Sullivan County working to resolve ‘deficiency’ in DUI cases
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Officials in Sullivan County are looking to change how some drunken driving arrests are made after finding a “deficiency” in the criminal process that has led to charges being dismissed in several cases and threatened in others.
The Kingsport Times-News reports (http://bit.ly/1IF0268) the county’s criminal judges say that some DUI arrests and prosecutions taking place during after-hours have progressed without following a legal procedural step that includes getting a magistrate’s approval.
Local judges attended the county commission’s work session last week to plead for a fix.
The commission is expected to consider a resolution to appoint four magistrates, who would be on call at night and on weekends and holidays and would meet face-to-face with arresting officers to approve or deny their causes to support the arrests.
