Should You Have a Bondsman for DUI?

By Fiona Baron


Your Sacramento DUI lawyer might have advised you use the services of a bondsman to help the one you love make bail following their DUI arrest. The fact is that many people, especially in today's economy, find it hard to make bail after a DUI arrest. This is particularly true when the DUI is a second or third DUI or maybe there have been circumstances around the arrest that made the DUI be eligible for a enhanced penalties, like having a minor in the vehicle as the suspect was drunk driving, or being in an injury accident. If the suspect has an arrest record or is on parole, these instances may require bond or bail to be set greater than the standard going rate. Let's take a look at DUI arrests and bail in more detail.

DUI Processing

Before the bail is set in the DUI case, the suspect is going to be processed. In the processing much of the important details are attained that will be used to figure out how much the bail is going to be. A criminal record check is run, plus the suspect will be fingerprinted. If the suspect has any outstanding warrants or is perhaps wanted on some charge, it will complicate getting out on bail for DUI. In this instance, bond would not only have to be set for the DUI, but also for the additional charges also. If the suspect would have a so-called "bench" warrant because of not coming to court on another charge, bail might be denied altogether, or enhanced significantly.

Setting Bond It is oftentimes the situation that officials at the jail or precinct can set bond for the suspect. But when there are any extenuating circumstances, a judge might need to make a decision on bail. So while simple first-time DUI suspects can bail from jail in mere hours following a DUI arrest, others will have to go to a judge the following morning. The judge will take all the pertinent information surrounding the suspect's arrest as well as the suspect into consideration when determining bond. One of the most critical factors the judge will consider will be the suspect's criminal history and background, however the DUI arrest is going to be considered, as well as if there has been any accident associated with the drunk driving. If the DUI accident involves any injuries, then bail will be significantly more than an accident without any injuries. Once the bail has been set, then a suspect, the Sacramento DUI lawyer, or whoever is assisting for the suspect's behalf should pay the total amount the court has ordered for the release to happen. For suspects who can't afford bail, the services of a bail bondsman may be needed. A bail bondsman will bail the suspect out of jail for 10 percent (this can differ among bondsmen) on the total bail requested. For example, if your bail is set at $20,000, you would give the bondsman $2,000 and then he would put up the rest of the money to help you get out. The bondsman charges a fee for his services, and this fee is generally deducted from your deposit that you pay.

So, if you have to get out of jail on a DUI arrest, then contact a Sacramento DUI lawyer and he'll help get you in contact with a bondsman so you can make bond.




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