What decides whether you have to appear
- What your ticket and bond conditions require.
- Which court has the case. See the Horry County courts.
- Whether an attorney may appear for you at that hearing.
- Whether the court needs you there in person, for example for a plea or a trial.
Why "just paying the bond" is a trap
Some visitors assume they can skip court and let the bond go. In South Carolina, DUI penalties apply on conviction, a guilty or no-contest plea, or forfeiture of bail (S.C. Code § 56-5-2930(A)). A forfeited bond can also count as a prior offense for 10 years (S.C. Code § 56-5-2930(D)), and as a conviction it's reported to your home state through the Driver License Compact (S.C. Code § 56-1-640).
Call anytime. A local DUI attorney can tell you whether your next date requires you in person.
If you've already flown home
You can still start from anywhere. Have photos of your paperwork, your court date and a phone number you'll answer. If you also got a notice of suspension, the 30-day hearing deadline still applies; use the deadline calculator.
If your trip and your court date collide
Treat the court date as the priority until an attorney tells you otherwise. Don't call the court the day before and hope it moves. Courts have rules for continuances. If you already missed a date, read missed court or worried about a warrant.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lawyer go to court for me so I don't have to fly back?
Sometimes, for certain hearings. It depends on the court and the type of hearing. Never assume it; confirm with an attorney before the date.
What happens if I don't come back for my Myrtle Beach DUI court date?
Missing court can lead to a bench warrant. In South Carolina a forfeited bond is treated like a conviction for DUI penalties, and it can be reported to your home state.
Can I just pay the bond and not show up?
That's risky. A forfeited bond counts the same as a conviction for DUI penalties in South Carolina, and it can count as a prior offense for 10 years.
My flight is the same week as my court date. What should I do?
Treat the court date as the priority and get a case review right away, so an attorney can tell you whether you need to be there.
Related guides
DUI on vacation in Myrtle Beach
Going home doesn't end the case. What happens with your home state, court dates and travel.
Read the guideMissed court or worried about a warrant
Why a forfeited bond counts as a conviction in SC, and what to do right now.
Read the guideWhich court is my DUI case in?
How to read your ticket, and addresses and phone numbers for every Horry County DUI court.
Read the guideThe first 24 hours
A calm checklist for the day after: paperwork, the license deadline, your court date.
Read the guide