Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2007 Session > Title 23

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Title 23 - Law Enforcement and Public Safety

CHAPTER 19.

SHERIFFS' FEES AND ACCOUNTING WITH SUCCESSOR

ARTICLE 1.

FEES

SECTION 23-19-10. Fees of sheriffs generally.

Except as otherwise expressly provided by general law, the fees and commissions of sheriffs are as follows:

(a) There must be paid as commissions on all monies collected by the sheriff of a county, if under five hundred dollars, seven and one-half percent, and, if over that amount, seven and one-half percent on the first five hundred dollars and three percent on the balance above that amount.

(b) For service of any civil process, not otherwise herein specified, the fee is fifteen dollars for each initial service and five dollars for each attempted service thereafter. However, the sheriff may not charge for more than two attempted services on the same matter so that the party, or his attorney, making the service in the matter may not be charged any more than a maximum total of twenty-five dollars, namely, for two attempted services and one initial or actual service.

(c) For claim and delivery, writs of assistance, distress warrants, orders of seizure, and executions, including all procedural matters related to these processes, the fee is twenty-five dollars.

(d) For mechanics' liens, attachments, citations, decrees, summons, and complaints, the fee is fifteen dollars for each initial service and five dollars for each attempted service thereafter; however, the sheriff may not charge for more than two attempted services on the same matter so that the party, or his attorney, making the service in the matter may not be charged any more than a maximum total of twenty-five dollars, namely, for two attempted services and one initial or actual service. For each subpoena writ, the fee is ten dollars for each initial service and five dollars for each attempted service thereafter; however, the sheriff may not charge for more than two attempted services on the same matter so that the party, or his attorney, making the service in the matter may not be charged any more than a maximum total of twenty dollars, namely, for two attempted services and one initial or actual service.

(e) All additional expenses incurred as a necessary part of the service set forth in items (a), (b), (c), and (d), including, but not limited to, towing fees, wrecker service, storage fees, and fees for publication must be charged at actual cost in addition to the fees set forth above. For the service or execution of papers issued by a magistrate, the sheriff or his deputy serving or executing the same is allowed the same fees as are allowed to constables.

(f) All monies collected under this section must be deposited into the treasury of that county employing the sheriff collecting those monies.

The provisions of this section do not apply to criminal processes or cases.

SECTION 23-19-20. County and municipality charge for federal prisoners.

(A) The sheriffs or jailers of the respective counties of this State may charge an amount per day as provided by contractual agreement with the appropriate federal authority for each person committed to the county jail or another detention facility as a pre-trial federal detainee, pending a judicial hearing or action, as a federal prisoner in transit from or awaiting transfer to another institution, or as a federal inmate serving a sentence imposed by the United States courts.

(B) A contract with the appropriate federal authority for the housing of federal detainees, prisoners, or inmates by a county of this State must also be signed by the sheriff if he is responsible for operating the county jail or detention facility.

(C) A municipality which operates a jail or detention facility may charge an amount per day as provided by contractual agreement with the appropriate federal authority for each person committed to the jail or detention facility as a pre-trial federal detainee pending a judicial hearing or action, as a federal prisoner in transit from or awaiting transfer to another institution, or as a federal inmate serving a sentence imposed by the United States courts.

(D) Any expenditure of the monies contained in this section must be made in accordance with the established procurement procedures of the local government having budget appropriation authority for the jail or detention facility.

ARTICLE 3.

ACCOUNTING WITH SUCCESSOR

SECTION 23-19-110. Furniture, books, papers and other property.

Every sheriff and, if any sheriff be dead, his personal representatives shall turn over to his successor all the furniture appertaining to his office, the original writ book and sale book and the original execution book or a correct certified copy thereof and also all original bonds officially taken by him, all mesne processes not served and all final processes partially or wholly unexecuted. Such successor shall be bound to execute a receipt and a duplicate to be lodged in the clerk's office, specifying the matters and things so received by him and shall be responsible for them. Any such retiring sheriff who has levied upon personal property and not sold it, or his representatives if he be dead, shall deliver any such personal property to his successor at the time of turning over such books, bonds and processes, taking his receipt for it. Such successor may sell such property. The retiring sheriff or his successor neglecting or refusing obedience to the requisitions herein shall, respectively, upon conviction by indictment, be liable to a fine of one thousand dollars or an action may be instituted upon the official bond of any defaulting sheriff in this behalf, for the penalty aforesaid.

SECTION 23-19-120. Commissions on moneys collected and turned over to successor.

The retiring sheriff shall be entitled to retain only one half of the commission allowed by law on moneys collected and turned over to his successor under the provisions of Sections 8-9-30 and 8-9-40 and his successor the other half for paying out such moneys.

SECTION 23-19-130. Penalties for failure to pay over moneys.

If a retiring sheriff or his successor neglects or refuses obedience to any of the requisitions contained in Section 8-9-30, he and the sureties to his official bond shall be liable to pay to the person entitled to receive such money the amount due to such person with interest thereon from the time such successor shall assume the duties of his office at the rate of five per cent per month until the whole amount shall be paid, to be recovered by action.

The retiring sheriff or his successor neglecting or refusing obedience to any of the requisitions contained in said section shall, respectively, upon conviction be liable to a fine of one thousand dollars and imprisonment not exceeding twelve months.

SECTION 23-19-140. Entries of collections in predecessors' cases.

Whenever a sheriff shall collect moneys in cases that have been entered in the books of his predecessors, he shall enter such cases in his own execution book, with an account of the money so collected.