DUI questions in South Carolina, answered in the order they come up

A DUI arrest on the Grand Strand usually leaves someone holding three pieces of paper and very few answers. There's a ticket or warrant, bond paperwork, and sometimes a notice of suspension handed over at the breath test site.

The first thing to understand is that a South Carolina DUI moves on two tracks. One is the criminal case, heard in a magistrate court, a city court or General Sessions depending on the charge. The other is your driver's license, handled through the DMV and the Office of Motor Vehicle Hearings. Each track has its own deadlines, and the license deadline can be short.

These guides follow the order people actually face things. What happens in the first week. How to find your court date. What evidence exists, including the video recording South Carolina law requires in most DUI arrests. What to ask at a first consultation. We explain the general process and say plainly where your own facts take over.