A DUI case leaves paper in two places: a police file and a court file. The arrest report comes from the agency that stopped the driver, and the charges, pleas, and sentence come from the court. Charleston County cases sit with the Clerk of Court at 100 Broad Street. A driver’s license action runs on a separate track at the state motor vehicle office. Each one answers a separate question.
This page follows a DUI file from arrest to disposition and explains which parts reach the public. It covers charges, plea outcomes, fines, probation, and license orders. Sections on sealed records and copy requests follow. A reader who needs a driving record should contact the state motor vehicle office. Confirm details with the clerk before you order a copy. Bring a case number, a full name, and a photo ID when you visit.
DUI Record Search
A DUI search starts with a name and a date. The clerk holds the court side of the case.
- Clerk of Court online services and case search: https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php
- Charge codes, case numbers, and court dates for a DUI file.
- Plea outcomes, fines, and license orders.
- What stays sealed and what can be expunged.
- Copy fees and the counter process.
Case Proceedings, Penalties & Licensing
A DUI charge begins when an officer stops a driver and suspects impairment. The officer files a citation and a report, and the solicitor reviews the case. The clerk opens a criminal file with the charge and a case number. A first appearance follows, then a plea or a trial date. The paperwork grows with each step. Read the docket to see where a case stands today.
| Stage | Record created | Who holds it |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic stop | Warning or citation, officer notes | Arresting agency |
| Arrest and booking | Report, fingerprints, booking photo | Police or sheriff |
| Charge filed | Criminal case number, warrant or citation | Clerk of Court |
| First appearance | Bond order, conditions of release | Clerk of Court |
| Plea or trial | Disposition, sentence, fines | Clerk of Court |
| License action | Suspension notice, hearing request | State motor vehicle office |
The table tracks one case across several desks. An agency record and a court record rarely share a number, so the name and the arrest date link them. A charge may change between the citation and the indictment. A license action can proceed even when the criminal case is dropped. Collect each paper in order, then compare the dates before you settle the question. Keep the papers in one folder by date.
Arrest Logs, Offense Charges & Court Orders
An arrest log lists the stop, the officer, and the charge. The citation number ties to the court file, and the case number goes on every later request. A court order may set bond, restrict travel, or require a substance abuse assessment. Read the order for conditions that start before trial. A missed condition can lead to a bond revocation and a new custody entry.
Pleas, Trials, Convictions & Dismissals
Most DUI cases end with a plea rather than a trial. A guilty plea enters a conviction and a sentence on the docket. A dismissal may follow a suppressed stop, a missing witness, or a plea to a lesser charge. A jury trial produces a verdict and, on conviction, a sentence. The docket shows the outcome in a short line. Ask the clerk for the disposition page when a line is unclear.
Fines, Probation & Deferred Dispositions
A sentence can combine a fine, court costs, a jail term, and probation. State law sets the range for each offense, and a judge picks a point inside it. A deferred program may dismiss the charge after a set period and a set of conditions. A dismissal under a deferral still leaves a paper trail in some systems. Ask how the file records the outcome before you report it.
Suspension, Revocation & Ignition Interlock Orders
A license action runs beside the criminal case. The state motor vehicle office can suspend a license after an arrest, and a hearing request must arrive within a short window. A conviction adds points and a longer suspension. An ignition interlock order may follow a high reading or a second offense. The court file notes the order, and the agency enforces it. Confirm the current status with the agency.
Public Availability & Official Copies
Court files carry a public presumption, and the law still draws lines. A DUI case file is open in most cases, so a reader may see the charge, the plea, and the sentence. A juvenile file, a sealed record, and a treatment evaluation stay out of view. A record can be expunged after a set period under state rules. Ask the clerk which status applies to the file you want.
| Office | Address | Phone | Public hours | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County Clerk of Court | 100 Broad Street, Suite 106, Charleston, SC 29401-2258 | (843) 958-5000 | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (excluding county holidays) | https://www.charlestoncounty.gov/online-services.php |
The table names the office that keeps the criminal file, not the agency that made the stop. Records counter staff pull a file by case number and print the pages you request. A clerk cannot change a charge or a sentence, and a clerk cannot clear a driving record. For the police report, call the arresting agency. For the license, call the state motor vehicle office.
Court & Law Enforcement Directory Logs
Each agency keeps its own index. The clerk’s docket covers the court side, and the police records unit covers the arrest side. A directory of county departments helps when a case moves between them. A log may show when a file was pulled, copied, or returned to storage. That log is an internal record, and a reader usually cannot obtain it. Ask for the case file instead.
Sealed, Expunged & Confidential Exclusions
Some DUI files leave the public index. An expungement erases an arrest or a charge from the record after a set period, and a court order starts the process. A sealed file stays in the courthouse but leaves public view. A juvenile matter stays closed in most cases. A treatment evaluation and a medical report carry a shield. Ask the clerk whether a case still appears, since an expunged file may vanish quietly.
Online & District Clerk Requests
South Carolina files a DUI case with the Clerk of Court for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and the sheriff delivers the citation to that office. The county online services page links to the case search and to the copy request form. A request needs the case number, the document title, and a photo ID. A clerk reviews it and quotes a fee. Nothing is released until payment clears.
Certified Copies, Fees & Fulfillment Timelines
A certified page carries a seal that a court, an employer, or an insurer will accept. A plain copy serves personal reading and costs less. The fee follows a per-page schedule, and certification adds a charge. A file on site may print the same day, and a file in storage may take a week. Ask for an estimate and a receipt. Bring the case number to the window.
Record Accuracy & Resolution
Most DUI record problems start with a name. A driver may be booked under a legal name and cited under a nickname. A middle initial can separate two people, and a suffix can merge them. A case number shifts too when a charge is refiled. Compare the arrest date, the agency, and the birth year before you decide two files describe one person. Write the match down before you order.
Matching Person Names & Case Numbers
A criminal case number usually starts with a year and a letter code, then a sequence. A refiled charge may carry a new number and a new filing date. A citation number is shorter and belongs to the arresting agency. Keep both numbers in your notes. When a name returns several matches, sort by birth year and by arrest date. A photo from the booking record settles most doubts.
System Delays Between Police & Courts
A gap sits between the arrest and the court file. The officer files a report within days, and the solicitor reviews it before a charge is formalized. That review can take weeks when a lab result is pending. A blood test adds its own delay. The online docket shows nothing until the clerk opens the case. Call the arresting agency first when a recent arrest has no court number.
Unlisted DUI File Resolution
No result can mean a charge was reduced before filing. A solicitor may drop a DUI count and proceed on a reckless driving charge, which sits under a different title. A case may sit in a municipal court rather than the circuit court. Try the city court clerk, then widen the date range. Ask for a name search across the whole year, and keep the written reply. Note the name of the clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
These questions cover the points that send drivers and families to the wrong office. Each answer names the record, the holder, and the first step. A court file and a driving record are separate products, and one does not change the other. Fees and hours come from a posted schedule. Ask the clerk when a detail on this page does not match your paper. Bring the citation number with you.
Are DUI arrest and conviction records public in Charleston County ?
Most are. A DUI charge filed in circuit or magistrate court appears on the public docket, and a reader may see the charge, the plea, and the sentence. A sealed or expunged file drops out of view. A juvenile matter stays closed. An arrest report comes from the police agency and may be redacted. Ask each office for its own record rather than expect one page to hold everything.
What information appears on an official DUI court log?
A court log lists the defendant’s name, the case number, the charge, and the filing date. It adds the arresting agency, the citation number, and the names of the lawyers. Each hearing gets a line with a date and a result. The sentence appears after a plea or a trial, with a fine and a term. A log rarely shows a blood alcohol figure. Ask for the disposition sheet for details.
How do administrative driver license actions affect public records?
A license suspension is an agency action, and it lives in the motor vehicle file. The court may never see it. A suspension can follow an arrest even when the charge is later dropped, and a hearing request must arrive fast. The court file may note the suspension, and the agency file holds the notice and the result. Ask both offices when a license status matters.
Who confirms missing or unlisted DUI case entries?
Start with the clerk of the court that would hear the charge. A city citation goes to the municipal court, and a state charge goes to the circuit court. Give the name, the arrest date, and the agency. If no case exists, the charge may still sit with the solicitor. Ask the arresting agency for the report, then ask the solicitor whether a warrant was filed. Keep the report number in your notes.