Posts Tagged with apple valley bail bondsman

Knowing Weird Laws Can Be a Benefit
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Knowing Weird Laws Can Be a Benefit

Did you know that in California, women may not drive in a housecoat, or that no vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour? We are not pulling your leg. These are real laws that are still written in California’s law books. They are not the only weird, odd, peculiar laws this state still has today. In addition to those,

𔅐 It is illegal to spit in Burlingame, unless you are on a baseball diamond.
𔅐 Women may not wear high heels in Carmel.
𔅐 Pinball machines are outlawed in El Monte.
𔅐 Any man who has a mustache in Eureka is forbidden to kiss a woman, even if she is his girlfriend or wife.
𔅐 Anyone who wishes to purchase a wax container must be at least 18 years of age.
𔅐 In Hollywood, no one may drive over 2,000 sheep down Hollywood Boulevard.
𔅐 It is illegal to drink intoxicating cement in Indian Wells.
𔅐 Moth hunting is illegal in Los Angeles when done under a street light.
𔅐 In Norco, having a rhinoceros as a pet is allowed as long as the owner gets a $100 license first.
𔅐 Molesting butterflies is strictly prohibited in Pacific Grove.
𔅐 Dogs are not allowed to chase squirrels in the summer.
𔅐 Unless they do not mind being fined $250, San Diegans must take their Christmas lights down by February 2.
𔅐 People who are classified as “ugly” may not walk down the streets of San Francisco.
𔅐 Having more than two cats or dogs as pets is not allowed in San Jose.
𔅐 In Walnut, every child must get a special permit from the sheriff in order to wear a mask on Halloween.

If you search the Internet, you will find so many more weird laws that still exist in California and will leave you scratching your head. In fact, every state in the U.S. has their share of odd laws and it is pretty entertaining to read.

We hope you never get arrested for violating one of these wacky laws but if you do, call Apple Valley Bail Bonds anytime. We will look past your embarrassment and bail you out of jail as soon as possible.

We can be reached online, and at 760-247-4444.

How You Should Handle Fireworks in California
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How You Should Handle Fireworks in California

In order to have fun and celebrate the 4th of July, you need to understand the proper safety rules. Drinking responsibly is something you practice and preach day in and day out. However, fireworks safety is something you do not see or use on a regular basis. If you do not really know the safety rules for fireworks usage, do not be ashamed, just keep reading.

First things first: fireworks are not toys and must only be handled by those who are responsible enough to know how to use them safely.

Fireworks should be used outdoors, and there should be a supply of water within easy reach. Instructions are printed on the fireworks package, so whoever is involved should read through those thoroughly before using them.

The person setting off the fireworks should not wear loose clothing, as they do not want it to get in the way and catch fire. In addition, fireworks should be used away from other people, tall objects like trees and power-lines, gas sources, and flammable material.

Every year, there are several stories on people who injured themselves, or caused damage to property, because of fireworks that were mishandled. You do not want to be one of those people.

Another thing that happens yearly is people getting citations or being arrested for violating California’s fireworks laws. Again, you do not want to be one of these people.

Those who do end up arrested for violating fireworks laws are more than likely going to be allowed to post bail, and they can do this with cash bail or a bail bond. For a bail bond, Apple Valley Bail Bonds is the bail bond company to rely on, and they can be reached 24/7 both online, and at 760-247-4444.

Did You Know You can be Charged with a Hit and Run Even if it’s Not Your Fault?
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Did You Know You can be Charged with a Hit and Run Even if it’s Not Your Fault?

In California, you can be charged with a hit and run, even if the accident was not your fault. If you are involved in an accident, you are required to give your contact information to the other driver before you leave, regardless if the accident was your fault or not.

You can be charged with a misdemeanor if you caused damage, not just to another vehicle but also to property, like a building, a window, a fence, or even another person’s pet.

You can be charged with a felony hit and run if you leave the scene without providing any contact information even though you know that the other driver and his or her passengers were unhurt. If you had passengers in your vehicle and they were injured in the hit and run, then you can be charged with the felony.

The penalties for hit and run crimes will vary based on the extent of the accident and damage, and even the kindness of the other driver. Fines for hit and runs where someone was injured can be between as much as $20,000 and prison sentences can be as long as 4 years. For hit and run crimes that only involved property damage, fines can be as high as $1,000 and jail time can be as long as 6 months. In addition, a person would likely get their license suspended or revoked for up to 6 months. As for the insurance company, they can either increase the premiums or cancel insurance altogether.

Some misdemeanor charges can be settled in a civil suit instead of criminal punishment, if the other driver agrees to it. In this case, the other driver is sparing you from the harsher punishments like jail time.

If you are ever involved in a car accident, make sure to stay on the scene and exchange contact and insurance information with the others who are involved. If there are witnesses around, get their contact information as well, in case you need them to provide eyewitness accounts. Take photos of any damage done to your vehicle, the other vehicle, and any property. Then, you can contact your insurance company and let them know you have been involved in a car accident. You want to go through the standard steps of resolving a car accident rather than fleeing the scene and suddenly making this into a felony hit and run.

Though you will need to take the next few weeks to deal with insurance companies and getting your car repaired, it is the better alternative to becoming a wanted person for a hit and run and then paying those felony consequences.

California’s Good Samaritan Law and Pets
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California’s Good Samaritan Law and Pets

In California, we love our pets as much as we love our brothers and sisters, which is why we have a Good Samaritan law that makes it legal to smash a car window to save an animal. The law has been in effect for almost a year, and it is designed to protect the individual who smashed the car window from criminal charges. In order to be fully protected, the individual must remain present after smashing the window until the police arrive.

Everyone knows that a hot car is a dangerous weapon. If it is hot outside, the car is even hotter inside, and the car heats up very quickly too. Even 5 minutes inside a hot car can be deadly. For example, in 2016, on a 91 degree day in San Diego, firefighters rescued a dog from a car that was found to be 160 degrees on the inside. How did they know the inside temperature? Their thermal imaging camera.

Many other states have similar Good Samaritan laws, and some even extend their legislation to protect individuals from smashing car windows to save a human life. California does not currently have such a law, but any citizens who see a young child left alone in a hot car are encouraged to call security or the police.

It is important to remember that for the individual breaking a car window, they must stay on the scene to talk with the police. If they flee, they may lose their protection in the matter, and can be charged with vandalism.

Is the Convenience Worth the Risk?
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Is the Convenience Worth the Risk?

Leaving Your Child Unattended in the Car

Do you choose convenience over safety and responsibility, or the other way around? For example, when you have your 4 year old child with you and you need to run into the store to pick up toilet paper on the way home, would you consider leaving your child alone in the parked car? You’d only run into the store for 5 minutes. You are thinking that if you have to bring them, you would certainly be slowed down because they can get fussy.

If you do consider the more convenient idea of leaving your child alone in the car for a few minutes, you should think again. Not only is this an irresponsible decision, it would be an illegal one. In California, it is illegal to leave a child 6 years old or younger in the car unattended unless they are supervised by someone who is at least 12 years old. Moreover, even if your child is old enough by law to be left alone in the car, do you think they are ready, responsible, and mature enough? Can they be trusted not to open the door if a stranger approaches, or not to just get out and wander on their own? Are they nervous about being left alone, because they have not had that experience before?

Another factor to take into consideration is the weather outside. If it is hot outside, then the inside of the car can be deadly. The interior of a car can heat up rapidly. Young children can die if they are left in a hot car.

The same rules apply to leaving pets alone in a car as well. If the store does not allow you to bring your pet in while you shop, you need to leave them in the car. If it is hot outside, open some windows or better yet, if possible, tie them to a meter, bike rack, or something outside that offers plenty of shade.

There are penalties for parents who leave their child unattended in the car, which include a fine and time in jail. Plus, there is the possibility that your child could be harmed. That is the worst one of all. So next time, skip the convenience and go with the safe, responsible decision. Even if it is less convenient and time efficient for you. Instead of leaving your child in the car, bring them with you, or take them home first.

Laws You Probably Did Not Know You Were Breaking
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Laws You Probably Did Not Know You Were Breaking

“It is not every day that you break a law,” you think to yourself. Little do you know that statement might actually be false. It could very well be that you are breaking some law everyday and you do not even realize it. It is not just you, a lot of people are breaking a handful of laws everyday without even knowing. Here are some of those laws:

Letting someone else use your Netflix account.

Last year, it was made officially illegal to share your password to streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu. Before it became a law, everyone knew that technically sharing your account with any number of friends or family is wrong. You can have 5 friends use your account yet you are only paying the low rate. Now it is officially illegal to share your password; did you know that?

Connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi

Have you ever sat nearby a coffee shop and connected to their Wi-Fi because they do not have it password protected? Have you ever done this and not ordered anything from the store? Well, this is illegal, and if you are caught and charged, you can be put into jail. Wait until you get home to check your social media feed.

Giving a fake name on the Internet

Have you ever signed up for newsletters, deals, and subscriptions but did not provide your real or full name? Well, providing a fake name on the Internet is illegal under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Singing “Happy Birthday”

It is not a birthday unless someone sings the Happy Birthday song. Is it still a party when the police show up? Technically, the Happy Birthday song is copyrighted, meaning that anyone who sings it in public is violating the law. At least that was the law until a few years ago, when a U.S. District Judge decided that was not the case and declared it public domain for all.

If you are worrying now because you have broken these laws countless times, and you think you can no longer sing anyone “Happy Birthday,” do not panic. You are not the only one. Besides, how many times have you gotten away with singing Happy Birthday, now?

If you find yourself actually getting arrested for violating one of these laws, or any other law, do not worry. Apple Valley Bail Bonds is here to bail you out of jail.

We can be reached 24/7 both online and at 760-247-4444.

Is Ticket Scalping Legal?
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Is Ticket Scalping Legal?

Ticket scalping is when a person resells their ticket to an event, like a concert or a sporting event, to another person. The purchaser does not buy the ticket directly from the event itself, but rather goes to someone who already owns a ticket to the event, but is looking to get rid of it. The price is determined by the individual who is in possession of the ticket, and it is often a bigger price than the face value they purchased it for. This is because they are looking to make a profit from the sale.

In California, ticket scalping is illegal when done on the grounds of the event. This is a misdemeanor charge that carries a fine as high as $1,000.

While that may be illegal, it is legal to purchase resale tickets online from valid ticket websites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, and Ticketmaster. These sites allow people to search for ticket sales to any number of events in their area. The website is required to:

• Disclose seat locations to the potential buyer before the sale
• Maintain records of ticket exchanges
• Disclose service charge
• Provide refunds if the event is canceled or rescheduled
• Be licensed by a local government agency to act and operate as a ticket resale site

Purchasing resale tickets through these websites are among the most secure ways to get your tickets. You are not being scammed. In the instance that the event is changed, you will get a refund. You will be provided with official records and receipts. Other sites like Craigslist are less secure and the risk of purchasing fake tickets rises. Once a person learns that their tickets are fake, they have almost zero chance of contacting the person who sold it to them and getting their money back.

Always be cautious of where and how you buy your tickets. In general, you should never trust someone who is trying to sell tickets outside of the event itself, on the day of the event. We said this is illegal, yet people do it anyway. Sometimes security will ask these scalpers to leave the grounds, but some go unnoticed and even make a sale, very likely a sale that produced fake tickets.

About California’s Three Strikes Law
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About California’s Three Strikes Law

California has a so-called “Three Strikes” law that was introduced in 1994. Think of this like the “three strikes, you are out” mantra that goes with baseball. A player has 3 chances to hit the ball. If they get three strikes, they are out.

This Three Strikes law concerns convicted felons. If the convicted felon is faced with a second, new felony, they are sentenced to twice the prison time than what they would have faced if they were not already a convict. If the felon has two felonies and faces a third conviction, the Three Strikes law kicks in to automatically sentence them to 25 years to life in prison.

Since 1994, the Three Strikes law has been amended multiple times to be as fair as possible. Years before, someone who was convicted of shoplifting could get the same prison sentence a murderer would get. It was this kind of unfairness that needed attention, so the law re-evaluated the types of felonies that would be effected by three strikes. Today, all three felony convictions would need to be serious or violent in order for the Three Strikes law to move into effect.

There is a slim chance that a person being charged for a serious or violent felony will be allowed to post bail, and the chances get even slimmer if they are a repeat offender. Since bail eligibility is partially dependent on the condition of the defendant and the danger they pose to the public, it is unlikely that the judge will grant bail release. If they do, expect bail to be very high and expect there to be extra requirements such as curfew, travel restrictions, and ankle monitoring.

If you know anyone who does need a bail bond because they have the opportunity to post bail, regardless of the crime they are being charged with, please contact Apple Valley Bail Bonds.

We can be reached online, or at 760-247-4444.

Fireworks Safety Tips
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Fireworks Safety Tips

Independence Day still seems like a way’s off, but there are people who are already gearing up for the day that will be filled with BBQ food, drinks, and fireworks. Those are three essentials to almost every 4th of July party and you can bet people are already starting to make plans with friends and family in regards to who is hosting and bringing what. If you are the one bringing the fireworks, make sure you bring fireworks that are legal and that you use them safely.

• Purchase fireworks that are categorized only as “safe and sane” not “dangerous” from a permitted fireworks vendor. These fireworks will have the Fire Marshal’s seal stamped on them.
• Keep fireworks stored away from fire sources and other flammable material.
• When you are ready to use the fireworks, have a bucket of water and/ or a hose nearby, just in case.
• Read and follow the directions as they are written on the fireworks.
• If youths are using fireworks, make sure adults are nearby.
• Use fireworks outdoors only, away from fire sources, dry grass, and other flammable material.
• Make sure there no one is too close when the fireworks are being lit. Do not point them at people, property, trees, power poles, etc.
• If you find that one of your fireworks is broken, throw it away rather than trying to fix it.
• Tight fitting clothing is preferred for the people who are going to light the fireworks. Loose clothing can get in the way, potentially catching fire.
• Fireworks are not toys, and must be handled with care and caution. They should only be used by those who understand the safety rules and will abide by them.
• For any damages or injuries done from fireworks used by children, the burden falls on the parents.

Anyone found violating the rules and regulations for fireworks usage such as purchasing and using dangerous fireworks, inflicting damage or injury, or storing them in unsafe conditions, will be fined and could face jail time. Of course, the punishment depends on the severity of the violation.

If you do not want to risk using fireworks at your home, or even that of your friend’s, you can always bring the family to the local fireworks show that is organized by the city and the licensed fireworks operators.

Either way, whether you plan on playing with safe and sane fireworks on your own, or just leaving it to the official fireworks show for the community, we encourage all to have a fun and safe 4th of July celebration.

What You Can Use as Bail Bond Collateral
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What You Can Use as Bail Bond Collateral

Collateral is a term used to cover something that is pledged as security for repayment of a loan. Collateral is forfeited in the event that the original payment for the loan does not occur. You may be familiar with the concept of collateral for bank financing purposes, but did you know that it is also common for bail bonds? Bail bonds are used to release recently arrested individuals from jail while they await there trial. There are a handful of requirements to secure a bail bond, and pledging collateral can be one of them. The following are commonly used as bail bond collateral.

Valuables
Valuables such as jewelry, precious metals, and electronics can be pledged as collateral. The value of these items, especially the jewelry and precious metals, will depend on the market value at the time you need the bail bond.

Vehicles
Cars, boats, trailers, motorcycles, ATVs, and more are examples of vehicles that can be pledged as bail bond collateral. In order for vehicles to be accepted as collateral, the owner must not be making any more payments on the vehicle and have 100% ownership of the vehicle.

Real Estate
Like with vehicles, a person can pledge real estate as collateral as long as they are no longer making any mortgage payments on it. At the very least, they must have a significant percentage of ownership of the real estate.

Investments
A person can pledge stocks, bonds, and other financial investments for bail bond collateral. There may be additional requirements for this, so in addition to consulting with the bail bond company, it is best to consult with a financial advisers on this to see how this could affect the investment.

Pledging the right collateral for a loved one’s bail bond most often depends on what is available to pledge and what they can live with in the instance that the collateral is taken by the bail bond company. The bail bond company will only take the collateral if the defendant, who the bail bond is for, fails to show up for court. Otherwise, if the defendant appears for court, then the collateral is eventually returned back to the person who pledged it.

Learn more about bail bonds and bail bond collateral by speaking with a representative from Apple Valley Bail Bonds online or at 760-247-4444.