How to Search Lexington County Traffic Court Records
Traffic cases show on the Public Index and on the traffic ticket payment system. Start with the court named on the ticket. Most county traffic cases run through Central Traffic Court, and you can pay or look up many tickets online through the publicindex.sccourts.org payment link.
The fields below appear on the county citation lookup and payment system.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| County / Court selection | Dropdown / link | Yes | Select Lexington County or the court on the ticket |
| Citation / Ticket number | Text | No | Use the number from the ticket when known |
| Name | Text | No | Party search if the citation number is unknown |
| Case number | Text | No | Use the court case number if known |
| Search / Submit | Button | n/a | Runs the lookup or payment |
Online payment may add a card or service fee through the payment provider.
Which Courts Handle Traffic Cases in Lexington County
More than one court hears traffic cases. Central Traffic Court and DUI Court sit at 139 East Main Street, Suite A. Magistrate Court tries all traffic cases and misdemeanors within its limits. City and town courts, such as the Town of Lexington Municipal Court, handle tickets written within their limits.
Central Traffic Court & DUI Court
139 East Main Street, Suite A
Lexington, SC 29072
(803) 785-2142
Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Clerk of Court does not handle speeding tickets, so check the court area on the ticket before you call.
Types of Traffic Cases on Record
Traffic records cover a wide range, from a simple speeding ticket to a serious charge. Most are summary court matters unless the offense is serious enough to route into General Sessions criminal court.
- Speeding and moving violations
- Failure to appear or pay, which can trigger a bench warrant
- Driving under suspension
- DUI and DWI, which route to DUI Court and criminal handling
- Commercial driver and CDL violations
Magistrate Court handles cases carrying up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine plus assessments. The magistrate criminal procedure statutes sit in South Carolina Code Title 22, Chapter 5.
What Lexington County Traffic Court Records Show
A traffic court record holds the case from citation to disposition. It is the court's file, not the DMV's. The table below shows the fields a traffic court record typically includes.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Citation / Ticket | The ticket number and issuing agency |
| Court Date | The scheduled appearance or hearing date |
| Charge | The traffic offense charged |
| Plea / Disposition | The plea entered and the outcome |
| Fines / Costs | The amount owed or paid |
| Failure-to-Appear Status | Whether a bench warrant was issued |
This file does not show DMV points. Points appear on the separate state driver record.
Searching by Citation Number vs by Name
There are two ways to find a traffic case, and the citation number is the better one. A citation or case number points straight to the right ticket. A name search can pull many similar results, so you have to confirm the match with a second detail.
If you lost the ticket and do not know where to appear, the Clerk's guidance is to call Central Traffic Court at the listed number, or call SCDMV at (803) 896-5000 to confirm the court. For the broader case search, see the Lexington County court records page.
Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket
Handle a ticket before its deadline. Missing it can lead to a bench warrant or license consequences. The steps below cover paying or contesting a Lexington County ticket.
- Read the ticket and find the court location. Do not assume the Clerk handles it.
- If it says Lexington County Traffic Court, use Central Traffic Court at 139 East Main Street, or call (803) 785-2142.
- If it names a city court such as the Town of Lexington, call that court at (803) 951-4634.
- To pay online, use the official traffic ticket payment link from the county or publicindex.sccourts.org.
- To mail payment to Central Traffic Court, send a money order or cashier's check only, not cash or a personal check.
- To contest the citation, contact the listed court before the appearance date and follow its plea procedure.
After disposition, remember the DMV record is separate. A paid ticket may still add points or a conviction line on the driver record.
Public Access Laws for Traffic Court Records
Traffic court records are court records, open under the same framework as other case files. The Public Index shows traffic case status where available. The state Freedom of Information Act covers county records, while court files also answer to court rules.
Driver records are different. They are limited by the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act and the state Family Privacy Protection Act, even though some traffic convictions appear in court files. For the open-records process, see the public records page.
Court Traffic Records vs State Driver Records
These are two different files with two different custodians. The court traffic record is the case the magistrate or city court builds. The state driver record is the SCDMV history of convictions, points, and license status. People often need both, but they come from different offices.
| Point | Court Traffic Record | State Driver Record |
|---|---|---|
| Custodian | Magistrate or city traffic court | South Carolina DMV |
| What it shows | Citation, court date, plea, fines, FTA status | Convictions, points, license status, suspensions |
| Where to access | Public Index or the court | SCDMV driving record page |
| How to correct | Through the court | Through the SCDMV |
The SCDMV driving record page is where you buy your own record or get a points summary.
CDL and Commercial Driver Records
Commercial drivers face stricter rules. A CDL conviction can affect a livelihood, and many of the usual ticket options are limited for commercial license holders. The court record and the DMV record both matter, since a conviction reported to the DMV can carry points and license consequences.
To get another driver's full record, a requester needs that driver's consent or a permitted use under federal law, which includes certain CDL and employer purposes. A full SCDMV report costs $10, and a points summary is free online.
DUI and DWI Cases
DUI and DWI cases are more serious than a routine ticket. They route to DUI Court, which operates from the same old courthouse building as Central Traffic Court, and they carry criminal handling. A DUI case can involve bond, a criminal record, and license action through the DMV.
Because DUI cases overlap with criminal court, see the arrest records page for how the criminal side works, and the warrant records page if a failure to appear led to a bench warrant.
Deferred Programs and Point Reduction
Some drivers can reduce the impact of a ticket. The Solicitor offers the Traffic Education Program and the Alcohol Education Program, which can affect case outcomes and record eligibility when completed. The SCDMV also has a point reduction path tied to its points system.
These programs are run through the Solicitor's diversion office in the Judicial Center. Completing a program can change how a charge ends, which is why drivers ask about them before a plea. The state SCDMV points system page explains how points and reduction work.
Sealing or Expunging Traffic Records
Some traffic and summary records can be removed. Summary courts must expunge a case that ends in not guilty, dismissal, or nolle prosse, with no fee charged for that step. First-offense magistrate convictions may also qualify under state law.
Most adult expungements run through the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor's expungement services at (803) 785-8037. The expungement and first-offense provisions sit in Title 22, Chapter 5 and the state expungement statutes. For the full process, see the public records page.
Fees for Traffic Record Copies
Copy fees depend on which record you want. A court record copy comes from the court, while a driver record comes from the SCDMV. The table below shows the main fees.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| SCDMV points summary (online) | Free |
| SCDMV full driving record | $10.00 |
| MV-70 mail request for driver information | $10.00 |
| Court certified copy | $5.00 plus $0.25 per page |
For mailed payments to Central Traffic Court, use a money order or cashier's check. Do not mail cash or a personal check.
Note: A paid or disposed court ticket can still produce DMV points or a conviction line, because the driver record is kept separately by the SCDMV.