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Complete information about DUI arrests, impound, bail, courts, and procedures specific to Charleston County, South Carolina.
15-day license deadline
Last verified: March 31, 2026
Time-sensitive actions after a DUI arrest in Charleston County. Start with the most critical deadlines.
15-Day Deadline
Request your DMV hearing within 15 days or lose your license automatically. This is the most time-sensitive action.
Impound Fees Add Up Daily
Vehicle impound fees accrue every day. Learn the exact costs, location, and what you need to retrieve your car from Charleston County.
Get Out of Jail
Understand bail amounts, how bail bonds work, and what happens at your arraignment in Charleston County.
What to Expect
Arraignment, plea bargaining, diversion programs, and court dates. Know your rights and options in Charleston County.
Request DMV Hearing
You have 15 days to challenge your license suspension in South Carolina.
Check my deadlineRetrieve Your Vehicle
Impound fees in Charleston County accrue daily. Calculate your retrieval cost.
See impound feesConsult an Attorney
Expert South Carolina DUI defense can save you thousands in long-term costs.
Browse local attorneysCalculate Financial Impact
See how much this DUI will cost you in insurance hikes and fines.
Estimate total costKey steps and deadlines for your DUI case in Charleston County
15 days
Prevent automatic license suspension.
ASAP
Avoid daily storage fees.
Ongoing
Navigate criminal proceedings.
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Being arrested for DUI can be a disorienting experience. In 2024, the Charleston Police Department recorded 592 primary DUI arrests, a 31% increase from the previous year. This guide provides a clear roadmap of what to expect and what steps you need to take immediately following a DUI arrest in Charleston County.
The moments following a DUI arrest in Charleston County are critical. Here's a general timeline:
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office processes arrestees at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center, located within Charleston County.
Missing deadlines can have serious consequences for your driving privileges and your case. Be aware of these key dates:
Law enforcement agencies in Charleston County actively enforce DUI laws. They utilize data-driven enforcement paradigms that rely heavily on geographic bottlenecks and historical collision data. DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols are commonly deployed on major traffic arteries connecting urban nightlife districts to surrounding residential areas.
Recurring checkpoint locations on the downtown peninsula include the intersection of King Street and Huger Street, Calhoun Street at Halsey Boulevard, Calhoun Street at Pitt Street, East Bay Street at South Street, and Morrison Drive at Jackson Street. Enforcement is often concentrated on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, typically starting around 9:00 PM and continuing until midnight or later. The "DUI Checkpoint Strike Force" and "Drunk Driving Enforcement Zones" are routinely activated in partnership with Joint Base Charleston Security Forces, particularly around holidays like Memorial Day.
Charleston County's DUI landscape has unique characteristics:
If your vehicle was towed by Jennings Towing Company, the official city franchise, you can contact them at (843) 554-6385 to inquire about its release.
After a DUI arrest in Charleston County, you have 15 days to request a ALR Hearing to challenge your license suspension. Contact an attorney, get your car out of impound, and prepare for your arraignment.
You have 15 days from your arrest date to request a ALR Hearing in South Carolina. Missing this deadline results in automatic license suspension.
When facing a DUI charge in Charleston County, finding local, experienced representation is critical. Below is our curated list of verified DUI defense attorneys serving Charleston County, SC.