Fruitport Criminal Defense Attorney
Fruitport is a village at the eastern end of Spring Lake in southern Muskegon County, sitting where I-96 comes to an end at US-31 — a junction that puts a great deal of traffic past a small community. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Fruitport and Muskegon County. If you have been arrested, or you know you are under investigation, talk to a defense lawyer before you talk to anyone else. The call is free and I am available 24/7 at 616-438-6719.
Where Your Fruitport Case Will Be Heard
Fruitport cases go to the 60th District Court at 990 Terrace St in Muskegon, with felonies tried at the 14th Circuit Court in the same building. Watch the county line: it runs just south of the village, and an incident on the Ottawa County side goes to the 58th District Court in Grand Haven instead — a different court, a different prosecutor, and a drive in the opposite direction.
Knowing the building is the easy part. What matters is knowing how that particular bench handles a first offense, which prosecutor has room to negotiate, and what the local diversion options actually are — see my 60th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Fruitport
The I-96 and US-31 interchange is the defining feature. It carries traffic between Grand Rapids and the lakeshore and is patrolled accordingly, producing OWI arrests, highway drug stops, and suspended-license charges. Spring Lake adds a summer layer of boating and waterfront cases, and the village itself contributes the ordinary run of domestic, assault, and theft matters.
- OWI and drunk driving at the I-96 and US-31 interchange and on Airline Rd
- Drug possession, delivery, and trafficking charges from highway stops
- Boating under the influence on Spring Lake, under MCL 324.80176 at the same 0.08 limit as a car
- Driving on a suspended license and traffic crimes
- Domestic violence and assault
- Theft and retail fraud
What Is Actually at Stake
A highway drug case rests on two questions and very little else: was the stop lawful, and was it extended beyond what its stated reason required. Michigan officers may not hold you on the shoulder waiting for a canine unit or a second car without independent grounds. If they did, a motion to suppress can take the evidence out — and these cases rarely survive without it.
What to Do Next
Establish which county you were in before anything else. Fruitport is Muskegon County; a mile south is Ottawa County and an entirely different court system. The address on the citation settles it, and it decides where you have to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which county is a Fruitport case in?
Fruitport village is in Muskegon County, so its cases go to the 60th District Court at 990 Terrace St in Muskegon and, for felonies, the 14th Circuit Court in the same building. The Ottawa County line is close, though, and an incident on that side goes to the 58th District Court in Grand Haven instead.
How long can I be held at the roadside after a stop?
Only as long as the reason for the stop reasonably requires. Once the ticket is written and the checks are done, continuing to detain you needs its own justification. Waiting for a canine unit on nothing more than a hunch does not provide one, and an unlawfully prolonged stop is among the strongest motions available in a highway drug case.
Can you handle a case in both Muskegon and Ottawa counties?
Yes — I appear regularly in the 60th and 58th District Courts and in both the 14th and 20th Circuit Courts, which matters here because the county line runs through the middle of this community and clients often have matters on both sides of it.
Talk to a Fruitport Defense Lawyer Today
A criminal charge moves fast, and the first days matter most. Call me directly at 616-438-6719 for a free, confidential consultation — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.