DUI Records in Horry County

Horry County DUI records are maintained by the Clerk of Court and several Magistrate Courts across the county. Located on South Carolina's coast and home to Myrtle Beach, Horry County sees a high volume of DUI cases tied to its tourism industry. The county is part of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. You can search Horry County DUI records online through the South Carolina Public Index or in person at the Horry County Courthouse in Conway. Records include case filings, charge details, hearing dates, and case outcomes for DUI arrests made throughout the county.

Horry County DUI Court System

Horry County has one of the most active court systems in South Carolina for DUI cases. The county's large tourist population means DUI arrests happen year-round, with peak activity during summer beach season. The Horry County Clerk of Court at horrycounty.org/Departments/ClerkofCourt manages all records for the Court of General Sessions and Court of Common Pleas. First-offense misdemeanor DUI cases under § 56-5-2930 go through Magistrate Court, while felony DUI charges proceed to General Sessions.

Multiple Magistrate Courts serve Horry County's different areas. Courts in Myrtle Beach, Conway, and other parts of the county all handle DUI cases within their jurisdiction. Each Magistrate Court keeps its own records, though many filings also appear in the statewide Public Index system. The Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office handles prosecution of felony DUI cases in Horry County.

Felony DUI in Horry County under § 56-5-2945 applies when a DUI incident results in great bodily injury or death. Convictions can carry prison sentences up to 30 years. These serious cases are handled in the Court of General Sessions, and their records are publicly accessible through the Clerk of Court in Conway.

Horry County Government and DUI Records Access

The Horry County Government provides resources and contact information for all county departments, including the Clerk of Court and Sheriff's Office, both of which play a role in DUI records.

Through the county website you can locate the Clerk of Court, find courthouse hours, and access links to public records tools for searching Horry County DUI cases.

Searching Horry County DUI Records Online

The South Carolina Public Index is the primary online tool for Horry County DUI records. Visit publicindex.sccourts.org/horry/ and search by name or case number. The system shows DUI case filings from the Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas in Horry County. Results include the charge date, case status, and scheduled court dates.

For Magistrate Court DUI records in Horry County, you may need to contact the specific Magistrate Court that handled the case. The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court at cityofmyrtlebeach.com processes DUI cases that occur within Myrtle Beach city limits separately from the county courts. The City of Conway at cityofconway.com also has its own municipal court for cases within Conway. If your DUI case happened in a city, start with that city's court office.

You can also request records in person at the Horry County Courthouse in Conway. Bring a photo ID and either the full name of the person or a case number. Certified copies of court documents are available for a fee. The Clerk of Court can assist you in locating older DUI records that may not be fully accessible online.

Note: Municipal court DUI records from Myrtle Beach or Conway do not automatically appear in the county Public Index, so check both sources when searching Horry County DUI cases.

Myrtle Beach DUI Records in Horry County

Myrtle Beach is the largest city in Horry County and accounts for a significant portion of all DUI cases in the county. The city draws millions of visitors each year, and DUI enforcement along Ocean Boulevard, Kings Highway, and surrounding areas is active throughout the summer months and holiday weekends.

DUI cases originating from Myrtle Beach police activity may go through the city's municipal court or be referred to the Horry County court system depending on the charge level. Felony DUI charges from Myrtle Beach are always handled in the Horry County Court of General Sessions in Conway.

DUI Laws Behind Horry County DUI Records

South Carolina DUI law defines what appears in Horry County DUI records. A DUI charge under § 56-5-2930 means the driver was operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. The legal BAC limit is 0.08% for most drivers. The DUAC offense under § 56-5-2933 can apply when BAC measures exactly 0.08% or higher even if impairment is not obvious.

South Carolina's implied consent law under § 56-5-2950 means every driver who operates on public roads agrees to submit to a breath or chemical test if asked by law enforcement. Refusal triggers an automatic license suspension handled by the SCDMV. Both the refusal and the suspension appear in records related to the Horry County DUI stop. The ignition interlock device requirement under § 56-5-2941 also affects many convicted drivers in Horry County. Compliance is tracked through the SCDMV.

License suspensions for Horry County DUI convictions fall under § 56-5-2990. First-offense suspensions are shorter, but repeat offenses carry longer suspension periods. Reinstatement requires completion of ADSAP, the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. All of this activity creates records that connect to the original DUI case in Horry County.

Horry County DUI Records Through SLED

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains statewide criminal records. Any DUI conviction in Horry County that resulted in a criminal charge will appear in a SLED background check. Visit sled.sc.gov to request a criminal record search. SLED records confirm whether a DUI conviction exists in the system but do not include the full case file from the Horry County Clerk of Court.

For full case records, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court directly or use the Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/horry/. A SLED check combined with a Public Index search gives you the most complete view of someone's DUI history in Horry County.

Cities in Horry County

Horry County includes several cities and communities. DUI cases are filed in the court with jurisdiction over the location where the offense occurred.

Myrtle Beach is the largest city in Horry County and sees the highest volume of DUI cases in the county each year.

Nearby Counties

Horry County sits in the northeast corner of South Carolina near the North Carolina border. DUI cases are filed in the county where the arrest occurred.

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