Alcohol-related offenses, mostly DUI, assault, and drug possession dominate criminal court dockets in Robertson County. All three kinds of arrests increase during the winter holidays. That’s especially true of DUI. Alcohol consumption doubles between Thanksgiving and New Years. Police officers know this, which is why they are extra vigilant in this area during this time. Binge drinking is common as well. The average employee uses at least two sick days during the winter holidays because s/he is too hung over to work (hush, we promise not to tell).

Many people say they drink to take the edge off family gatherings which are often uncomfortable. Since this is the first normal Christmas we’ve had in a while since the first Covid-19 lockdown, many folks may be tempted to reach for the bottle even faster this year. Assault and drug possession incidents will probably increase as well. Heated arguments can get a bit too heated during the holiday stress season. And, if one party-goer has an illegal pill or other illegal drug, police officers usually arrest all partygoers for possession.

Two of the three crimes on the naughty list are nonviolent crimes. And the third one, assault, rarely involves serious injury. So, if you are arrested, the Montgomery County bail bonds professionals at Fizer Bonding Company can almost always quickly arrange for a “get your tail outta jail fast” bail bond. A bail bond is a lot like an insurance policy. So, we get you out of jail for a fraction of the cash bond amount. Furthermore, we have the lowest cost bail bonds and some of the easiest release terms in Tennessee. Finally, we answer your questions about the criminal law bail bonding process, so you know what to expect.

However, everything is amped up during the winter holidays. Loud parties in December are bigger and noisier than loud parties in March. As a result, when officers arrive, it is more likely that some illegal activity is going on. Therefore, officers are more likely to make arrests instead of simply sending people home and/or threatening to call parents.

Injury assaults often happen at these gatherings, mostly because the participants are usually at least half drunk. For political and/or liability reasons, if there is any evidence that an assault happened, at least one participant usually goes straight to jail. Most police departments have mandatory arrest policies in domestic battery situations. As for liability, if police refuse to make an arrest and something more serious happens, the victim could sue the police department.

Such cases often do not hold up in court. Frequently, the alleged victim loses interest in the case and refuses to cooperate with prosecutors. Many prosecutors reason that if the alleged victim cares little about the matter, they should not prioritize it.

Disturbance-related drug possession cases, which were also mentioned above, are similar in many ways. Although most people now see drug use as a health and safety issue, most officers react based on the conviction that it’s a criminal law issue. They are often more than willing to flex their muscles in this area than if they simply saw a few beers being enjoyed by holiday goers.

However, these cases often don’t hold up in court either. Prosecutors must prove more than proximity to the drugs. They must also establish knowledge and control. These elements are difficult to prove if the arrest took place at a large, busy party.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has affixed its seal of approval to DUI roadblocks, as long as they meet certain conditions:

You have rights at a DUI checkpoint. Motorists need not answer questions or even roll down their windows, as long as they comply with basic “license and registration please” commands.

Incidentally, if officers have reasonable suspicion of additional criminal activity, and reasonable suspicion is basically an evidence-based hunch, they may ask for permission to search the car or even detain the motorist until they obtain a warrant.

An informal STEP campaign is basically an all-hands-on-deck local enforcement effort. Supervisors take officers off their normal duties, send them to a certain area of town, and tell them to write as many speeding, DUI, or other citations as possible.

These informal campaigns usually boost arrest figures. However, there are issues when these cases go to court. Many jurors respond negatively to “dragnet” arrests. Furthermore, inexperienced officers often have problems administering the field tests in a DUI, identifying the aggressor in an assault, and so on.

Government grants usually pay officer overtime and other expenses associated with formal STEP campaigns. These efforts usually have marketing labels, like “Click It or Ticket.” Additionally, a formal STEP campaign might last the entire winter holiday season as opposed to a night or a weekend.

The same problems mentioned above often plague these arrests. Moreover, officers often feel intense pressure to make arrests and justify the program’s expense. As a result, there may be detainment or arrest shortcuts that prove problematic down the road.

For your holiday bondsman and more information about how to have a safe and happy holiday season, contact the Clarksville, TN bail bondsmen at Fizer Bonding Company. We’ll get your holiday tail outta jail so you can continue to enjoy the holiday cheer. Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, from the Fizer Bonding Company Family. We are a family owned and operated bail bonds company with over 30 years of experience and offer fast, courteous and 24/7 service! We currently serve the 19th judicial district of Robertson and Montgomery counties and our main office is in Springfield, TN but we service the entire Robertson & Montgomery counties including Clarksville, TN and White House, TN.  See our Areas Served page for more information. Fizer Bonding Company is a proud member of the Tennessee Association of Professional Bail Agents.

Fizer Bonding Company in Montgomery County Tennessee

(931) 449-9351

Fizer Bonding Company in Robertson County Tennessee

(615) 667-1109

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