Bibb County DUI Guide

DUI Arrest in Bibb County, GA: Complete Guide

Being arrested for DUI in Bibb County can be overwhelming. Unlike neighboring Houston County with its newer facilities, Bibb County's DUI infrastructure, while more mature, is often burdened with older facilities and a higher density of indigent defendants. This guide provides immediate, practical information to navigate the process, from understanding the booking procedures at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center to navigating the complexities of license suspension and vehicle impoundment. We'll focus on the unique aspects of Bibb County's system, helping you understand what to expect.

Immediate Steps (First 24 Hours)

After a DUI arrest in Bibb County, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) initiates a standardized protocol. The arresting deputy will likely have stopped you for a traffic violation or at a safety checkpoint, potentially on Eisenhower Parkway. Here's a timeline of what to expect in the first 24 hours:

• Field Sobriety Tests: Deputies are trained to administer the NHTSA-approved Field Sobriety Tests: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand. These tests form the basis for "probable cause" for your arrest.
• Implied Consent Warning: After being handcuffed, the deputy is required to read the Georgia Implied Consent Notice. You will be asked to submit to a chemical test of your blood, breath, or urine.
• Consent: If you agree to a breath test, you'll likely be transported to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) for a breath test on the Intoxilyzer 9000.
• Refusal: If you refuse, your physical driver's license will be seized, and you'll be issued a DDS-1205 form, which acts as a 45-day temporary permit and notice of intent to suspend your license for one year. Note that BCSO deputies may seek an electronic search warrant to compel a blood draw in cases involving serious injury or during "No Refusal" campaigns.
• Booking at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC): All custodial arrests in Macon-Bibb are processed at the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center, located at 668 Oglethorpe Street, Macon, GA 31201. You can contact them at (478) 746-9441.
• Sally Port and Search: You'll be taken into the secure sally port and subjected to a pat-down search.
• Medical Screening: A nurse will evaluate you. If your BAC is excessively high (over 0.25 or 0.30) or you show signs of drug overdose, the jail might refuse acceptance until you're cleared by a hospital, potentially delaying the process.
• Property Intake: Your belongings will be cataloged, and cash deposited into a kiosk system for your inmate account. Importantly, access to your cell phone numbers may be restricted until booking is complete.
• Phone Calls: You'll likely have access to a collect-call phone in a holding cell after the booking process.
• Bond: Bibb County utilizes a bond schedule for misdemeanor DUI offenses, allowing booking officers to set a bond amount based on the charge, provided you have no other holds.
• Inmate Search: The BCSO maintains an online inmate search portal updated approximately every 30 minutes. This allows bondsmen and families to track when booking is finalized and a bond amount is set.
• Mailing Inmates: Notably, inmate mail is screened by a third-party vendor in Florida to prevent contraband. Mail should be sent to: Incarcerated Name & ID #, Bibb County GA, PO BOX 25414, Tampa, FL 33622.

Critical Deadlines

• ALR Hearing Deadline: You have only 30 days from the date of the DDS-1205 form to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing to challenge your license suspension.
• Court Appearance Date: Your court date will be on the citation you received at the time of arrest.
• License Suspension Timeline: If you don't request an ALR hearing within 30 days, your license will be suspended on the 46th day after the DDS-1205 form was served.

DUI Enforcement in Bibb County

The Bibb County Sheriff's Office actively enforces DUI laws. While specific DUI arrest statistics are not provided, the research data indicates that DUI arrests follow a rigid protocol. Expect to encounter deputies at traffic stops for moving violations or at safety checkpoints, potentially on Eisenhower Parkway. "No Refusal" enforcement campaigns, where deputies seek electronic search warrants to compel blood draws, are also utilized, especially in cases involving serious injury.

Local Resources

• Bibb County Court Information: Court phone: 727-582-6200 (non-emergency). Court address: Sheriff’s Administration Building: 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33778. Sheriff’s North District Station: 2496 Bayshore Boulevard, Dunedin, FL 34698. (Note: This address appears to be incorrect and possibly for another county. Verify before using.)
• Bibb County Law Enforcement Center (LEC): 668 Oglethorpe Street, Macon, GA 31201. Booking Phone: (478) 746-9441.
• Bibb County Sheriff’s Support Operations Bureau: 111 Third Street, Suite 1A (for vehicle hold releases).
• Records Division Phone: (478) 310-4119 (for locating impounded vehicles).
• Traffic Division Phone: (478) 803-2586 (District 4 Traffic) (for locating impounded vehicles).
• Bonding Agencies (near LEC): All-State Bonding (665 Oglethorpe St), Anytime Bail Bonding (939 Second St).
• SCRAM Providers: ProntoTrak, A 2nd Chance Monitoring (for pretrial release conditions).

What Makes Bibb County Different

Bibb County has several unique aspects to its DUI process:

• Mature but Burdened Infrastructure: Unlike newer systems in neighboring counties, Bibb County’s older facilities and higher density of indigent defendants can impact case processing times. The State Court docket requires intricate management of probation revocation and diversion compliance.
• Inmate Mail Screening: All inmate mail is routed through a third-party vendor in Tampa, Florida, to prevent contraband. Ensure you send mail to: Incarcerated Name & ID #, Bibb County GA, PO BOX 25414, Tampa, FL 33622.
• Bond Hearings: Bond hearings for incarcerated defendants are conducted virtually via video conferencing between the jail and the judge at the J. Taylor Phillips Courthouse (601 Mulberry Street, Room 401).
• Bond Schedules and Indigency: While Bibb County uses a bond schedule for misdemeanor DUIs, this has been modified to account for indigency, meaning you may be entitled to a hearing to determine your ability to pay if you cannot afford the scheduled bond.
• Vehicle Impoundment: You cannot choose your own tow truck. The BCSO uses a rotation list, and the wrecker service must respond within approximately 30 minutes. Contact the Records Division at (478) 310-4119 or the Traffic Division at (478) 803-2586 to locate your vehicle if you lost the tow slip.

To determine if there is a hold on your vehicle after a DUI arrest in Bibb County, you must go to the Sheriff’s Support Operations Bureau at 111 Third Street, Suite 1A, to obtain a written release. Bring your driver’s license, title/registration, and proof of insurance.