Find DUI Records in Berkeley County
Berkeley County DUI records can be found through the Clerk of Court, Magistrate Courts, and online using the South Carolina Public Index. Berkeley County is part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit and has grown rapidly in recent decades. DUI cases from Goose Creek, Summerville, Moncks Corner, and other parts of the county are handled through the Berkeley County court system. This page explains how to search, access, and understand DUI records in Berkeley County, South Carolina.
Berkeley County Quick Facts
Berkeley County Clerk of Court DUI Records
The Berkeley County Clerk of Court maintains all DUI records for the Court of General Sessions and the Court of Common Pleas. The office is located in Moncks Corner and serves the entire county. Felony DUI charges, including those under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2945 for DUI causing great bodily injury or death, go through the General Sessions court. The Clerk's office keeps case files, sentencing orders, and final dispositions for all such cases.
You can reach the Berkeley County Clerk of Court through the main county website at berkeleycountysc.gov. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow you to search case records on site. Certified copies of DUI records are available for a fee. Staff can assist with name searches and case number lookups in person during regular business hours.
Note: Berkeley County has seen rapid population growth, which has increased the volume of DUI cases processed through the Clerk's office each year.
DUI Arrest Records in Berkeley County
The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office enforces DUI laws throughout the unincorporated parts of the county. The Sheriff's Office Records Division handles public records requests for arrest reports and incident files. You can find contact information and records request procedures at berkeleycountysc.gov. DUI arrest reports include the charge, arresting officer details, date and location of the arrest, and booking information.
An arrest record is different from a court record. The arrest record documents what law enforcement did. The court record shows what happened after charges were filed. Both types of Berkeley County DUI records are public under South Carolina law. You may need both to get a complete picture of a DUI case.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at sled.sc.gov maintains statewide criminal history records. A SLED records check will include DUI convictions from Berkeley County. These checks are widely used for background purposes and may include arrest records, charges, and dispositions from Berkeley County cases.
Berkeley County DUI Records on the SC Public Index
The South Carolina Public Index provides free online access to Berkeley County court records, including DUI cases. Search at publicindex.sccourts.org/berkeley/ by defendant name or case number. The system returns case details including charges, court dates, attorney of record, and case dispositions. Both General Sessions and Magistrate Court cases may appear depending on the charge level.
The SC Judicial Branch homepage at sccourts.org is a good starting point for all South Carolina court record searches. From there you can navigate to the Public Index and find Berkeley County DUI records going back several years. Older cases that predate the online system may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court in Moncks Corner.
The Public Index shows case-level information. It does not include scanned documents or full filings. For copies of actual court documents from Berkeley County DUI cases, you must contact the Clerk of Court and pay the applicable copy fees.
Berkeley County Magistrate Court DUI Cases
Berkeley County has multiple Magistrate Courts serving Moncks Corner, Goose Creek, and other areas of the county. Magistrate Courts handle first and second misdemeanor DUI cases under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2930, as well as DUAC charges under § 56-5-2933. These courts process a large share of the DUI records in Berkeley County because most first-offense DUI cases are classified as misdemeanors.
The City of Goose Creek Municipal Court at cityofgoosecreek.com handles DUI cases within the city limits of Goose Creek. This court is separate from the county Magistrate Court system. DUI records from Goose Creek Municipal Court are part of the county's broader Public Index records but may require direct contact with the city court for certified copies.
Implied consent law under § 56-5-2950 applies to all DUI stops in Berkeley County. When a driver refuses a breath test, the refusal is recorded and can be used in court. The South Carolina DMV at dmv.sc.gov tracks implied consent actions and the related license suspension records tied to Berkeley County DUI cases.
DUI Penalties and Berkeley County Records
South Carolina imposes escalating penalties for DUI offenses. Each conviction in Berkeley County produces a court record, a criminal history entry through SLED, and a DMV driving record entry. Understanding what each record contains helps you know where to look.
For a first DUI offense under § 56-5-2930, penalties include a fine, a possible jail term from 48 hours to 30 days, and a six-month driver's license suspension. The ignition interlock device requirement under § 56-5-2941 applies for six months on a first offense. A second offense requires two years on an interlock device, and a third offense requires three years. Fourth and subsequent DUI convictions may result in a lifetime interlock requirement. All of these conditions are reflected in the court record for Berkeley County DUI cases.
The Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program (ADSAP) is required for license reinstatement after a DUI suspension in South Carolina. Completion of ADSAP is tracked through the DMV. Berkeley County DUI defendants must comply with ADSAP before getting their license back. License suspension records under § 56-5-2990 are part of your DMV history and separate from the court record maintained by the Berkeley County Clerk of Court.
Note: SLED background checks from the state level will reflect DUI convictions from Berkeley County once the case is closed and the record has been transmitted to the statewide system.
Ninth Circuit Solicitor and Felony DUI in Berkeley County
Felony DUI cases in Berkeley County are handled by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office. This includes charges under § 56-5-2945 when a DUI results in great bodily injury, with sentences up to 15 years, or death, with sentences up to 25 years. A third or subsequent DUI conviction may also result in felony charges in some circumstances. The Solicitor's office prosecutes these cases in the Court of General Sessions in Berkeley County.
The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol refer felony DUI cases to the Solicitor after arrest. Once a grand jury indicts the case, it becomes part of the formal General Sessions docket. From that point, the Berkeley County Clerk of Court maintains the official DUI record through the conclusion of the case.
Berkeley County Government and DUI Records
The Berkeley County Government website is the central resource for finding county agencies involved in DUI record-keeping. The county maintains the Clerk of Court, Sheriff's Office, and Magistrate Court information in one place.
Visit berkeleycountysc.gov to access the directory of Berkeley County departments and connect with the correct office for your DUI records request. The site links directly to the Clerk of Court and Sheriff's Office.
Cities in Berkeley County
Berkeley County includes cities and communities throughout the county. DUI cases in these areas are filed with the Berkeley County court system or local municipal courts.
Nearby Counties
Berkeley County borders several South Carolina counties. Check the location of the DUI arrest to confirm which county court holds the records you need.