Charleston DUI Records
Charleston DUI records are maintained by the Charleston Municipal Court and the Charleston County court system. Charleston is the largest city in South Carolina and sits in Charleston County. The city's police department and the county sheriff both make DUI arrests within this area. Misdemeanor DUI cases go through the Municipal Court. Felony DUI cases move to the Court of General Sessions in Charleston County. You can search many of these records online or request them in person from the appropriate office.
Charleston DUI Records Quick Facts
Charleston DUI Records Overview
DUI arrests in Charleston create records at multiple levels. The Charleston Police Department logs the initial arrest and keeps the incident report. The Municipal Court maintains case files for misdemeanor charges resolved within city limits. For DUI cases that rise to felony level, records move to the Charleston County Court of General Sessions, which is the main felony trial court for this area.
The City of Charleston operates a Municipal Court that handles a large number of DUI cases each year. This court processes citations issued by the Charleston Police Department. Every arrest leads to an intake record, and every court hearing adds documents to the case file. Those files are public records under South Carolina law. The Municipal Court Clerk's office handles public records requests and keeps a log of all court dispositions for Charleston DUI cases.
The city's size means its DUI caseload is one of the largest in the state. The Charleston Police Department runs regular traffic enforcement patrols and coordinates sobriety checkpoints with the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Both agencies generate records that may be accessed by the public.
City of Charleston Police and Court Resources
The official source for Charleston city services is the City of Charleston website, which provides information about the police department, Municipal Court, and how to request public records related to DUI cases.
The Charleston Police Department's Records Division can be contacted directly to request incident reports or arrest records for DUI cases. The department coordinates with the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office on serious DUI prosecutions within city limits.
The Charleston Police Department maintains incident reports, DUI arrest records, and citations issued to drivers in the city. You can request copies of these reports from the Records Division. They are separate from court records but form part of the complete DUI case history.
Note: The Charleston Police Department and the Municipal Court are two separate offices. A police report and a court disposition are different documents, and each is requested from a different source.
How to Search Charleston DUI Records
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index is the primary online tool for searching court records. You can access Charleston County case data at publicindex.sccourts.org/charleston. This system lets you search by name or case number and shows party information, filing dates, and case status. It covers cases filed in the Court of General Sessions and Court of Common Pleas.
Misdemeanor DUI cases handled by the Charleston Municipal Court may not always appear in the Public Index. For those records, you need to contact the Municipal Court Clerk directly. The clerk can look up cases by name or citation number and provide copies of dispositions and orders.
SLED maintains a statewide criminal records database. You can request a records check through sled.sc.gov to see whether a person has DUI convictions on their criminal history in South Carolina. This is useful when you need a broader picture beyond just Charleston cases.
The Charleston County Clerk of Court holds records for all felony DUI cases prosecuted in the county's General Sessions court. The office provides certified copies of court documents. You can visit in person or submit a written request. Call ahead to confirm what identifying information you need to provide.
South Carolina DUI Laws and Charleston Cases
Charleston DUI cases are prosecuted under S.C. Code Ann. §56-5-2930, which makes it unlawful to drive while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any impairing substance. A first offense is a misdemeanor, but repeat offenses and cases involving injury or death carry much harsher penalties.
South Carolina also recognizes DUAC, or Driving with an Unlawful Alcohol Concentration, under §56-5-2933. This charge applies when a driver's blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% or higher, regardless of whether they appeared impaired. Both DUI and DUAC charges result in public court records in Charleston. The charges carry similar penalties but are legally distinct and appear as separate entries in court records.
Felony DUI under §56-5-2945 applies when a DUI causes great bodily injury or death. These cases carry sentences up to 30 years. They are prosecuted by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office in Charleston County's Court of General Sessions. Every step of those proceedings creates detailed public records.
The implied consent law under §56-5-2950 requires drivers to submit to chemical testing. Refusals and test results both appear in driving and court records. The SCDMV at dmv.sc.gov tracks license suspensions tied to DUI arrests in Charleston under §56-5-2990.
Charleston DUI Records and License Actions
A DUI conviction in Charleston triggers separate actions at the SCDMV. License suspensions, restrictions, and reinstatement conditions all generate records at the state level. The ignition interlock device requirement under §56-5-2941 applies to many DUI convictions and creates additional compliance records tracked by the DMV.
Drivers convicted of DUI in Charleston may also be required to complete ADSAP, the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. Completion of ADSAP is tracked as part of the driver's record with the state. These records are separate from the court file but are part of the full picture of a DUI case outcome in Charleston.
Note: SCDMV driving records and SLED criminal history records are two different documents. Each captures different details about a DUI case in Charleston.
Charleston DUI Court Process and Public Records
When a DUI arrest happens in Charleston, the case usually starts with an initial hearing at the Municipal Court or Magistrate Court. The documents created at this stage include the arrest warrant, bond conditions, and any scheduling orders. Each document becomes a part of the public record once filed.
Misdemeanor DUI cases in Charleston are resolved at the Municipal Court level in most instances. The court issues a final disposition showing the charge, the plea or verdict, and the sentence. This disposition is the key document that confirms the outcome of a DUI case in Charleston. Employers and others checking criminal history will typically see this disposition reflected in SLED records after conviction.
For cases that move to the circuit court level, the Charleston County Clerk of Court at charlestoncounty.org maintains the complete record. You can search by defendant name or case number using the SC Public Index. Certified copies of any filed document are available for a fee.
Charleston DUI Records and Charleston County
Charleston is located in Charleston County, and felony DUI cases from the city are handled by the Charleston County Court of General Sessions. The county court system also oversees Magistrate Courts that process DUI cases from unincorporated parts of the county and surrounding municipalities. For a full view of the county-level court system, resources, and DUI record access, visit the Charleston County DUI records page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Residents of cities near Charleston can find DUI records through their own local courts. Select a city below to learn more.