Gwinnett County DUI Bail Guide
Bail amounts, how bonds work, and what to expect when getting released from Gwinnett County jail in Lawrenceville.
Last verified: September 5, 2026
DUI Bail Amounts
| Offense | Bail |
|---|---|
| 1st Offense DUI | $1,000 - $5,000 |
| 2nd Offense (within 10 yrs) | $5,000 - $10,000 |
| 3rd+ Offense (Felony) | $10,000 - $25,000+ |
| High BAC (0.15+) | $3,000 - $7,500 |
| With Child Passenger | $10,000+ |
Amounts vary by criminal history, BAC level, and circumstances. Bondsman fee: 10-15% (non-refundable). O.C.G.A. 40-6-391 governs DUI offenses in Georgia.
Where to Post Bail
How Bail Bonds Work
The Process
Contact a bondsman
Available 24/7
Pay 10-15% fee
Non-refundable
Bondsman posts bail
They guarantee the court
You're released
Must attend all court dates
Co-Signer Warning
If you co-sign, you are legally responsible if the defendant fails to appear.
- 100% liable for full bail amount
- Collateral (house, car) can be seized
- Cannot cancel once signed
Release Timeline
Booking
2-8 hrsFingerprints, photos, background check
First Appearance
24-48 hrsJudge sets bail amount
Bail Posted
1-4 hrsPaperwork signed, fee paid
Release
2-6 hrsProperty returned
Booking
2-8 hours
Fingerprints, photos, background check
First Appearance
24-48 hours
Judge sets bail amount
Bail Posted
1-4 hours
Paperwork signed
Release
2-6 hours
Property returned
Total: 12-48 Hours
Weekends and holidays take longer at Gwinnett County Detention Center.
FAQ
A DUI arrest in Gwinnett County goes to the Detention Center at 2900 University Parkway in Lawrenceville. Most first-time DUI defendants are eligible for bond, and anyone who can post it quickly may be released before ever seeing a judge. If bond isn't posted, a Magistrate judge reviews it within 48 to 72 hours, usually over a video link from the jail rather than in a courtroom. Chief Magistrate Kristina Hammer Blum's court runs those hearings around the clock.
Georgia's Senate Bill 63, in effect since July 2024, changed what a judge can do at that hearing. More than 30 misdemeanor offenses now require a secured cash or surety bond, with no option for release on signature alone, and a Failure to Appear is one of them. Miss a later court date and the next arrest comes with a mandatory financial bond. The same law caps any person or group that isn't a licensed bonding company at three cash bonds per year, which has closed off the charitable bail funds that used to cover people who couldn't afford a bondsman's premium.
That premium is set by state law at no more than 15% of the bond amount, and it's a fee for service that doesn't come back regardless of how the case ends. Posting the full cash bond directly avoids the bondsman, but the county keeps a share as an administrative fee when the case closes, and the refund goes only to whoever is named on the original receipt.
Getting personal property back from the jail runs on a strict appointment system. The Sheriff's Property and Evidence Unit at the University Parkway address requires scheduling at least 24 hours ahead by phone at 770-513-5260 or by email, and walk-ins are turned away. Build that delay into any plan that depends on retrieving keys, a wallet, or a phone.
One more trap worth knowing before the case even gets going: missing a calendar call in Superior or State Court is treated as a failure to appear. The judge issues a bench warrant and the bond is forfeited, so a co-signer who pledged property to secure that bond is suddenly exposed to the full amount.
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