Loudon County DUI Bail Information
Understanding bail amounts, the release process, and what happens after a DUI arrest in Loudon 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 - 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 Loudon 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
A DUI arrest in Loudon County means booking at the Loudon County Jail inside the Justice Center at 12680 Hwy 11 W, Suite 1, in Lenoir City. The booking line is (865) 986-6612, and you can check custody status at the county's online inmate portal.
Nobody is bailed out the moment they arrive. First comes a medical screening, a property inventory, fingerprinting, and a breath or blood test if one wasn't already done at a hospital. Only after that does a magistrate or judicial commissioner set the bail amount, based on the charge, prior record, and flight risk. Start to finish, expect anywhere from 4 to 12 hours.
Then there is the sobering hold. Tennessee jails will not release someone arrested for an alcohol offense until their blood alcohol drops below a set level or a holding period, usually 8 to 12 hours, has run. This applies even after a bond is fully posted. A bondsman can have the paperwork ready so the release happens the minute the hold lifts, but the hold itself does not move.
Timing matters in another way. The jail freezes release processing during shift changes, roughly 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., for headcounts and briefings. Paperwork submitted in that window sits until the change is done. On late weekend nights, the judicial commissioner who has to set bail in the first place may not be available until morning, which stalls everything regardless of how fast a bondsman moves.
A DUI first offense can qualify for release on personal recognizance, no money down, but that is entirely up to the reviewing magistrate and depends heavily on your ties to the area and your record. The jail also takes a cash bond directly at the booking window, usually in exact change.
If you use a bondsman, the fee is a non-refundable 10 percent of the bond. Several agencies sit within a mile of the Justice Center on the same highway, so it is realistic to call more than one and compare financing terms before committing. You can find a licensed bail bondsman through this site's directory.
While you wait, stay off the jail grounds. Free parking is available in the visitor lots, but people who linger near the secure bays or try to signal inmates get trespass warnings. Wait at a business on Highway 11 until the bondsman confirms the person is walking out.
A first DUI conviction in Tennessee carries a mandatory minimum of 48 hours in jail, seven consecutive days if the BAC was 0.20 or higher. Time served before you posted bond usually counts toward it.