Mount Pleasant Court Warrants
Mount Pleasant bench warrants come from the Mount Pleasant Municipal Court at 100 Ann Edwards Lane. The court issues these warrants when someone does not show up for a hearing or fails to pay a fine as ordered. Searching for bench warrants in Mount Pleasant is possible through the Charleston County Public Index online. You can also call the court at 843-884-6796 for direct confirmation. This page walks through how bench warrants work in Mount Pleasant, how to look them up, and what to do if you have one.
Mount Pleasant Municipal Court
The Mount Pleasant Municipal Court is at 100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. The mailing address is PO Box 457. Call 843-884-6796 for court questions. The court handles misdemeanor state violations, municipal code violations, and traffic cases. Sessions run Monday through Friday at various times throughout the day.
The image below shows the Mount Pleasant Municipal Court page with hours and court information.
Visit the Mount Pleasant court page for schedules and payment options.
| Court | Mount Pleasant Municipal Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 Ann Edwards Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 |
| Mailing | PO Box 457, Mount Pleasant, SC 29465 |
| Phone | (843) 884-6796 |
Note: The court does not accept personal checks for fine payments, so bring cash, a money order, or a bank cashier's check if paying in person on a bench warrant.
How Bench Warrants Are Issued
A bench warrant starts with a judge. When someone has a court date in Mount Pleasant and does not show up, the judge can sign a bench warrant. The word "bench" refers to the judge's seat. This type of warrant is different from an arrest warrant. Police do not request it. The judge issues it on their own because a person did not follow a court order.
Under Section 22-5-115 of the South Carolina Code, summary courts can choose between a summons and a bench warrant. A summons gives the person a chance to come in voluntarily. A bench warrant allows officers to arrest the person right away. The judge makes this choice based on the case details and the person's record with the court in Mount Pleasant.
Unpaid fines also trigger bench warrants. The court may have ordered payment by a certain date. When that date passes without payment, the judge can issue a bench warrant. Bond violations under Section 38-53-70 are another trigger. Breaking bond conditions can result in a bench warrant and up to 90 days in jail.
Search Mount Pleasant Bench Warrants
The Charleston County Public Index is the main online tool for searching bench warrants in Mount Pleasant. The system is free. Enter a name and check the Action tab for bench warrant entries. Mount Pleasant is in Charleston County, so all records from this court appear in the county index.
You can also call the court directly. Staff at 843-884-6796 can check the system and tell you if a bench warrant is active. This is the fastest way to get a definite answer.
For a statewide search, try the SLED CATCH system for $25. The SC Courts case records search connects to every county public index for free. Both tools can show bench warrants issued in Mount Pleasant or other courts across South Carolina.
Note: Online results may lag a day or two behind the court's internal system, so call the court if you need real-time bench warrant status.
Resolving a Bench Warrant
The best way to handle a bench warrant in Mount Pleasant is to contact the court and take care of it. Call 843-884-6796. Ask the clerk about your case. They will tell you if you can pay the fine to clear the warrant or if you need to appear before the judge.
The court accepts Mastercard, Visa, cash, money orders, and bank cashier's checks. Personal checks are not accepted. Online payment through the "Pay Ticket Here!" option on the court website may work for some cases. Not all bench warrant cases allow online payment, so check first.
Steps to resolve a Mount Pleasant bench warrant:
- Call the court to confirm the warrant and the amount owed
- Ask if payment alone will clear the warrant
- Go to the court during business hours to pay or appear
- Bring valid ID and payment in an accepted form
- Get written proof the warrant has been recalled
Some people hire a lawyer to help. An attorney can sometimes appear on your behalf and ask the judge to recall the bench warrant. This option is not always available, but it is worth asking about for Mount Pleasant cases.
Mount Pleasant Police
The Mount Pleasant Police Department enforces bench warrants within town limits. The non-emergency number is (843) 884-4176. Dispatch is available 24/7 at (843) 743-7200. Chief Mark Arnold leads the department. Officers check for warrants during traffic stops and other contacts. If a bench warrant appears, the officer must act on it.
Online reporting is also available through the police department. That service covers certain types of reports, not bench warrants. If you want to clear a bench warrant, contact the court rather than the police. The court is the only office that can recall a bench warrant in Mount Pleasant.
Public Records and FOIA
South Carolina's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request government records. The Mount Pleasant FOIA portal explains how to submit a request. The town has 10 business days to respond. Certified copies of court records are available under FOIA Section 30-4-30.
The image below shows the Mount Pleasant FOIA page for document and information requests.
Most bench warrant information is already available for free through the Public Index. FOIA requests are more useful for records not posted online, like police reports tied to a bench warrant arrest.
South Carolina Warrant Laws
Title 17, Chapter 13 of the South Carolina Code covers all warrant procedures. This includes bench warrants issued in Mount Pleasant. The Summary Court Bench Book provides guidelines for judges on issuing bench warrants in summary courts like the one in Mount Pleasant.
Rule 13 of the Family Court Rules allows bench warrants in family cases. These warrants are used sparingly. A person arrested under Rule 13 must have a hearing within 24 hours. Family court bench warrants in Mount Pleasant go through the Charleston County court system.
Charleston County Warrant Records
Mount Pleasant is part of Charleston County. The county court system handles cases from magistrate courts, General Sessions, and Family Court. For a broader view of bench warrants across the county, visit the Charleston County page.
Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other cities in the Charleston area have their own municipal courts and bench warrant processes. Select a city to learn more.