McCormick County DUI Records
McCormick County DUI records are maintained by the Clerk of Court, the Magistrate Court, and the McCormick County Sheriff's Office. Located in the Central Savannah River Area of South Carolina, the county is part of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit. DUI cases from the city of McCormick and surrounding rural areas all flow through this court system. Records are available in person at the courthouse on South Mine Street or online through the South Carolina Public Index.
McCormick County Quick Facts
McCormick County DUI Records at the Clerk of Court
The McCormick County Clerk of Court is at 133 South Mine Street, McCormick, SC 29835, and can be reached at (864) 852-2195. The Clerk maintains official case records for the Court of General Sessions and the Court of Common Pleas. DUI case dockets, sentencing orders, plea records, and dispositions are all kept here. This office is the primary source for court-level DUI records in McCormick County.
Felony DUI charges under S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2945 are filed in General Sessions after a grand jury returns an indictment. These cases involve DUI causing great bodily injury or death. A conviction for great bodily injury carries up to 15 years in prison. A DUI causing death can result in a sentence of up to 25 years. These are serious matters, and the Clerk of Court in McCormick is the official keeper of all case files.
The McCormick County Government website at mccormickcountysc.org provides contacts for county departments and courthouse services. Visit this site before making a trip to confirm current Clerk of Court hours and any changes to in-person access procedures.
The McCormick County Government site is your starting point for locating the Clerk of Court, Sheriff's Office, and Magistrate Court. These offices together hold the full set of DUI records for the county.
Search McCormick County DUI Records Online
Use the South Carolina Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/mccormick/ to search McCormick County DUI records online. Enter a defendant name, case number, or date range to get results. The system displays the charges, court hearing dates, attorney information, and case dispositions. Access is free and does not require an account. The system is run by the SC Judicial Branch.
The Public Index covers General Sessions and Common Pleas cases. Misdemeanor DUI cases handled entirely by the Magistrate Court may not appear in the index. For those cases, contact the McCormick County Magistrate Court at (864) 852-2932. The Magistrate Court is also located at 133 South Mine Street in McCormick.
Online searches return case summary information only. Getting certified copies of court orders, hearing transcripts, or other case documents requires contacting the Clerk of Court and making a formal records request. The Public Index is updated on a regular basis but may not reflect events that occurred on the same day.
Note: McCormick County is a small county, and the Clerk of Court office may have limited walk-in hours. Calling ahead at (864) 852-2195 before visiting is recommended.
McCormick County DUI Arrest Records
The McCormick County Sheriff's Office is at 133 South Mine Street, McCormick, SC 29835, and can be reached at (864) 852-2111. The Sheriff handles DUI enforcement throughout the county. Arrest reports and booking records for DUI stops in McCormick County are held by the Sheriff's Records Division. These records document the stop details, field sobriety test results, chemical test information, and booking data.
DUI arrest records and court case files are separate records. An arrest record covers what occurred during the traffic stop and booking. The court case file tracks how the case was resolved in court. Both are public records in South Carolina, but they are requested from different offices. The Sheriff holds arrest records. The Clerk of Court holds the court case file.
McCormick is a rural county. Most DUI enforcement is handled by the Sheriff's Office or the South Carolina Highway Patrol. If the arrest was made by the Highway Patrol, the incident report would be held by SCHP rather than the county Sheriff. The court case still passes through the Clerk of Court regardless of which agency made the arrest.
Eleventh Circuit Solicitor and Felony DUI in McCormick County
The Eleventh Circuit Solicitor's Office prosecutes felony DUI cases in McCormick County. The Solicitor handles all cases under § 56-5-2945 involving serious injury or death. The Solicitor also reviews cases where a repeat offender may qualify for felony charges. A fourth or subsequent DUI arrest in South Carolina can be elevated to felony level, even without any injury. Once indicted, those cases enter the General Sessions docket and are tracked through the Clerk of Court.
The Eleventh Circuit includes McCormick County along with Lexington and Saluda Counties. After a felony DUI indictment in McCormick County, the case is recorded and maintained by the McCormick County Clerk of Court. The Public Index reflects the General Sessions docket and is updated as cases progress.
Note: McCormick County has a smaller case volume compared to more populated counties, but all DUI cases follow the same South Carolina court procedures regardless of county size.
South Carolina DUI Law and McCormick County Records
McCormick County DUI cases are prosecuted under South Carolina state statutes. The base DUI charge under § 56-5-2930 applies when a driver is materially and appreciably impaired. The DUAC statute under § 56-5-2933 covers cases where a chemical test shows a blood alcohol content at or above 0.08%. Both appear in McCormick County DUI records and are treated seriously under state law.
The ignition interlock requirement under § 56-5-2941 applies to most DUI convictions in McCormick County. A first offense requires six months of interlock use. Second offenses require two years, and a third conviction requires three years. Fourth and subsequent convictions can result in a lifetime interlock requirement. The South Carolina DMV at dmv.sc.gov administers and enforces the interlock program across all counties, including McCormick.
License suspensions for DUI in McCormick County fall under § 56-5-2990. Completing the ADSAP program is a prerequisite for license reinstatement after any DUI suspension. DMV records and court records are separate. Both should be reviewed to fully understand the outcome of a McCormick County DUI case.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at sled.sc.gov maintains statewide criminal history data, including DUI convictions from McCormick County. A SLED background check is the most thorough option when looking for DUI history that may span multiple South Carolina counties or time periods.
DUI Charge Types in McCormick County Records
McCormick County DUI records reflect a range of charge types under South Carolina law. Each charge carries its own penalties and sentencing structure. Understanding the difference between them matters when reviewing a court record or public index result.
The most common DUI charges in McCormick County court records are:
- DUI under § 56-5-2930 (impaired driving)
- DUAC under § 56-5-2933 (BAC at 0.08% or higher by test)
- Felony DUI with great bodily injury under § 56-5-2945
- Felony DUI causing death under § 56-5-2945
- Implied consent refusal under § 56-5-2950
Implied consent refusals and license suspensions are tracked by the South Carolina DMV. Court records from the Clerk of Court reflect the criminal case. Both types of records may be relevant depending on the purpose of your search.
Cities in McCormick County
McCormick County is a small, rural county anchored by the city of McCormick. All DUI cases from the county are handled through the McCormick County court system and the Magistrate Court located at the courthouse.
Nearby Counties
McCormick County borders several other South Carolina counties. Where a DUI arrest occurred determines which county holds the court records.