Cherokee County DUI Records
Cherokee County DUI records are maintained by the Clerk of Court, the Magistrate Court, and accessible online through the South Carolina Public Index. Cherokee County is located in the Upstate region and is part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, with its county seat in Gaffney. DUI cases from across Cherokee County, including those originating with city and county law enforcement, all route through this court system. This page covers where to find these records and how the process works.
Cherokee County Quick Facts
Cherokee County DUI Records at the Clerk of Court
The Cherokee County Clerk of Court maintains records for the Court of General Sessions and Court of Common Pleas. The office is located at 110 East Main Street, Gaffney, SC 29340. Phone is (864) 487-2571. All felony DUI filings, indictments, plea agreements, and sentencing records for Cherokee County are stored here. Felony charges under § 56-5-2945 involving great bodily injury or death are heard in the Court of General Sessions, and the Clerk's office maintains those files.
Public access to records is available during business hours. You can request copies in person. Certified copies carry a fee. Staff can look up cases by defendant name or case number. If you are searching for an older Cherokee County DUI case, calling the Clerk's office beforehand helps confirm availability and any retrieval process.
The Cherokee County Government website at cherokeecountysc.gov provides access to department contacts including the Clerk of Court, Sheriff's Office, and Magistrate Court. It is a reliable starting point when looking up Cherokee County DUI records.
Magistrate Court DUI Cases in Cherokee County
Most misdemeanor DUI cases in Cherokee County begin and end in Magistrate Court. The Cherokee County Magistrate Court is located at 110 East Main Street, Gaffney, and can be reached at (864) 487-2560. The court handles first and second DUI offenses under § 56-5-2930, DUAC charges under § 56-5-2933, bond hearings, and preliminary matters for more serious charges.
Magistrate Court records in Cherokee County document hearings, pleas, fines, and probation terms. These records are searchable through the SC Public Index and may also be requested directly from the Magistrate Court office. Unlike General Sessions records held by the Clerk of Court, Magistrate Court records are maintained by the Magistrate Court itself.
If a misdemeanor DUI case from Cherokee County Magistrate Court is appealed, it transfers to the Court of General Sessions. At that point the Clerk of Court takes over the record. Knowing which court handled the case determines who to contact for documents.
Note: Preliminary hearings at the Magistrate level do not result in final convictions. Only a plea, trial verdict, or dismissal produces a final case record in Cherokee County.
Search Cherokee County DUI Records Online
The South Carolina Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/cherokee/ is the main free tool for searching Cherokee County DUI cases online. Search by defendant name, case number, or charge type. The system shows charges, court dates, attorney information, and dispositions. No registration is required.
The SC Judicial Branch website at sccourts.org supports the Public Index statewide and provides county-specific court contact information. Online search results reflect what is in the court system database at the time of search. Recently filed cases may take time to appear. For a certified copy of any document, contact the Clerk of Court directly.
DUI Arrest Records and the Cherokee County Sheriff
The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office enforces traffic laws and handles DUI arrests in unincorporated areas of the county. The office is at 110 East Main Street, Gaffney, SC 29340, with a main line of (864) 487-2530. The Records Division handles requests for arrest reports and incident documents. Arrest records are separate from court case files.
An arrest record documents the stop, the charge, the arresting officer, and booking details. The court record covers everything that happened after the arrest was filed. To understand the full history of a Cherokee County DUI case, you may need to pull both types of records from their respective sources.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at sled.sc.gov maintains statewide criminal history data. A SLED check covers all Cherokee County DUI convictions along with records from every other county in South Carolina. It is the most thorough option when checking for prior DUI history.
Seventh Circuit Solicitor and Felony DUI in Cherokee County
The Seventh Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes felony DUI cases in Cherokee County. Felony DUI charges arise under § 56-5-2945 when a DUI results in great bodily injury or death, or when a driver with multiple prior convictions faces felony-level charges. The penalty for felony DUI causing great bodily injury can reach 15 years. Felony DUI causing death can bring up to 25 years.
Once a Cherokee County felony DUI case is indicted, it proceeds through the Court of General Sessions. The Clerk of Court maintains the official record at that stage. The Public Index reflects the General Sessions docket as events occur. Attorneys, victims, and the public can track case progress through the online system or by contacting the Clerk's office directly.
South Carolina DUI Law Applied in Cherokee County
All DUI prosecutions in Cherokee County follow South Carolina statutes. The primary DUI offense is found at § 56-5-2930, which makes it unlawful to drive while materially and appreciably impaired. The DUAC provision at § 56-5-2933 applies when a driver's blood alcohol content is 0.08% or higher as confirmed by a chemical test. Both charge types are common in Cherokee County DUI records.
The ignition interlock device requirement under § 56-5-2941 is part of nearly every DUI conviction. First offenses require six months on the device. Second offenses require two years. Third offenses carry a three-year requirement. The South Carolina DMV at dmv.sc.gov enforces these conditions and tracks them separately from court records.
License suspensions following Cherokee County DUI cases are tracked by the DMV under § 56-5-2990. The ADSAP program must be completed before most license reinstatements. DMV records and court records each hold part of the picture, and both may be relevant depending on what you are searching for in a particular Cherokee County DUI case.
The following DUI-related charge types commonly appear in Cherokee County records:
- DUI under § 56-5-2930 (impaired driving)
- DUAC under § 56-5-2933 (0.08%+ BAC)
- Felony DUI with great bodily injury under § 56-5-2945
- Felony DUI causing death under § 56-5-2945
- Implied consent violation under § 56-5-2950
Nearby Counties
Cherokee County borders several Upstate counties. The county where the DUI arrest took place determines which court holds the records.