Municipal Court

The Town of Central Municipal Court is responsible for the adjudication of all misdemeanor offenses/violations of the Town and State laws. These offenses are subject to a fine not exceeding $500.00 or imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both, and which occur within the town limits of Central. Municipal Court is a summary court under the authority of the unified court system of the State of South Carolina.

Staff:

Chief Municipal Judge: R. Murray Hughes

Assistant Municipal Judge: Phillip A. Snow

Clerk of Court/Assistant Judge: Tina Galbreath (864) 639-6381 ext 121

Assist. Clerk of Court/Ministerial Recorder: Danielle Greene (864) 639-6381 ext 132

Fax Number: (864) 639-2610

Hours:

Monday – Friday; 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Mailing Address:

PO Box 549

Central, SC 29630

Street Address:

1067 West Main Street

Central, SC 29630

2013 Holiday Schedule

New Year’s Day - January 1

Martin Luther King Day - January 21

Good Friday – March 29

Memorial Day – May 27

Fourth of July - July 4

Labor Day – September 2

Thanksgiving Holiday - November 28

November 29

Christmas Holiday - December 24

December 25

YOU MAY RESPOND TO THE CITATION ISSUED TO YOU BY:

Appear in court at the appointed time with your Driver’s License if indicated in the violation block on the front side of the summons.
Post a cash bond with the Court prior to the assigned date of trial. If you decide to mail in your bond – mail a personal check, money order or cashier’s check (payable to Central Municipal Court) for the amount of bond. Mailing address: Central Municipal Court, PO Box 549, Central, SC 29630 Town of Central is not responsible for misdirected mail.
Pay bond at Central Town Hall, 1067 W. Main Street, Central, SC, 29630 (cash, personal check, money order, cashier’s check accepted, credit cards (VISA/Mastercard/Discover)
Pay fine online - must enter Case # (warrant/ticket number) and last name. CRIMINAL CASES CANNOT BE PAID ONLINE To look-up your case number go to the Pickens County Public Index.
Appear in Court on the assigned date and time (shown on ticket) and have a trial conducted by the Municipal Judge. The Municipal Court is located within the Central Town Hall, 1067 W. Main Street, Central, SC 29630. Hwy 93 and Cross Creek Rd (entrance to Cross Creek Apartments.)

License Suspensions

If your license is under suspension for an unpaid ticket that was issued by the Central Police Department, you must pay the fine at Central Town Hall. The court will provide you a copy of Form DL-53.

South Carolina Drivers:

You must present in person at a local DMV Office or mail the form DL-53 to:

South Carolina Dept of Motor Vehicles

Driver Records
Drawer 100178
Columbia, South Carolina 29202-3178
Telephone: 803-896-5000

If the compliance is not received in the Driver Records Office before the beginning date of the suspension, a $100.00 reinstatement fee will be required by the State in order for the suspension to be withdrawn.

Out of State Drivers:

You must present or mail the form DL-53 along with any applicable reinstatement fees to the state in which you are a licensed driver. Any questions you may have concerning reinstatement fees or driver license suspension must be directed to your home state.

Bond Hearings

Bond Hearings are conducted at the Central Town Hall, 1067 West Main Street, Central, SC

Monday – Sunday

9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Traffic and Criminal Court

The courtroom is located within the Central Town Hall, 1067 West Main Street, Central, SC

Court is held on the 1^st and 2^nd Wednesdays of each month

Appearing in Municipal Court

Food, drink, bags of any kind (purses, briefcases, backpacks etc) and ALL weapons are strictly prohibited from the building. DO NOT attempt to bring in any prohibited items. Leave these items at home or in your car. The Court will not store prohibited items in the lobby for pick-up.

Court Appearance Attire

Court is a place of buiness and visitors shoud wear clean, fitted clothes. A shirt and shoes are required. Please take your hat off before entering any courtroom. Unacceptable attire includes:

shorts, short skirts or dresses, skorts, cut-offs, baggy pants, flip-flop style shoes
halter/tank tops, low-cut tops, muscle shirts, clothing with offenseive, vulgar, racist, sexist, obscene, suggestive words, slogans, depictions or pictures
sunglasses, helmets or hats

Please observe the following guidelines when you are in the courtroom:

DO NOT approach the judge’s bench without permission
Address the judge as “Your Honor”
When your case is called, go to the podium
Speak only when instructed or given permission
Use formal English, not slang
Do not enter or depart the courtroom excessively

Jury Trials

Notification is sent regarding the specific dates.

Pre-Trial Hearings

Notification is sent regarding the specific dates.

Preliminary Hearings

Notification is sent regarding the specific dates.

Diversion Programs

Pre-Trial Intervention Program

You must apply to the Pre-Trial Intervention Program PRIOR your court date.

Alcohol Education Program

You must be referred tot he Alcohol Education Program PRIOR to your court date.

Applications
Applications are processed when received by the referring court. An application fee is not required for AEP. A $250 participation fee is due at the time of acceptance into the program.

The following items must be presented at the first appointment: