The first hours: stop, arrest, and booking
A typical DUI path starts with a traffic stop or checkpoint contact, field sobriety testing, and a decision to arrest. After arrest, you are usually transported for booking—fingerprints, photos, and paperwork. Chemical testing (breath and/or blood) may occur according to agency procedure and the circumstances of your stop.
You do not have to invent a story for officers. You do need to comply with lawful orders. After release, focus on documents and deadlines rather than replaying every detail publicly.
Bond and release
Bond is the amount or conditions set so you can leave custody while the case proceeds. A family member or bondsman may help. When you are released, you should receive information about your next court date. Photograph those papers immediately—phones get lost; paper gets crumpled.
Keep the bond paperwork. It often includes the court name (for example, a Myrtle Beach or Conway municipal court, or another Horry County venue) and appearance date. Missing court can trigger a bench warrant.
Two clocks: criminal court and license / DMV
After a DUI arrest in South Carolina, people often focus only on the court date. There is frequently a second clock: administrative license action involving SCDMV. That process can affect your ability to drive even before the criminal case ends.
Read our detailed page on license suspension and DMV hearings. If you refused testing or blew over the legal limit, treat license questions as time-sensitive.
Step-by-step after release
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Organize every document
Arrest paperwork, bond receipt, temporary licenses or notices, and any testing-related forms.
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Put the court date on multiple calendars
Phone, paper, and a trusted person. Arrive early and dress respectfully.
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Check for SCDMV / license notices
Deadlines to request hearings can be short. Do not wait until your license is already suspended to ask questions.
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Write a private timeline of the stop
Location (Ocean Blvd, 501, Kings Hwy, Conway area, etc.), time, tests, and statements—share only with counsel.
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Get a free case review
for Horry County–focused next steps. Tourists should also read out-of-state DUI guidance.
What the first court appearance is (and is not)
The first setting is often administrative: confirming identity, charges, counsel status, and future dates. It is usually not the day the state proves the case with every witness. Still, it is mandatory unless the court and your attorney arrange otherwise.
If this is your first charge, see first-offense DUI in Myrtle Beach & Conway for penalty context and common mistakes.
Evidence that often matters later
- Dash-cam and body-worn camera video
- Reason for the stop (lane issues, speed, equipment, checkpoint, etc.)
- Field sobriety test administration and conditions (weather, footwear, medical issues)
- Breath instrument records or blood draw chain of custody
- Witnesses in the vehicle or at the scene
Preserving this material is easier early. Waiting months can mean lost footage or faded memories.
Local context: Horry County is busy
Peak tourist season, holiday weekends, and event traffic can mean higher enforcement and busier dockets. Processing times and court calendars may feel slower or more crowded than you expect. Plan ahead, especially if you must travel back to Myrtle Beach or Conway for court.