Bonnaroo 2017 CitationTalk to a Lawyer Now (615) 829-8259

If you have landed on this page there is a good chance you have been charged with a crime as a result of attending Bonnaroo, or traveling through one of our well patrolled Tennessee counties en route to Bonnaroo. Often law enforcement will elect to write a citation for the charge instead of making an arrest. Arrests take longer and result in that officer or trooper being unable to patrol for the period of time it takes to make the arrest, fill out reports and drive the person charged to the jail. If you were arrested, it likely means you were charged with a felony.
Only with misdemeanor charges may an officer issue a citation. However, some misdemeanor charges could have been charged as felonies if the officer had elected to do so. Our Tennessee attorneys have handled hundreds of Bonnaroo cases, in Coffee County and all across the state. Having a lawyer before court will ensure your case is resolved appropriately and possibly with one court appearance only – a substantial savings if you are traveling from out of state. Possession of Marijuana over ½ an ounce for example can be charged as a felony, however unless it is a very large quantity, it is unlikely the officer will make an arrest if it is a Bonnaroo stop. Although it is entirely understandable to be frustrated when profiled, it is in your best interest to be respectful and polite. Whether to issue a citation or make an arrest is discretionary and your frustration could lead to your arrest if not contained. Our lawyers have had clients with a pound of marijuana given a written citation and in contrast had clients with very small amounts arrested. Felonies must result in an arrest. Having a limited amount of time to work, arrests are generally reserved by law enforcement for the larger drug busts or when an officer decides to teach a lesson.

By far, the most frequent charge for Bonnaroo attendees is simple possession. Here is a short list of common offenses. We have also provided information on how to keep the TN conviction off your record. 

–       Simple Possession

Simple possession of drugs in Tennessee is a Class A Misdemeanor which is punishable by up to 11 months, 29 days in jail, fines, and court costs. If you have two or more prior convictions, simple possession may be charged as a felony in Tennessee. 

–       Possession of Drug Paraphernalia 

The possession of drug paraphernalia is a very broadly worded TN law which is often liberally construed. We have had clients charged with paraphernalia when marijuana was contained in a plastic baggie. The officer unsuccessfully tried to argue the plastic baggie was drug paraphernalia. (Class A Misdemeanor – Maximum Sentence 11 months, 29 days in jail, fines and court costs)

–       Possession with Intent to Manufacture, Deliver or Sell 

Possession with the intent to manufacture, deliver or sell is often charged in Tennessee when the amount of the drug exceeds certain pre-determined amounts, regardless of whether evidence of intent to resell or distribute is present. Possession of marijuana over 1/2 ounce is often charged as a felony, even if clearly a simple possession situation. (Felony – Classification dependent upon the type of drug and amount – See “What are scheduled drugs?” for more information

–       D.U.I. (Driving Under the Influence)

In Tennessee, driving under the influence is not limited to alcohol but rather any intoxicant, including properly taken prescription medicines and marijuana. DUI is an enhanceable offense, meaning each prior conviction enhances punishment. Mandatory jail time is included for even a first offense, and the mandatory minimum jail time increases for each prior conviction.

–       Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct has a very specific definition however because the name of the offense seems to imply not obeying orders, officer’s sometimes use the charge as a way of punishing someone for not following their orders, regardless of whether the persons’ conduct meets the definition of disorderly conduct. (See: What is, and what is Not, Disorderly Conduct)

Unfortunately, for most situations, those who have received a drug possession charge will be required to come back to Tennessee to resolve the charge. If you would like to keep the charge off your record, it will require multiple court appearances unless you hire an attorney.

Call our defense lawyers today if you would like to discuss your situation. We don’t charge to discuss your situation and hopefully can put your mind at ease while you enjoy Bonnaroo.

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424 Church St, Suite 2120A
Nashville, Tennessee 37219

Phone: (615) 829-8259

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I was given Joel's contact info from a friend, and called him in regard to an issue that one of my children's friends were going through at the time. He answered on the first call, was friendly, knowledgeable, and honest. I don't know that you could ask for any better criteria than the aforementioned qualities when seeking someone's expertise in the criminal defense field. I highly recommend giving Joel Crim a call if you find yourself in need of his services.read more
forrest hewes
forrest hewes
22:23 05 Jan 23
Joel is an A+ attorney but even better than that when we talk it feels like I am talking to a friend and that is rare. This guy has had long phone conversations with me and I never felt like he was trying to get rich off my bad luck. He always answers texts. He consulted with me for over a year on a legal matter I knew would eventually come to a head. My case is ongoing so I won't get into the details. I am a worrier but this is something that I am not worried a bit about. When I got arrested and had to sit in jail I never worried a min and a few days in. He came to tell me he not only worked out a great outcome but he got my court date moved up and that I could get out the very next day and thats exactly what happened. I know he has a ton of clients but never once did he make me feel like what I needed wasn't important. I would have thought I was his only client. I really consider him a friend now and I know if he's on my side he will go above and beyond and get the best possible outcome that there can be. I am so thankful for him. If you choose Joel you won't be disappointed. I wish I could give him 100 stars but 5 will have to do.Joel, if you ever need me for anything just say the word I am forever in your debt.read more
Jeffrey Moreland
Jeffrey Moreland
17:46 10 Oct 22
god is good Letts do dhe right thing do what dhe law say
Miguel Camarillo cuellar
Miguel Camarillo cuellar
19:58 17 Oct 21
Joel is the best! He is laid back, cool, and understanding, but also very professional and gets the job done quickly. I cannot thank him enough and would recommend him to anyone in need of a criminal defense attorney!
Sam Goldman
Sam Goldman
20:29 05 Aug 21
I’ve had Joel represent me a few times on some matters and he has always been awesome and ALWAYS comes back with the best news!!! Joel is Cool & funny , but also serious and will get the job done !!!! I highly suggest calling and having Joel represent you ! I will NEVER call anybody else and that’s a fact! Thank you Joelread more
Jason RODRIGUEZ
Jason RODRIGUEZ
15:24 16 Jul 21
I have known Joel Crim for years now. There has been many instances where I looked to him for legal council for not just me, but for my close family members, my clients, and also friends. He has helped them all as if they were me and I did not have to worry and it was already known there would be excellent feedback. Many times he has guided me on legal matters just for my well being. Never looking for a way to make money from a dire situation, but more than once has brought me out of troubled scenarios and only asked for me to buy him lunch when I was in financial hardship. He has gone over and beyond what I’ve asked him to do, with my best interests in mind above all else. I have found myself in a few sticky situations in my younger years and he helped to make light of those grim circumstances and then handled them in the most professional way possible in the courtroom, guiding me along the way and saving my life into adulthood in the process. Legal matters can be very concerning and detrimental to ones livelihood and I can say I enjoyed working with him throughout each and every endeavor. He always made sure that I had the optimal outcome in every situation for me and those closest to me that were referred to him. I recommend him to the people that I care about most, without a doubt in my mind they are in the best hands in the business.read more
Paul Mercer
Paul Mercer
02:06 21 Apr 20
I do not even know where to start! Joel is the absolute best lawyer I have ever met. I spoke to many lawyers after being arrested for a spurious felony charge by MNPD. After speaking to Joel it was clear that he was my guy. I was initially afraid but speaking to Joel was so comforting, I felt like I was speaking to family. He took care of me and knew exactly what to do. My case was dismissed and is now in the process of being expunged. Joel is excellent at communicating, has years of experience in Nashville, Knows exactly what to do, is very kind, humble, and you won't find anyone more fair.read more
Nathan Blond
Nathan Blond
04:07 17 Nov 18
Mr. Crim expertly handled my case and went out of his way to describe my options in great detail. I would not turn to any other lawyer in the Nashville area to handle my cases. Very experienced and knowledgeable on the Law!read more
Frank Gorman
Frank Gorman
10:52 04 Jul 18
Joel Crim has handled a couple of cases for me in the last three years. Both times, he returned my initial calls promptly, got the necessary information, and got right to work. He was very honest with me and provided good advice based on his prior experience. Both cases were resolved quickly and in a satisfactory manner.read more
Mac Ruderer
Mac Ruderer
14:58 03 Apr 18
As my first experience in the world of attorneys, I think Joel was the best I could have found. He was easy to reach by phone email and even text messaging and promptly got back to me. He was able to explain my case in a way I could understand and put my worries at ease by answering all of my questions. He critically assessed my case, presented me with all of my options, and ultimately left the decisions up to me. Joel sees value value in clients and works to vindicate them. I am so grateful for his hard work and help.read more
Melanie Jade
Melanie Jade
20:02 04 Feb 13