Bail in DUI Arrests
Drivers arrested on suspicion of DUI / DWI are either released on their own recognizance (OR) or must remain in custody until bail can be posted. Bail in DUI arrests is set just as in any other criminal case. Most counties have a bail schedule that specifies how much bail is required for each offense.
Most jurisdictions will release drunk driving suspects on their own recognizance, meaning the driver will not have to post bail. Under the DUI / DWI bail schedule, suspects are typically required to remain in jail for a certain number of hours and are released only when police are certain that the driver is sober. This is required to protect the arresting agency from liability – if an accused drunk driver injured someone in an accident after being released from custody, the arresting agency may be held partially responsible.
Even though many jurisdictions release DUI offenders on OR, others require accused drunk drivers to post bail, even for misdemeanor offenses. Consult your local DUI laws & penalties. Drivers who refused to submit to a chemical test, who had a blood or breath alcohol level (BAC) of .20 percent or greater, or who caused an accident or injury are most likely to be required to post bail.
Felony driving under the influence cases will always require that the motorist post bail. Generally, a felony DUI arrest will require bail of $100,000 or more. Bail bond firms typically require a down payment of 10 percent of the bail amount in order to secure a driver’s release.
The most important issue for anyone arrested for DUI / DWI is hiring an expert attorney to protect the driver’s rights. A skilled defense lawyer can help find a bail bond firm and immediately draft a proven strategy to fight a drunk driving charge. The experienced attorneys of www.NotDrunk.com will work hard to minimize or even eliminate the consequences of a drunk driving arrest.