Bedford County DUI Bail Information
Understanding bail amounts, the release process, and what happens after a DUI arrest in Bedford 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 Implied Consent Hearing - 20 Days
You have only 20 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 Bedford 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
You cannot call the Bedford County Jail and be put through to talk to someone in custody. The facility blocks all inbound calls to inmates. The person has to call out, collect or on a prepaid account, and the fastest way to learn charges and a bond amount is to have a bondsman query the booking desk. The jail's general line is (931) 684-4566.
Booking happens at the Bedford County Justice Complex, 110 Northcreek Drive in Shelbyville. The courthouse is next door at 108 Northcreek Drive, so the bondsman, the intake desk, and the magistrate are all in the same footprint, which cuts the delays common in counties where the jail and courts are miles apart.
Expect a mandatory sobering hold of 8 to 12 hours before a magistrate will even set bail. A first-offense DUI is a Class A misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum of 48 hours in jail, or seven consecutive days if the BAC was 0.20 or higher. Release on recognizance is rare. Most people post a cash bond with the court or use a bondsman, whose premium is 10 percent of the bond. If the DUI happened while the person was already out on bail for something else, state law forces heavy judicial scrutiny, and the court often denies bail or sets a much higher amount with monitoring conditions attached.
Timing matters. Administrative processing stops during shift changes, around 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., for headcounts. A bond posted right in that window means the release waits until the incoming shift finishes.
You can find a licensed bail bondsman through this site's directory.
24-Hour Bedford County Bail Bondsmen
If you or someone you know was arrested for DUI in Bedford County, a licensed bail bond agent can arrange release once bail is set. Below are bail bond businesses serving Bedford County, TN; paid listings are advertisements and ratings are from Google. Confirm an agent's state license, and get the fee and any collateral terms in writing before you sign or pay.
These are free, unclaimed business listings compiled from public sources. They have not been verified or reviewed by DUI Guide, are not paid advertisements, and listing order does not reflect quality or recommendation. Is this your business? You can claim your listing for free.