Colleton County DUI Records
Colleton County DUI records are kept by the Clerk of Court and the Magistrate Court in Walterboro, South Carolina. Located in the Lowcountry region, Colleton County is part of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. Anyone can search for DUI records in Colleton County through the South Carolina Public Index or by visiting the courthouse in Walterboro. These records document driving under the influence arrests, court proceedings, and case outcomes for DUI charges filed in Colleton County.
Colleton County Quick Facts
Colleton County DUI Court Records Overview
The Colleton County Clerk of Court maintains DUI case files for the Court of General Sessions and the Court of Common Pleas. Felony DUI charges are heard in General Sessions. Misdemeanor DUI cases go through the Colleton County Magistrate Court. Records from both courts are public and available to anyone in Colleton County.
The Colleton County Government website provides contact information for the Clerk of Court, Sheriff's Office, and Magistrate Court. The main courthouse is in Walterboro, which serves the entire county. DUI enforcement in Colleton County is handled by the Sheriff's Office, Walterboro Police Department, and South Carolina Highway Patrol. Arrests that lead to court filings become part of the DUI record in Colleton County.
The Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes felony DUI cases across Colleton County. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2945, a DUI that causes great bodily injury or death becomes a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Felony DUI cases in Colleton County create court records that are maintained by the Clerk of Court in Walterboro.
Note: The Colleton County Magistrate Court handles preliminary hearings and sets bond for DUI defendants. Many first-offense misdemeanor DUI cases are resolved at the magistrate level in Colleton County.
Colleton County Government and DUI Records
The Colleton County Government website is the official county resource for court contacts, office hours, and links to public services. The Clerk of Court and related offices operate out of the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro.
Use the county website to find phone numbers for the Clerk of Court and to confirm office hours before visiting in person to request DUI records in Colleton County.
How to Search Colleton County DUI Records
The South Carolina Public Index is the easiest way to search for DUI records in Colleton County online. Go to publicindex.sccourts.org/colleton/ to search by name or case number. The system shows charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for DUI cases filed in Colleton County courts. The search is free and does not require creating an account.
To search the Public Index for Colleton County DUI records, you will need at least one of these:
- Defendant's first and last name
- Court-assigned case number
- Approximate filing date or year
- Court type such as General Sessions or Magistrate
For documents not available online, visit the Clerk of Court at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro. Staff can look up DUI cases and provide copies of court documents. A valid photo ID is required. Standard copies and certified copies are available for a fee set by state rules. Certified copies are required for many legal purposes and cost more per page in Colleton County.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch website at sccourts.org provides guidance on how to access court records in every county. The site explains the process for requesting records and links directly to the Public Index. You can also find general information about DUI cases and the court process in South Carolina.
Note: SLED criminal records and SCDMV driving history records are held at the state level and are separate from Colleton County court records. Both can contain useful DUI information for Colleton County residents.
South Carolina DUI Laws Applied in Colleton County
South Carolina DUI law governs all DUI cases in Colleton County. The main statute is S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2930, which prohibits driving while materially and appreciably impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. Impairment can be shown through field sobriety tests, chemical testing, or officer observation. First-offense DUI is a misdemeanor in Colleton County.
South Carolina also has a separate DUAC statute at S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2933. DUAC, or Driving with an Unlawful Alcohol Concentration, applies when a person's blood alcohol content is 0.08% or above. Prosecutors in Colleton County can charge DUAC even if impairment is not otherwise visible. DUAC and DUI are separate charges that appear as separate records in the Colleton County court system.
The implied consent statute at S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2950 requires drivers to submit to chemical testing when lawfully stopped for DUI in Colleton County. Refusing the test results in a six-month license suspension for a first refusal. This administrative penalty applies regardless of whether the driver is convicted in criminal court. The SCDMV handles refusal suspensions separately from any Colleton County criminal proceedings.
DUI Penalties and License Actions in Colleton County
A DUI conviction in Colleton County leads to a license suspension under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2990. First-offense DUI results in a six-month suspension. Second offenses carry a one-year suspension. Third and subsequent DUI convictions bring longer suspensions and stricter reinstatement conditions for Colleton County drivers.
South Carolina's ignition interlock device program at S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2941 applies to many DUI offenders. A person convicted of DUI in Colleton County may be required to install an ignition interlock device as a condition of driving again. The device tests the driver's breath before allowing the car to start. Compliance is tracked by the SCDMV and the interlock provider.
ADSAP completion is required before a Colleton County driver can get their license back after a DUI suspension. ADSAP stands for Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. The program provides assessment and education to help reduce repeat DUI incidents across South Carolina. Drivers must finish ADSAP and meet all other requirements before the SCDMV will restore driving privileges.
Driving history records, including DUI-related suspensions for Colleton County residents, are available at dmv.sc.gov. The SCDMV driving record shows license actions that result from DUI arrests and convictions in Colleton County.
SLED Records and Colleton County DUI History
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division keeps criminal history records for DUI convictions across all 46 counties, including Colleton County. SLED records are used in background checks, licensing applications, and other legal processes. You can request your own SLED criminal record or ask about third-party access at sled.sc.gov.
SLED records work alongside court records from the Colleton County Clerk of Court to provide a full picture of DUI history. Court records show the details of the case. SLED records show the conviction status and criminal history. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety also collects traffic enforcement data that includes DUI statistics for Colleton County. Using multiple sources gives the most complete view of DUI records in Colleton County.
Cities in Colleton County
Colleton County includes Walterboro and surrounding communities. All DUI cases from the county are filed at the Clerk of Court in Walterboro. See a full list of South Carolina cities with DUI records on the Cities page.
Nearby Counties
Colleton County sits in the Lowcountry and borders several other South Carolina counties. If a DUI arrest occurred near a county boundary, confirm the correct court before requesting records.