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How can we prevent drinking and driving?

While the statistics might seem bleak, DUI prevention is possible. If you are under the legal drinking age of 21, the best DUI prevention plan is not to drink at all. Whatever your age, if you decide to drink, you can follow these DUI prevention tips to keep you safe on the roads.

• If you’re drinking, choose someone who isn’t as a designated driver
• You can ask for ride.
• Protect your friends by taking their keys if they try to drive after drinking alcohol.
• At parties, serve food and keep an eye on guests who might be drinking too much. Call cabs or arrange for a sober driver to take them home.
• Keep alcohol out of hands of minors.

Prevention for DUI is possible following the above tips. As before, the best way to prevent a DUI is to not drink at all.

What is the punishment for drunk and drive?

Additionally, you might also be required to complete a program to correct the behavior that led to the DWI. Failure to complete the program risks loss of license.

For minors charged with a DUI, the charge is a Class C misdemeanor. It’s unlikely a first-time offender if he or she is a minor will spend any time in jail. Repeat offenders likely will.

Fines for DUI are usually up to $500. Your license may be suspended for up to 60 days. Additionally, as with a DWI, you may be required to complete a program to correct the behavior that led to the DUI. You may also be required to complete 20 to 40 hours of community service.

Minors can be charged with a DWI and face larger fines and jail time if their BAC is over the legal limit.

If you are arrested and charged with a DWI, a judge will set a bail which if paid will get you out of jail so you can work on your case. Bail bonds are what we do at ATX Bail Bonds. So if you need bail in Austin, TX, make sure to call us at 512.834.2245. In some states like California, it will be DUI bail that you seek if you are caught driving under the influence.

How dangerous is drunk driving?

Drunk driving can be deadly. Not only are you more likely to have an accident when you drink and drive, your chances are greater that accident will involve a death or deaths, either you, your friends or perfect strangers. Of the fatal accidents on the road today, one out of three will involve alcohol.

How can I avoid a DUI conviction?

The obvious way to avoid a DUI conviction is to not drink or to have a designated driver. Staying below the legal limit of 0.08% BAC may also help you avoid a conviction and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink. Keep in mind that a 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or 1 ½ ounces of whiskey or other distilled spirits all contain the same amount of alcohol.

If you are pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving, only get out of the car if the officer asks you to do so. Comply with the officer and don’t be argumentative. If you are charged with the offense, make sure to hire an attorney experienced it DUI or DWI cases.

Do DUI laws work?

Although some studies show that strict laws against DUI don’t necessarily prevent drinking and driving or the fatal crashes that often result from the offense, they do deter drivers, making them reconsider getting behind the wheel. And while they haven’t stopped crashes altogether, these laws do, according to the CDC, save thousands of lives.

Preventative measures such as interlock devices that keep cars from starting if a person’s BAC is at a certain level are some of the most effective tools used in DUI prevention.

DUI prevention classes

DUI prevention classes can also be effective tools to stop DUI. When people are informed early about the risks of driving drunk, they are able to make better choices. Teens, in particular, in recent years have responded to these classes. They are learning especially not to get into cars whose drivers have been drinking.

Needing bail?

If you’ve been arrested and charged with a DWI in Austin, TX, you can get help getting out of jail with bail services from ATX Bail Bonds. For help with bail, call 512.834.2245.

Going through the bail bonds process is a scary and overwhelming process. The legal system is confusing, and the bail bond process can be even more befuddling. Here in america, every state can have varying laws which can affect the bail bonds process regarding rules and regulations of your local court. If you or a loved one has been arrested and are needing bail bonds help or processing guidance, call ATX Bail Bonds at 512.834.2245. We can help you through the bail bonds process in Austin, TX.

To make it easier, we have made a little FAQ page of the most asked questions by people who are wondering how the bail bonds process works. Here are the bail bonds rules and regulations.

How Does a Bail Bond Work?

When someone gets arrested, they have to appear before a judge in a court to make an agreement. The agreement states that the defendant can be released from jail and have their bail money refunded to them if they agree to show up to all of their scheduled court dates, even if they are convicted. If the defendant misses one court date, they immediately lose the chance to get refunded their bail and a warrant is issued for their arrest. Since bail is usually set for thousands of dollars, defendants or their families often have trouble procuring that large amount of money quickly. This is where a bail bondsman comes in.

Bail bonds work similar to loans. A bail bondsman won’t just willingly pay a stranger’s $10,000 bail for nothing in return. The family pays what they can of the bail and the bail bondsman covers the rest. Since the bail bondsman is taking all the financial risk, families often have to put up collateral in case they fail to show up to court. Collateral can be items of high value like cars, house deeds, jewelry, or credit cards. Bail bond agencies will also periodically check in with you, like reminding you of your court date or making sure you haven’t left town. If you have, a warrant is issued for your arrest and the bail bondsman can hire a bounty hunter to track you and return you to custody to ensure their payment.

Can You Post Your Own Bail?

You can pay your own bail if you can prove that you are financially able to be the only cosigner. Since bail is typically cash bail, the arrested person must have that full amount of bail money on them at the time of the arrest which is typically not the case. This is where people turn to a bondsman or ask for a cosigner.

Can a Bail Bond Be Revoked?

Bail bond is ever rarely fully revoked, but there are instances when it can be. If you have been previously arrested before and have “jumped bail,” which means to skip showing up to court in order to receive your bail refund, you can get your next bail opportunity revoked should you ever get arrested again.

How is the Amount of Bail Set?

The amount of bail is set by a judge. The judge will determine the price based on various factors. These include the seriousness of the crime, past criminal offenses, if the defendant is employed, and whether there is a chance the defendant might not show up in court to pay the bond, which is known as a “flight risk.”

Do You Have to Pay Bail Bondsman If Charges Are Dropped?

Even if the charges are later dropped after you have been bailed out of jail, you still owe the bail bondsmen 10% of your original bail bond price for their services. They had to use their own money and man hours to bail you out of jail, so they need to be paid for their services. The rest of the money is refunded back to you.

How Long Does the Bail Process Take?

As soon as the bond has been posted, a defendant can be released in around 6 to 8 hours. They cannot be released right away if you have the money ready to bail them out because the jail has to go through the court and paperwork filing process before they can be released. Until the defendant is done with the booking process and has been entered into the county jail system, they cannot be released.

Can a Bail Bond Be Transferred?

If you have been arrested in another state, you will need to find a bail bond company that does transfer bonds. Similar to a cash or surety bond where someone bails you out by signing paperwork on your behalf, a transfer bond will be signed by family of yours in your home state and the bond will be transferred to the jail in the state you were arrested. This means that your family will have to agree to co-signing a bail bond.

What Are the Types of Bail Bonds?

There are so many different types of bail bonds available. If you need help picking the best bail bond for you, call ATX Bail Bonds at 512.834.2245 for assistance in the bail bonds process in Austin, TX today.

• Cash bond
• Transfer bond
• Surety bond
• Immigration bond
• Property bond

The difference between a misdemeanor and a felony can make all the difference in the world, especially when it comes to bail. This could be the difference between a couple hundred or thousand dollar bond, to a several thousand to a million dollar bond if the crime is deemed bad enough. The amount the bail is set won’t be your only concern though. If you find yourself in the position of a felony, you may be looking at a lot of years behind bars as well. Once you have been arrested and booked, the next step is, arraignment. You will stand before a judge and they will let you know what your charges are and then ask if you would like to enter a plea. It is at this point that the judge will then decide what your bail will be set at. A lot of factors go into making this decision: seriousness of the crime, what you plead, if you have prior convictions, and above all else, the discretion of the judge. Bail, by law, according to the US constitution is supposed to be set at a fair and reasonable amount, but often times this is not what ends up happening. If you know that you have a warrant out for your arrest, you can also set up a walk through bail and turn yourself in. You don’t want to get arrested in a public place like your work, so setting up a walk through bail and turning yourself in will get you all set up for when you are in jail and will get you out faster.

Misdemeanor Bail

A misdemeanor is usually a smaller crime, something like a DUI or being drunk in a public place. These crimes are much lesser than a felony crime and the bail will reflect that. Once you are given the bond amount, you can then get in touch with a bondsman to help you post bail if it is not something that you can afford. Once the bail is posted, you are able to leave jail on the promise that you will show up for court and that you will pay the bond back. Sometimes this process is very fast, but other times it may take a day or two of waiting. There are also surety bonds that can be used for this. What is a surety misdemeanor bond? This is a bond that is taken out by someone else, usually a bondsman and then promised to be paid back upon certain terms.

Felony Bail

A felony bond can be very different. This is because the charges are much heavier than a simple misdemeanor crime. They often times are tacked on with several other charges and depending on what you did, you may not even be granted bail at all. This is up to the judge and when they are reading over what you did, they will determine if it is safe for you to be out on the streets while awaiting your trial. The more violent the crime, the higher chances your bail will be denied or set at an amount that is impossible to pay. Every state is different and each have a set amount on which bail can be set to for certain crimes. Once you have an arraignment, you will then enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. The judge will then decide what your bail amount is and if you get one, you can determine if that is able to be paid or not. What is a surety felony bond in Texas? This is something that you can do with a bail bondsman and will allow you to only have to pay around 10 percent up front and then the bondsman will post the other. This comes with strings to the bail company and to the court itself.

How Is Bail Set

Bail amount is set on a variety of factors. Your age, criminal history, what the charges are, and what you did to get you to this point, are all things that will be taken into consideration when your bail is set. Misdemeanors are set lower than felonies for many reasons but a big reason is danger to the general public and being a flight risk for the court. Here are a few prices for various misdemeanor bail charges, but remember that there are different bail amounts for different crimes.

Battery – Battery of a spouse is somewhere around $10,000, where battery against a police officer could be as low as $2,500.

DUI – This will all depend on how many DUI’s you have had in the past. Let’s say it is your first one, you will probably have a bail set around $2,500. The second time it will bounce up to $10,000 and will continue to increase from there until it is finally bumped up to a felony.

Controlled Substance – When you are arrested for having a controlled substance on your person, the bail is set around $2,500.

Here are a few average bail amounts for Felony Charges.

Murder – This is often the time that you will not receive bail and if you’re lucky enough to get that option, expect for it to be in the millions.

Rape – This crime will set for around $100,000, depending on the violent nature of the crime and the discretion of the judge.

Robbery – A first-degree robbery charge is usually set at $100,000 and around $50,000 for second-degree robbery.

Charges

Can a misdemeanor be turned into a felony?

This usually happens when either a lot of charges are stacked on top of one another. Another way is that if it is not the first time you have committed that crime, they may see that you are not changing your behavior and then they will bump it up to a felony. This is a much more serious charge and you will likely be facing several years or longer in prison for this.

Can a felony be dropped to a misdemeanor?

A felony can be dropped to a misdemeanor. Your lawyer can help you do this, but it usually comes in the form of a plea agreement. Sometimes, the charges are weighing on several different charges and if you can get those charges down, you may be able to lower the felony to a misdemeanor. You can agree to some jail time instead or a higher fine, it all depends on the charges and the judge that you are working with.

Differences Between Felony and Misdemeanor Charges

There is a big difference between a felony and a misdemeanor charge is the seriousness of the crime. For example, the difference between felony and misdemeanor theft would be that a felony would have a higher bail and it would also hold more prison time. This means that the theft was probably tacked on with other things like the person was probably armed or it was not their first time doing this. If you find yourself with a felony bond in Austin, TX, call ATX Bail Bonds at 512.834.2245 and we will help you in any way that we can.

When you get arrested and are charged with a crime, you are sometimes allowed to be released on bail. That means that you or someone you know, will pay a set sum of money and you will be able to leave on the promise that you will show up to your court date when you are supposed to. Bail is set, based on what you have committed and what the judge deems is necessary. Sometimes they look to see if you are a first time offender. They will also look at the crime you have done and typically, the more serious a crime is, the higher your bail will be set at or in some cases, like capital murder, you may not be granted bail at all. It is important that in the situation if you are getting a loved one bail, that you understand all that will happen if they do not show up to court when they are supposed to.

Different Crimes That Receive Different Bail

Drug Charges – In a first drug offense, you will likely have a lower bail set.

Violent Crimes – Depending on the crime, a violent crime may be a given a bail or it may not, but you will likely have to pay a very large amount for things like this.

Sex Crimes – A crime like rape will usually create a bail set around $100,000.

Theft – Depending on the degree of the robbery, it can vary between 50-$100,000.

Your best bet if you cannot afford bail, is to not do a crime. Bail is made to be a first step in realizing that you have made a mistake and are now being punished for it. If you do find yourself in a situation where you need to make bail in Austin, TX, call ATX Bail Bonds at 512.834.2245 and let us help you.

Theft is a broad umbrella term that covers many forms of stealing. From identity theft to robbery to fraud, there are lots of ways people can steal. A common form of stealing that people of all ages often commit is shoplifting. The charges of theft are determined based on how much and the value of the property you stole. Depending on the amount stolen, shoplifting charges can result in you needing felony or misdemeanors bail. If you need theft charges bail bonds in Austin, call us. If you have been arrested for shoplifting and need theft charges bail bonds in Austin, TX, ATX Bail Bonds is waiting at 512.834.2245 to help.

5 Items Americans Steal The Most

• Cosmetics: Small and easy to hide, cosmetics are always a popular go-to item for thieves. Makeup items that don’t come prepackaged like lipstick and nail polish are also easy to put in purses.
• Alcohol: Often committed by minors, stealing alcohol is like a twofold adrenaline rush for them. Not only are they breaking the law by stealing, but they are stealing something they are against the law to drink.
• Baby formula and Diapers: Baby necessities are expensive! One box of diapers can cost $40 and one can of baby formula costs $25. Given that a baby goes through 10 cans a month, it is understandable why these are popular items to steal.
• Clothing: Easy to hide under clothes or to wear out, clothes are the go-to image when thinking of shoplifting. Additions of security sensors have made it more difficult.
• Over the Counter Drugs: Wonder why your allergy pills are now locked up behind the pharmacist? It’s because of thieves. OTC drugs containing pseudoephedrine were stolen because it is used to make meth inconspicuously. Pregnancy tests and weight loss pills are also frequently shoplifted out of embarrassment.

If you know you have a warrant out for your arrest for a minor offense, a warrant walk through prevents you from having to do jail time. You show up to the jail with your bail bondsmen and turn yourself in to be booked and processed on your warrant. Sometimes, you can void having to pay bond by exchanging it with a warrant walk through.

How Does a Warrant Walk Through Work?

To request a warrant walk through, contact a bail bondsmen and fill out the paperwork regarding your warrant. You must give court notice about the warrant. If you are being investigated for a crime, a detective will usually call you and inform you that they are issuing a warrant. Get as much information as possible, and see if a walk through is eligible to dismiss the warrant.

By turning yourself in, it shows your willingness to cooperate with law enforcement and the court. This can help reduce your sentence or fines instead of having the police hunt you down and show up at your house to arrest you. Having a bail bondsman with you is critical when doing a warrant walk through. If you are booked and processed that day, the bondsmen can bail you out and ensure that you spend as little time in jail as possible.

Law in general can be complicated, and unknown terms like walk throughs can make things more difficult. If you have any questions on how a warrant walk through works, call ATX Bail Bonds in Austin, TX at 512.834.2245 today.

Even celebrities have committed white collar crimes, where they wanted to keep their millions of dollars, earn more, or not pay their taxes. Here are some of the most well-known cases of celebrity white collar crimes:

Charles Ponzi

The man who had the enacted the biggest white collar crime in modern history and had the term “Ponzi Scheme” coined after him: Charles Ponzi. In the 1920s, Ponzi would pay back his investors using his other investor’s money, keeping the profit for himself. He was arrested for fraud, served 14 years in prison, and died in poverty.

Martha Stewart

A shock in 2003, America’s Stepford Wife was arrested for tax evasion! In 2001, she got a tip her stock was going to drop and pulled all of her shares out, avoiding a $45,000 loss. In 2003, she was exposed for her insider trading and indicted on nine counts, including securities fraud and obstruction of justice. She only spent 5 months in jail and got a fine of $30,000, less than what her stock loss would’ve been.

Teresa and Joe Giudice

The most recent scandal, in 2013, the ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ stars were both sentenced to prison for tax evasion for failure to file tax returns from 2004 to 2008. In 2014, both pled guilty, with Teresa being sentenced to 15 months in prison and Joe to 41 months in prison. Teresa was released from prison in 2015 and Joe reported to prison in March 2016.

Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino

While currently ongoing trial for alleged tax evasion, Sorrentino is having his trial drama play out on the current season of ‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.’ He was accused of failing to pay $9 million in taxes from earnings made in 2010 to 2012. Pleading guilty to felony tax evasion in January 2018, he will face sentencing in September 2018 and faces up to five years in prison with a maximum $250,000 fine.

If you need white collar crimes bail help in Austin, TX, call ATX Bail Bonds at 512.834.2245 today.

So you’ve found yourself on house arrest, now what? There are many different things that you can do that will keep you motivated, up to date, and not falling behind in the world. Many factors will determine why and how long you are on house arrest, and sometimes you will be able to leave your home for one reason or another, but if you have found that you are at home most of the time, here are a few things you may want to do to kill some time.

What To Do

Enroll In School – This might seem a little extreme to some, but what a perfect time to get yourself some education that will help you when you are done. There are tons of schools that are online now a day and they are just waiting for you to take advantage.

Binge Watch TV – This is a given I’m sure, but one way to pass the time and keep yourself out of trouble is to watch some tv. The best part is that you don’t have to just stick to soap operas and sappy love stories, immerse yourself in cooking shows that you can practice making new dishes with. Turn on a documentary and learn about something that may interest you and give you a wider view of the world. With so many educational programs on tv today, there is an endless supply of knowledge to acquire.

Workout – This is a great option and opportunity to get in the best shape possible. If you are stuck in the house all day, find a way to keep yourself active in any way possible.

If you are stuck in a situation where you get arrested and need a bail bondsman, call ATX Bail Bonds at 512.834.2245 and let us help you.

After you have been processed, bail is a fantastic way to get out of jail. When you are out on bail, you can prepare yourself, your loved ones, and your defense for your court date. During this time, however, jumping bail can occur. While you may not be one of the individuals who consider it, it is important to know that jumping bail can seriously hinder your case. Not only does it reflect poorly on you, it can lead to many other issues down the line.

Consequences

Arrest Warrant Issued

When you miss your court date, the judge can then issue a warrant to have you arrested and brought before the court. However, if you are arrested on a warrant during this situation, it is unlikely that you will be able to get out on bail again. This means you will have to wait in jail until your court dates.

Loss of Bail Deposit

To get bail, you or a loved one probably paid a deposit with your bondsman. This deposit can be up to ten percent of the amount set for your bail and can get you out from behind bars. However, when you jump bail, that ten percent you paid is forfeit and now you, or your loved one, are responsible for the full amount.

Added Charges

Did you know in some states, jumping bail is actually a crime in and of itself? This means that in these areas, you may find yourself facing additional charges and fines on top of your original charge. Texas is, in fact, one of the states that consider jumping bail a crime.

At ATX Bail Bonds, we work with you for your bail bonds service needs. Ready to get started on bail in Austin, TX? Give us a call today at 512.834.2245!

If you find yourself in a situation where you are under arrest for a DUI, you may be wondering what will happen next. What you should be thinking about is what you should be doing now. Although you may be heavily intoxicated at the time you are pulled over, try to remain as calm as possible. Being arrested for driving under the influence is a very big deal and will not be taken lightly.

What Happens Next

Do not forget that you are on camera and everything you do will be recorded. If this is something that you want to try to fight later on, you will want to be on your best behavior because the second you act up, the judge will see that and throw your argument right out. No matter what you do or say, you will not be unarrested so all you can do is move forward from here. Not in all cases, but the more cooperative you are, the faster that the police officer will submit his affidavit. He/she has 24 hours to submit this after you are arrested. Once this is done, you will have your bond set. This is where you will need to decide if you need a bail bondsman. If you decide that you will need to hire a bail bonds company, we would be happy to help you in any way that we can. Call ATX Bail Bonds at 512.834.2245 for any help once you have been arrested. The sooner you call us, the better. Once we receive your information, we will do our best to get you out of jail as soon as possible.