Polk County DUI Bail Information
Understanding bail amounts, the release process, and what happens after a DUI arrest in Polk 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 Polk 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
Posting a cash bond the minute someone arrives at the Polk County Jail doesn't get them out any faster if they're still drunk. The jail holds an impaired person until their blood alcohol drops to a safe level, no matter how quickly the money is paid. Alcohol leaves the body at a fixed rate, and pushing the bond through early just means waiting in the lobby longer.
The jail is at 1676 Rockmart Highway in Cedartown. The booking line is (770) 748-3732. Booking, entering the person into the digital system, verifying criminal history, logging property, takes at least 45 minutes and often several hours, and a bondsman can't start any paperwork until that's done.
One thing this location has going for it: the Georgia DDS office is next door at 1626 Rockmart Highway. A released defendant can walk straight from the jail to the DDS to start the license paperwork without arranging a ride anywhere.
Contacting someone inside
The jail's communication system is locked down. Regular mail to inmates is not accepted, only privileged legal correspondence. Written messages go through Smart Jail Mail kiosks in the housing units. Video visits run on Securus and need 24 hours' notice. None of that helps in the first hours after an arrest, so bond coordination has to happen by phone to the jail's bonding desk or through a retained attorney.
Paying the bond
DUI is a bail-restricted offense in Georgia, so release on your own recognizance isn't available. It takes cash, property, or a bondsman. If the officer set a bond on the schedule, it can be posted right away. If there's an aggravating factor, an accident, a suspended license, a child in the car, or a prior DUI, the case waits for a magistrate, and that hearing must happen within 48 hours of a warrantless arrest.
A cash bond goes to the jail directly and comes back at the end of the case if every court date is met. A surety bond runs through a bondsman for a nonrefundable premium, 12 to 15 percent of the bond by state regulation. Polk County is served by regional bondsmen covering the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit; you can find one through the directory on this site.