page. Note that warrants, fingerprint cards, treatment evaluations, and forensic evaluations are not accessible through public terminals.

The record request form is available on the 36th District Court website. Fill it out with your name and contact info, the defendant's name and date of birth, and the case number if you have it. Select the type of record you need: traffic, criminal, or civil. Non-certified copies cost $1.00 per page and are often ready the same day for small requests. Certified copies cost $10.00 per document plus $1.00 per page and take 3 to 5 business days.

The 36th District Court at 421 Madison Street serves Detroit. Parking near the courthouse is limited, so using public transit is a good idea when visiting in person.

Wayne County 36th District Court Record Request

The record request form for the 36th District Court covers traffic, criminal, and civil records. You submit it by visiting the court in person or mailing it to 421 Madison Street, Detroit, MI 48226. The form asks for your contact information, the name and date of birth of the person named in the case, the case number if you have it, and the approximate date of the incident. You also mark which type of record you need and state the purpose of your request.

Non-public files are only open to the defendant with valid proof of identity. This includes records sealed by court order or cases involving minors. If you are not the defendant and the file is not public, you may not be able to get it without a court order.

Completing the request form accurately before you submit it helps avoid delays. Include as much detail as you have, especially the case number if you know it.

Note: Processing times at the 36th District Court can run longer than smaller courts because of the high volume of cases handled here each day.

Wayne County Traffic Ticket Payment Options

Wayne County uses the CivPay system to handle online traffic ticket payments. Go to courts.waynecounty.com/civpay and enter the Pay Location Code from your ticket or your case number. CivPay accepts credit and debit cards. A convenience fee applies, typically 3 to 5 percent of the total amount. You can also pay by phone at 1-855-798-1547, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In-person payment at the 36th District Court is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit and debit card. A kiosk in the lobby handles payments without waiting in line for a clerk. Hours for in-person payment are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. A drop box at the court building entrance is available around the clock for check or money order payments only. No cash in the drop box. Include your ticket or case number with any payment you drop off.

Most traffic citations in Wayne County are civil infractions under MCL 257.907. Civil infractions are not criminal charges. The maximum fine for a standard civil infraction is $100, plus a $40 Justice System Assessment. You may admit responsibility and pay the civil fine, or you may contest the citation in court. Either way, the case becomes part of your Wayne County traffic ticket record.

Other Wayne County District Courts

Wayne County has more than 20 district courts spread across its many cities and townships. Each one handles traffic citations for its own jurisdiction. If your ticket was not issued in Detroit, find the court that covers the area where you were stopped. All of them charge $1.00 per page for non-certified copies and accept in-person or mail requests.

Key Wayne County district courts and their contact information:

• 17th District Court (Redford): 15111 Beech Daly Road, Redford, MI 48239 | (313) 387-2790
• 18th District Court (Westland): 36637 Ford Road, Westland, MI 48185 | (734) 595-8720
• 19th District Court (Dearborn): 16077 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126 | (313) 943-2065
• 20th District Court (Dearborn Heights): 25637 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 | (313) 791-3250
• 35th District Court (Plymouth/Canton/Northville): 660 Plymouth Road, Plymouth, MI 48170 | (734) 454-2955

The 35th District Court serves Canton Township, Plymouth, and Northville Township. It has a specific process for record checks: email your request to Recordchecks@35thdistrictcourt.org or fax it to 734-454-9303. Include the person's full name, date of birth, case number if you have it, your mailing address, and phone number. The court will contact you with the fee amount. You mail a check or money order to pay, and results are sent first-class mail. Allow up to 10 business days for certified copies.

Other Wayne County district courts include the 23rd in Taylor (734-287-6511), the 27th in Wyandotte (734-324-2273), the 28th in Southgate (734-258-3300), the 32A and 34th in Romulus (734-941-3011 and 734-941-7878), and the 33rd in Woodhaven (734-365-8833). Each one keeps records for its own service area. Call ahead to confirm hours and current fee amounts before visiting.

Wayne County Driving Records from the Secretary of State

Court records and driving records are two different things. Court records come from the district court and show the full case file. Driving records come from the Michigan Secretary of State and show your license status, points, and conviction history. Both can be useful depending on what you need.

Under MCL 257.328, a Michigan driving record must include the driver's full name and address, date of birth, license number, license status, all traffic convictions, accident history, and points accumulated. Points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date under MCL 257.320. Reaching 12 or more points in two years triggers a mandatory driver reexamination with the Secretary of State.

You can get your own driving record online through the ExpressSOS portal at the Michigan Secretary of State website. The cost is $12.00 per record. You need your driver's license number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security Number to create an account. Payment is by credit or debit card, and you can view and print the record right away. Mail requests take 3 to 5 business days plus delivery time.

Note: Even if no record is found after a search, the Secretary of State still charges the $12.00 fee.

Search Wayne County Traffic Cases Online

The MiCOURT case search system at the Michigan Courts website lets you look up traffic cases from courts across the state, including Wayne County. You can search by name, case number, or other identifiers. Results show case status, party names, court dates, and disposition. MiCOURT is free to use. It is good for finding basic information quickly without calling a court or visiting in person.

The 36th District Court also shows up in MiCOURT searches. Keep in mind that some case details may not be visible online. For complete records, certified copies, or documents from closed cases, you still need to go through the court directly. Under MCL 257.617, police must prepare accident reports within 24 hours when a crash involves injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Accident reports go to the Michigan State Police Traffic Safety Division within five days. These are separate from court records and require a different request process.

Cities in Wayne County

Several large cities in Wayne County have their own traffic ticket records pages. Each city is served by a specific district court. Click a city below to find court contact details, record request options, and local information.

Other Wayne County communities including Taylor, Wyandotte, Southgate, Allen Park, Garden City, Inkster, Romulus, Woodhaven, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Dearborn Heights, Wayne, and Redford all file traffic cases at their local district courts. Those courts follow the same $1.00 per page copy fee standard used across the county.

Nearby Counties

Wayne County borders four other Michigan counties. If a citation was issued near a county line, check which jurisdiction the stop occurred in before requesting records.