Traffic Court Records in Union County
Union County traffic court records are handled by the county magistrate courts and the Union Municipal Court for city citations. The county is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, which also includes Cherokee and Spartanburg Counties. Whether you received a citation on Highway 176, US 176, or on county roads in Union County, this guide explains how to find your Union County traffic records, which court has your case, and what steps to take next.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Magistrate Court
The Union County Magistrate Court is the summary court for traffic violations and misdemeanor offenses that occur outside incorporated city limits in Union County. The court is located in Union, South Carolina with regular business hours Monday through Friday. Magistrate court jurisdiction covers traffic offenses, criminal misdemeanors punishable by up to 30 days or a $500 fine, small claims up to $7,500, and civil disputes.
Bond hearings are conducted for persons arrested by the Union County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments operating in the county. Traffic citations may be paid online through the SC.GOV portal or in person at the magistrate court office. Defendants have the right to request jury trials for eligible criminal cases within magistrate court jurisdiction.
The Union County Magistrate Court page provides contact details, session schedules, and information on payment options for traffic citations. Court records are maintained in accordance with state requirements and are available for public inspection during regular business hours.
Note: The Union County Magistrate Court coordinates with the 7th Judicial Circuit for case transfers and criminal prosecutions that exceed magistrate court jurisdiction.
Union County Traffic Ticket Lookup
The SC Judicial Branch provides a statewide traffic ticket search tool that covers magistrate courts in all 46 counties, including Union County. You can search by citation number, driver's license number, or by entering your name and date of birth. The portal also allows online payment for eligible citations.
The statewide SC traffic ticket search portal covers Union County magistrate court cases and allows online lookup and payment for eligible citations.
Use the SC traffic ticket search portal to find your Union County citation. The portal accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express for online payments. A convenience fee may apply to credit card transactions.
If your Union County ticket does not appear in the portal, the issuing court may not participate in the online system, or the ticket may not yet be entered into the system. Contact the court listed on your physical citation to confirm which court is handling your case and ask about payment options.
Union County Court Case Records Access
Circuit Court and Family Court records for Union County are available through the SC case records search portal. Select Union County from the county dropdown to search cases by name, case number, filing date range, or case type. Circuit Court civil cases use the Common Pleas format and criminal cases use the General Sessions format.
The public index is updated nightly, so recently filed records may not appear until the following business day. Sealed cases, juvenile records, and protected matters are not accessible through the public index. As of January 2026, home address information is no longer shown on public case records to protect personal privacy.
The SC Judicial Branch main site provides access to Union County case records through the public index search and connects users to county-specific court contact pages.
The SC Judicial Branch website includes county-specific information pages, court calendars, and links to the public index for Union County and all other South Carolina counties.
Union County Traffic Court Process
Traffic cases in Union County follow the same process as all South Carolina summary courts. When an officer issues a citation, the case is typically assigned to the magistrate court serving the area where the violation occurred. If the citation was issued within the City of Union by a city officer, it may go to the Union Municipal Court instead.
Magistrate courts in South Carolina handle preliminary hearings, bond hearings, and trials for misdemeanor offenses. Magistrates are not courts of record. An appeal from a magistrate court results in a completely new trial in circuit court rather than a review of the lower court record. The SC Judicial Branch magistrate court page explains the statewide magistrate system in detail.
The SC Judicial Branch magistrate court overview explains jurisdiction, appointment procedures, and trial rights applicable to Union County summary court cases.
Under South Carolina Code Section 22-3-550, magistrates have jurisdiction of all offenses subject to penalties of a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days. Most traffic citations in Union County fall within this range.
Note: Payment of any Union County traffic citation without requesting a hearing counts as a guilty plea. This applies whether you pay in person, by mail, or online through the state portal.
Points and Driving Record Impact in Union County
A traffic conviction in any Union County court is reported to the SC DMV. The DMV posts the conviction and assigns points based on the violation type. Reaching 12 points results in an automatic license suspension. The SC DMV points system page lists point values for all common traffic violations.
Points are cut in half after one year from the violation date. After two years from the violation date, points drop off the record completely. Drivers who accumulate six or more points receive a warning letter from the SCDMV. Drivers with four or fewer points may qualify for the Traffic Education Program, which can reduce further consequences.
The SC DMV driving records portal shows current point totals, license status, and conviction history for Union County and all other South Carolina driving records.
Request your driving record at the SC DMV driving records page for $6.00. Both three-year and ten-year versions are available online, by mail, or in person at any SCDMV branch office.
Requesting Union County Traffic Court Records
Most Union County court records are public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, Title 30 Chapter 4. Any person has the right to inspect, copy, or receive electronic copies of public court records during normal business hours. Agencies must respond within 10 business days for records under two years old.
To get certified copies of Union County traffic records, contact the Clerk of Court or the appropriate magistrate court office. Records available for Union County traffic cases typically include citation details, court dates, case status, fine amounts, and warrant information. Fees for search and retrieval may not exceed the prorated hourly salary of the lowest-paid employee with the necessary skills to fill the request.
Common records available for Union County traffic cases include:
- Citation and charge details
- Scheduled court dates and hearings
- Case status and final disposition
- Payment history and fine amounts
- Failure-to-appear or warrant status
Under South Carolina Code Title 56, all magistrate and municipal court traffic convictions must be reported to the SC DMV. Section 56-5-6230 specifically requires courts to notify the DMV when any person charged with a traffic violation has paid a fine or forfeited bond.
Cities in Union County
Union County includes the City of Union as its county seat. Citations issued by the Union Police Department within city limits are handled by the Union Municipal Court. Traffic violations in unincorporated areas of the county go to the county magistrate court.
The City of Union is the largest municipality in the county. For tickets issued on state highways or county roads outside city limits, the magistrate court is the appropriate venue.
Nearby Counties
Union County is part of the 7th Judicial Circuit alongside Cherokee and Spartanburg Counties. It also borders Newberry, Laurens, and Chester Counties. If your citation was issued near a county line, the issuing agency's jurisdiction determines which court handles the case.