Myrtle Beach Bench Warrant Lookup

Bench warrants in Myrtle Beach are issued by the Municipal Court when a person fails to appear for a scheduled court date or does not pay a fine on time. The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court handles all misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and city ordinance matters within the city limits. A bench warrant is a court order that directs law enforcement to arrest the named person and bring them before the judge. These warrants remain active in Myrtle Beach until the court resolves them, and they can also lead to a driver's license suspension for traffic-related cases.

Myrtle Beach Municipal Court

The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court operates from the Ted C. Collins Law Enforcement Center at 1101 North Oak Street. This court is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM and also holds weekend hours on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The extended schedule makes Myrtle Beach one of the few municipal courts in South Carolina that accepts walk-ins on weekends. Bench warrants issued by this court apply to anyone who has missed a required court appearance or failed to meet a payment deadline within the Myrtle Beach city limits.

Criminal and traffic court sessions take place on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM. Additional sessions run on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 4:30 PM. Bond court in Myrtle Beach meets at 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM on weekdays, at 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM on weekends, and at 9:00 AM on holidays. If a bench warrant has been issued, the person may be held until a bond hearing takes place.

Jury trials in Myrtle Beach Municipal Court are held one week every other month, running Monday through Thursday. A person who receives a bench warrant for failing to appear at a jury trial faces serious consequences. The court views this as a direct failure to comply with a lawful order.

How Bench Warrants Work in Myrtle Beach

A bench warrant is a process issued from the bench. It is not the same as an arrest warrant. Arrest warrants come from a law enforcement investigation, while bench warrants come directly from the judge when someone does not follow a court order. In Myrtle Beach, the most common reasons for a bench warrant include failure to appear at a scheduled hearing, failure to pay a court-ordered fine, and being tried in absence. Under South Carolina law, a judge has the authority to issue a bench warrant when a defendant does not show up as required.

The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court provides clear guidance on the consequences of missing court. If you fail to appear for a traffic case, the court can issue a bench warrant and also notify the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. This can lead to a suspension of your driver's license. The suspension stays in place until the bench warrant is resolved and the court notifies the DMV to lift it.

Under S.C. Code Section 22-5-115, a magistrate or municipal court judge may issue a summons instead of a bench warrant in certain situations. This gives the person a chance to appear on a new date without being arrested. However, the court is not required to use a summons. The decision depends on the nature of the case and the person's history with the court in Myrtle Beach.

The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court website provides information about court schedules, payment options, and how to handle outstanding bench warrants.

Note: A bench warrant does not expire on its own. It stays active in Myrtle Beach and across South Carolina until the person appears in court or the judge recalls it.

Bond After a Bench Warrant

When someone is arrested on a bench warrant in Myrtle Beach, they are brought before a judge for a bond hearing. Bond court sessions run daily in Myrtle Beach, including weekends and holidays. Under S.C. Code Section 38-53-70, a bail bond in South Carolina is valid for 90 days from the date of posting. If the case is not resolved within that window, the bond may need to be renewed or a new bond set by the court.

Family court bench warrants follow a different process. Under Rule 13 of the South Carolina Family Court Rules, bench warrants in family cases should be used sparingly. When a family court bench warrant is served, the person must be brought before a judge within 24 hours for a hearing. This rule applies statewide but affects Myrtle Beach residents who have family court matters in Horry County.

Steps to resolve a bench warrant in Myrtle Beach typically include:

• Contact the Municipal Court at (843) 918-1356 to ask about your case status
• Appear at the court during regular hours to address the warrant
• Post bond if required by the judge at the bond hearing
• Attend all future court dates without fail
• Pay any outstanding fines or fees the court has ordered

Searching Myrtle Beach Bench Warrants

There are several ways to check for an active bench warrant in Myrtle Beach. The Horry County Public Index lets you search court records by name or case number. This online tool covers all courts in Horry County, including the Myrtle Beach Municipal Court. You can find case dates, charges, and warrant status through this free search.

The South Carolina Courts case records search is another option. It provides access to records from courts across the state. For bench warrants specific to Myrtle Beach, the Horry County index is usually more direct. Both tools are free and do not require an account to use.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department, led by Chief Amy Prock, operates from the same building as the Municipal Court at 1101 N Oak St. The police department maintains a Most Wanted list and can be reached at (843) 918-1382.

You can also call the court directly to ask about a bench warrant. The Myrtle Beach Municipal Court staff can look up your case and tell you if a bench warrant is active. Keep in mind that if you appear in person at the court or police station and have an active bench warrant, you could be taken into custody on the spot.

Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, court records are generally available to the public. FOIA requests must be answered within 10 business days, with a possible extension to 20 days. This applies to bench warrant records in Myrtle Beach as well.

Note: The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division maintains a statewide database that tracks warrants. Bench warrants from Myrtle Beach are entered into this system, which means they can be served by any law enforcement agency in the state.

Horry County Bench Warrants

Cases that fall outside the Myrtle Beach city limits are handled by the Horry County court system. The Horry County Central Jury Magistrate Court is located at 1201 21st Avenue North and can be reached at (843) 915-8800. Bench warrants from this court cover unincorporated areas of Horry County near Myrtle Beach.

The Summary Court Bench Book is the guide that judges use when handling bench warrant cases in both municipal and magistrate courts. It outlines the procedures for issuing warrants, setting bond, and conducting hearings. South Carolina law under Title 17, Chapter 13 sets forth the rules governing bench warrants and related criminal procedures that apply in the Myrtle Beach area.

The City of Myrtle Beach website provides links to court services, police resources, and general city information that can help residents navigate bench warrant matters.

Horry County Bench Warrant Records

Myrtle Beach is located in Horry County. All bench warrants from the Myrtle Beach Municipal Court are part of the Horry County court system. For county-level bench warrant information, magistrate court details, and other public records, visit the Horry County bench warrants page.

View Horry County Bench Warrants

Nearby South Carolina Cities

Other cities near Myrtle Beach have their own courts that issue bench warrants. Select a city below to learn about bench warrants in that area.

View Major South Carolina Cities