Berkeley County DUI Bail Information
Understanding bail amounts, the release process, and what happens after a DUI arrest in Berkeley County.
How Bail Bonds Work
Option 1: Cash Bond (Pay Full Amount)
How it works: Pay the full bail amount to the court
Pros: Get full amount back after case concludes (minus court fees)
Cons: Requires full amount upfront
Option 2: Bail Bondsman (Most Common)
How it works: Pay 10-15% fee to bondsman, they post full bail
Cost: Typically 10% of bail amount (non-refundable)
Pros: Only need 10% upfront instead of full amount
Cons: Fee is non-refundable, may require collateral, co-signer assumes liability
Co-Signer Liability Warning
Important for Co-Signers:
- You are 100% liable if defendant does not appear in court
- You must pay the full bail amount if defendant skips
- Bondsman can seize collateral (house, car, etc.)
- You cannot cancel the bond - only the court can
- Liability continues until case is fully resolved
Release Timeline
Arrest & Booking (2-8 hours)
Fingerprinting, photographing, background check, medical screening
Arraignment (Within 24-48 hours)
First court appearance, judge sets bail amount, charges are read
Bail Posted (1-4 hours)
Family contacts bondsman, paperwork signed, fee paid
Release (2-6 hours)
Processing, release paperwork, return of personal property, court date assigned
Total Time Estimate
From arrest to release: 12-48 hours depending on booking workload, time of arrest (weekends take longer), and how quickly bail is posted.
After Release: Critical Deadlines
1. Request MVD Hearing - 30 Days
You have only 30 days from arrest to request your administrative license hearing. This is separate from your criminal case.
2. Retrieve Your Vehicle
Impound fees accrue daily. Get your car as soon as possible to avoid hundreds in storage fees.
Calculate Impound Costs3. Contact a Bail Bondsman
Need fast release in Berkeley County? Contact a verified 24/7 Bail Bondsman to start the release process immediately.
Find a Bondsman4. Appear at ALL Court Dates
Missing court will result in bond forfeiture, arrest warrant, and additional charges. Your co-signer will be liable for the full bail amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
A DUI arrest made in Goose Creek, Hanahan, or anywhere near Daniel Island doesn't show up on the Hill-Finklea Detention Center's online roster right away, sometimes for hours. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office stages a transport van in the southern part of the county to keep patrol deputies on the road; arresting officers drop detainees at the van, and it doesn't head to the Moncks Corner jail until it's full or the shift ends. Families checking the roster right after an arrest will find nothing until that transit finishes and booking is actually logged.
Once booking wraps up, bond hearings run strictly twice a day, 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., conducted by video conference. Finish booking at 10 a.m. and the morning docket is already gone — the next chance is 6:30 that evening. A magistrate can grant personal recognizance release for a first-offense DUI with no money down, provided the defendant isn't judged a flight risk or a danger to the community; otherwise, cash bonds are accepted directly at the jail in exact amounts, or through a commercial bondsman.
The dollar figure that actually gets demanded tends to shock families expecting to pay the advertised base fine. South Carolina tacks a mandatory 107.5% surcharge onto court costs and fines, so a base fine of $500 for a mid-range BAC becomes roughly $1,070 in practice — multiply the base fine by about 2.075 to get the real number before showing up with cash in hand.
Being bonded out doesn't mean walking out with your belongings. Hill-Finklea only processes property releases, wallets, keys, cash, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, and only with the inmate's approval logged at intake. Anyone released outside that window, including most evening and every weekend release, leaves with nothing but the clothes they're wearing until the next business day — no car keys, no house keys, no payment method. Families need to plan for transportation and a place to stay overnight.