South Carolina § 61-8-20 - Arrest warrants and search warrants.

§ 61-8-20. Arrest warrants and search warrants.

Any person may appear before a magistrate in the county and swear out an arrest warrant on personal knowledge or on information and belief charging a nuisance, giving the names of witnesses against the keeper or manager of the place and his aides and assistants, if any. The magistrate must direct the arrest warrant either to the sheriff of the county or to a special constable commanding the defendant to be arrested and brought before him to be dealt with according to law and may issue a search warrant in which the premises in question must be particularly described, commanding the sheriff or constable to search thoroughly the premises in question and to seize all alcoholic liquors found thereon, to seize all vessels, bar fixtures, screens, bottles, glasses, and appurtenances apparently used or suitable for use in retailing liquors, and to make a complete inventory thereof and deposit it with the sheriff. Liquors so seized must, if no action to recover them is begun within thirty days after the seizure or if an action is begun and the judgment of the court is adverse to the plaintiff, be destroyed publicly by the sheriff of the county.

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 415, SECTION 1.