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 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.
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