Arrested at Bonnaroo? Here’s what to Do Next
It’s no secret that a few of the more than 90,000 fans that attend Bonnaroo, the legendary music and arts festival in Manchester, TN each year will use drugs or get drunk while having fun at the show. The four-day festival attracts performers that are well known along with more up-and-coming acts who perform in open-air venues with massive crowds of people young and old (but mostly young) who are just looking to have a good time. However, those who are planning to attend the festival should be aware that law enforcement is also in attendance in the form of both uniformed and under-cover officers. The increased presence of law enforcement begins hundreds of miles from the venue to all of the highways and roads leading up to the festival.
If you receive a citation
If you receive a citation for a misdemeanor simple possession of drugs, paraphernalia or any other minor criminal offense while at Bonnaroo in Coffee County, TN you will most likely receive a letter from the District Attorney’s office which may give you the option to show up in court or pay a fine, which includes court fees. If your record is clear for the next year, the charges may be dismissed. Once the charges have been dismissed you be able to petition to have the citation expunged from your record. You will need to work with a Tennessee criminal defense attorney to facilitate getting your charges dismissed and filing a petition to get your charges expunged.
What to do if you should get arrested
Do not speak to the police. Don’t answer any of their questions and don’t speak to anyone about the circumstances surrounding your case. Tell them that you need to speak to your attorney.
If you should get arrested at Bonnaroo we can help you if you give us a call. Even if you don’t hire us, be sure to hire an attorney. A single lapse in judgment while you were out having fun with your friends does not have to ruin your future, but you’ve got to work with an attorney who has experience handling these cases summer after summer for dozens of clients before you.
Bonnaroo crime statistics
When you consider that in 2014 there were approximately 90,000 attendees, the arrest numbers are surprisingly low. Most people just come to have a good time, but there are also those who will try to get away with mixing in drug use to their enjoyment of the festival.
In 2014, there were 258 citations issued and 60 arrests made most of which involved drugs and public intoxication. The Sherriff of Coffee County, Steve Graves, reported that there was a lot less violent crime last year and no deaths at Bonnaroo.
To learn more about drug laws or Tennessee’s alcohol-related laws, or to speak with a dedicated criminal defense attorney about charges you are facing, please contact the Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates. You can call us at any time of the day or night, and we will go to see clients who have been taken to the local jail. We also work with festival goers who are not from Tennessee, who need help getting home to their families.