Bryan County DUI Bail Information
Understanding bail amounts, the release process, and what happens after a DUI arrest in Bryan County.
How Bail Bonds Work
Option 1: Cash Bond (Pay Full Amount)
How it works: Pay the full bail amount to the court
Pros: Get full amount back after case concludes (minus court fees)
Cons: Requires full amount upfront
Option 2: Bail Bondsman (Most Common)
How it works: Pay 10-15% fee to bondsman, they post full bail
Cost: Typically 10% of bail amount (non-refundable)
Pros: Only need 10% upfront instead of full amount
Cons: Fee is non-refundable, may require collateral, co-signer assumes liability
Co-Signer Liability Warning
Important for Co-Signers:
- You are 100% liable if defendant does not appear in court
- You must pay the full bail amount if defendant skips
- Bondsman can seize collateral (house, car, etc.)
- You cannot cancel the bond - only the court can
- Liability continues until case is fully resolved
Release Timeline
Arrest & Booking (2-8 hours)
Fingerprinting, photographing, background check, medical screening
Arraignment (Within 24-48 hours)
First court appearance, judge sets bail amount, charges are read
Bail Posted (1-4 hours)
Family contacts bondsman, paperwork signed, fee paid
Release (2-6 hours)
Processing, release paperwork, return of personal property, court date assigned
Total Time Estimate
From arrest to release: 12-48 hours depending on booking workload, time of arrest (weekends take longer), and how quickly bail is posted.
After Release: Critical Deadlines
1. Request MVD Hearing - 30 Days
You have only 30 days from arrest to request your administrative license hearing. This is separate from your criminal case.
2. Retrieve Your Vehicle
Impound fees accrue daily. Get your car as soon as possible to avoid hundreds in storage fees.
Calculate Impound Costs3. Contact a Bail Bondsman
Need fast release in Bryan County? Contact a verified 24/7 Bail Bondsman to start the release process immediately.
Find a Bondsman4. Appear at ALL Court Dates
Missing court will result in bond forfeiture, arrest warrant, and additional charges. Your co-signer will be liable for the full bail amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arrange a ride out of the Pembroke jail before you start the release. Fort Stewart splits Bryan County in two, and most DUI arrests happen in Richmond Hill in the south, where the car gets towed to a lot in Savannah. The driver, meanwhile, rides 45 minutes north to the Bryan County Detention Center in Pembroke. You come out of that jail into a rural county seat with no public transit and unreliable rideshare, roughly 40 miles from your car, while storage fees run. A family member or the bondsman needs to be ready to drive you straight to the Savannah lot.
The jail is at 95 Sgt. Robert W. Crapse Drive in Pembroke. The number is 912-653-3800. It holds only 68 people, so a multi-agency checkpoint can flood the booking desk and slow everything down.
Don't send the bondsman too early
Booking has to finish and the NCIC warrant check has to clear before any bond can post. If a bondsman shows up before that, the jail rejects the bond and the agent has to wait or leave and come back. Wait until the defendant calls from the holding cell confirming they're booked and a specific bond amount is set, then dispatch the agent. The jail also freezes processing during shift changes, headcounts, and meals.
The three ways to pay
A cash bond is the full amount to the jail, the fastest route, refunded at the end of the case if every court date is met. A first DUI bond generally runs $1,500 to $2,500; a second is $2,500 or more and climbs with a high BAC or priors. When the bond is on the schedule, a bondsman can post it right after booking without the 48-hour wait for a judge.
A surety bond runs through a licensed bondsman for a nonrefundable premium, 12 to 15 percent of the bond by state regulation. You can find a licensed bondsman through the directory on this site.
A property bond uses equity in real estate, needs tax records and a warranty deed, and has to be approved by the Sheriff. It's the slowest option.
Personal recognizance release, no money down, is very rare for a DUI.