DUI Records in Union County
Union County DUI records are held by the Clerk of Court, the Magistrate Court, and the Union County Sheriff's Office. Union County is located in the Upstate region of South Carolina and is part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Searching for DUI records in Union County can be done online through the South Carolina Public Index or by visiting the courthouse in person. This guide covers the agencies that maintain DUI records in Union County, the courts involved, and the state laws that govern these cases.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Government and DUI Records
The Union County Government provides administrative support for the county's judicial system, including the courts that handle DUI cases. Union County is one of the smaller counties in the Upstate region, with a population of around 28,000. The county seat is the City of Union. Law enforcement in Union County includes the Union County Sheriff's Office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol, both of which conduct DUI enforcement on county roads.
DUI cases in Union County are processed through the Magistrate Court for misdemeanor charges and the Court of General Sessions for felony charges. The Seventh Circuit Solicitor's Office handles prosecution of serious DUI cases in Union County. Court records are maintained by the Union County Clerk of Court. The county government site at unioncountysc.gov lists office contacts and locations for county services.
Union County's court system may be smaller than those in more populated counties, but the same South Carolina DUI statutes apply. Records from DUI arrests are maintained in the same way as in larger counties. The Clerk of Court can help you find case files, and the Public Index provides online access for many records.
Union County Clerk of Court Records
The Union County Clerk of Court is responsible for maintaining records from the Court of General Sessions and the Court of Common Pleas. For DUI records, the General Sessions side holds the most information. Any DUI case that rises to felony status in Union County goes through General Sessions. The Clerk of Court stores charging documents, orders, verdicts, and final dispositions for all felony DUI cases in Union County.
For misdemeanor DUI records, you may need to contact the Union County Magistrate Court directly. Magistrate Courts handle lower-level DUI charges, and their records are kept separate from the Clerk of Court's files. First and second DUI offenses in South Carolina are typically misdemeanors. Cases involving repeat offenders or serious injury are escalated to General Sessions in Union County.
The SLED criminal history system tracks DUI convictions from Union County. A disposition from the Union County Clerk of Court feeds into the statewide criminal record. SLED maintains these records at the state level and they are accessible through official background check requests.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division records cover DUI convictions from all 46 counties, including Union County. SLED criminal history requests are available online and provide a statewide view of DUI convictions on a person's record.
Search Union County DUI Records Online
The South Carolina Public Index at publicindex.sccourts.org/union/ provides free online access to Union County court records. You can search by name or case number to find DUI cases. The system shows case status, charges filed, and court dates for cases in Union County's General Sessions and Common Pleas courts. It is maintained by the South Carolina Judicial Branch.
Not every record type appears in the Public Index. Magistrate Court cases from Union County may require a direct inquiry. The Public Index is best for finding felony DUI records and serious misdemeanor cases that went through General Sessions. For older records, an in-person search at the Union County Clerk of Court may yield better results.
Note: Some Union County DUI records may be sealed or expunged by court order and will not appear in any public search tool.
DUI Laws That Govern Union County Cases
South Carolina DUI law applies uniformly across all counties, including Union County. The key statute is S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-2930, which defines DUI as driving while materially and appreciably impaired. Impairment can result from alcohol, controlled substances, or a combination. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or above triggers the DUAC offense under § 56-5-2933.
South Carolina law sets escalating penalties for repeat DUI offenses in Union County and throughout the state. A first DUI is a misdemeanor with fines and a possible short jail sentence. Second and third DUI convictions carry heavier penalties, longer license suspensions, and mandatory ignition interlock requirements. Under § 56-5-2941, convicted DUI offenders in Union County must install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle they drive as a condition of getting their license back.
The most serious form of DUI in Union County is felony DUI, defined under § 56-5-2945. Felony DUI involves great bodily injury or death. Sentences can run up to 25 years for great bodily injury and up to 30 years for death. These cases are prosecuted by the Seventh Circuit Solicitor's Office and tried in Union County General Sessions Court.
Implied consent laws under § 56-5-2950 require Union County drivers to submit to chemical testing when arrested for DUI. Refusing the test triggers automatic license suspension under South Carolina law. The SCDMV handles suspension proceedings separately from the criminal case.
ADSAP and License Issues After a Union County DUI
Drivers convicted of DUI in Union County face both criminal penalties and license-related consequences. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles at dmv.sc.gov administers license suspension under § 56-5-2990. The suspension length depends on the number of prior DUI offenses on the driver's record.
The Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program, known as ADSAP, is a state-mandated program for DUI offenders. Completion of ADSAP is required before most Union County DUI offenders can have their driver's license reinstated. The program includes assessment and treatment recommendations. Union County residents can find ADSAP providers through the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.
Ignition interlock device requirements also apply after many DUI convictions in Union County. Under § 56-5-2941, the device must be installed before a driver can get a restricted license during the suspension period. The SCDMV administers the ignition interlock program and maintains records of compliance. These records are part of the broader DUI record system in South Carolina.
Note: Driving records showing DUI suspensions can be obtained directly from the SCDMV and reflect Union County convictions along with those from other counties.
Union County Sheriff and DUI Enforcement
The Union County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of Union County. The Sheriff's Office conducts DUI patrols and investigates alcohol-related traffic offenses. Arrest records generated by the Sheriff's Office become part of the DUI record system in Union County.
When a deputy makes a DUI arrest, the incident report and arrest record are filed with the Sheriff's Office. A copy of the charging document goes to the appropriate court. The South Carolina Highway Patrol also operates in Union County and contributes to DUI enforcement on state and federal highways passing through the county. Both agencies share jurisdiction over Union County roads.
Cities in Union County
Union County includes the City of Union and several smaller communities. DUI cases originating within town or city limits may be handled by local municipal courts or transferred to the county system depending on the charge level.
Visit the cities page to find DUI records information for specific communities within Union County, South Carolina.
Nearby Counties
Union County is surrounded by several other South Carolina counties in the Upstate region. If the DUI arrest occurred near a county line, verify which county court has the record before submitting a records request.