How a DUI case moves through Sullivan County

1. Arrest and booking

DUI arrests on the Tennessee side of Bristol are made by the Bristol Tennessee Police Department, the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, or the Tennessee Highway Patrol. People arrested in Sullivan County are generally booked at the jail at the Sullivan County Justice Center, 140 Blountville Bypass in Blountville. Bond is set before release. If a test was refused, there is usually a separate implied consent citation.

Family members can call the Sheriff's Office at 423-279-7500 to ask whether someone is in custody and how bond can be posted.

2. The first appearance in General Sessions Court

Misdemeanor DUI cases begin in Sullivan County General Sessions Court. The county holds General Sessions court in Bristol, Kingsport, and Blountville; for arrests in Bristol, the court is usually at the Bristol Justice Center, 801 Anderson Street. The location and date are on your paperwork.

At or around the first appearance, the court may address:

• appointed counsel, if you ask and qualify;
• bond conditions;
• the implied consent charge, if a test was refused (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-406(d)(4)).

3. Resolution in General Sessions, or bind-over

A misdemeanor DUI can be resolved in General Sessions Court, by a plea or a bench trial. A defendant can also waive to the grand jury, or the case can be bound over after a preliminary hearing. Cases that are bound over, and felony DUI cases (a fourth or later offense), are heard in Criminal Court at the Sullivan County Justice Center in Blountville. The prosecutor in all of these courts is the District Attorney General for the Second Judicial District.

4. Sentencing

Tennessee DUI sentences include mandatory minimum jail time, fines, and a driving prohibition. A person sentenced to jail for DUI must begin serving within 30 days of the conviction, or as soon as space becomes available (§ 55-10-402(f)). See the penalties guide.

5. Driving again

The judge can order a restricted license, often with an ignition interlock. The order goes to a Driver Services Center within 10 days; for Bristol that is the Blountville center. See the restricted license guide.

Contacts

The local resources page lists every office above with an official address and phone number. Call ahead: hours and courtrooms can change.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Procedures, penalties, and deadlines can change; confirm with the court or a licensed attorney.