Roane County DUI Bail Information
Understanding bail amounts, the release process, and what happens after a DUI arrest in Roane 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 Roane 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
The Roane County Jail releases inmates in batches, not one at a time. County audits describe intake and release running in fixed cycles "every day and sometimes twice daily" because the facility is overcrowded. If a bondsman finishes the paperwork just after a batch cycle closes, the defendant waits for the next one, often about 12 hours later. A local bonding agent who knows the jail's rhythm can time the submission to land inside a cycle instead of just after it.
Booking happens at 200 E. Race Street in Kingston, the same complex as the courthouse. The booking line is (865) 376-5578. This jail processes arrests for the Sheriff's Office and for every city police department in the county, so the intake queue can be long. A magistrate sets bail after booking, which takes several hours and stretches longer on weekends and holidays.
Tuesday mornings are the worst time to try to bond someone out. Tuesday is General Sessions Court day, and corrections staff spend the morning moving 70 to 100 inmates to the courthouse and running courtroom security. Booking and release operations nearly stop until that settles.
Personal recognizance release is rare for a DUI here. Most people post a cash bond with the clerk or use a bondsman, whose premium is 10 percent of the bond plus administrative fees. You can find a licensed bail bondsman through this site's directory.
When bail is set, the judge often attaches conditions: immediate installation of an ignition interlock, or a SCRAM alcohol monitor, especially on a repeat offense, a high BAC, or a crash. The magistrate gives a short window to get the device installed. Miss it and the bond is revoked and a warrant issues for rearrest. Line up the installer the day you get 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, with time already served usually credited.