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Urgent · Missed court

Missed Your DUI Court Date or Worried About a Warrant?

Short answer

Missing a DUI court date in Horry County doesn't make the case go away. The court can issue a bench warrant, and in South Carolina a forfeited bond is treated like a conviction for DUI penalties (S.C. Code § 56-5-2930(A)), which is then reported to your home state if you live elsewhere. The sooner a local attorney gets involved, the more options you usually have.

Last reviewed: October 2026Checked against the South Carolina Code of Laws
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§ 56-5-2951 · 30 days to request a license hearing§ 56-5-2951 · 6 months suspension for a first refusal§ 56-5-2990 · 6 months of interlock after a first conviction§ 56-5-2930 · first-offense fine can't be suspended§ 22-5-910 · DUI convictions can't be expunged§ 56-1-640 · convictions reported to your home state§ 56-5-2953 · the stop must be on videoS.52 · not law as of October 2026

If you already missed a date

  • Find your paperwork or the photos of it: the court name and the date you missed.
  • Don't wait for a letter. Mail sent to an old or incomplete address may never reach you.
  • Get a free case review now. Say you're out of state if you are.

Why a forfeited bond matters

South Carolina applies DUI penalties on conviction, a guilty or no-contest plea, or forfeiture of bail (S.C. Code § 56-5-2930(A)). That means a forfeited bond can bring the same penalties as a conviction, including ADSAP and ignition interlock, and it can count as a prior offense for 10 years (S.C. Code § 56-5-2930(D)). For visitors it's reported to the home state through the Driver License Compact (S.C. Code § 56-1-640).

Missed court? Call now.

A local DUI attorney can find out where your case stands and what can still be done. Call anytime.

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If your court date is soon and you're out of state

Don't gamble on a last-minute reschedule. Read do I have to come back for court? and get a case review today.

Find your court

Your ticket names the court. Phone numbers and addresses for every Horry County court are on which court is my DUI case in?

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I miss my DUI court date in South Carolina?

The court can issue a bench warrant, and if your bond is forfeited, South Carolina treats that like a conviction for DUI penalties, including ADSAP and ignition interlock.

Will I be arrested at the airport for a South Carolina warrant?

Enforcement varies. The safer approach is to have a local attorney deal with the case rather than wait to find out.

I live out of state. Can a missed DUI court date still be fixed?

Often something can be done, but options usually shrink the longer you wait. Get a case review as soon as possible.

I never got any mail after I left Myrtle Beach. Is my case closed?

Not necessarily. Mail can go to an old or incomplete address. Check the court date on your original paperwork and don't assume silence means the case is over.

Related guides

Arrested in Myrtle Beach or anywhere in Horry County?

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