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Published May 23, 2017

No Exceptions to Underage Drinking

Even if it happens under your roof and under your supervision, underage drinking is illegal in California.

The minimum drinking age across the United States is 21, but there are some states that allow exceptions to this rule when teens are drinking in the presence of, and with the permission of their parents. Some of those states include Virginia, South Carolina, and New Mexico. California is excluded from this list, meaning that even if a parent gives their 20 year old a sip of their cocktail, they can get in trouble.

In California, supplying a minor with alcohol is most often a misdemeanor offense. Adults who are charged with this misdemeanor will face time in jail, up to 1 year, though it is usually less than 2 months. They will also pay a fine of no more than $5,000, but fines between $500 and $1,000 are more common. There will be a court fee of $100-$200, and they could be placed on probation. Probation requirements would vary; it could be that the person just needs to check in with a probation officer every now and then or they may need to maintain a steady job. If it was a business that supplied alcohol to a minor, that business can lose its alcohol license and they would have additional fees to pay.

If someone is seriously injured or killed as a direct result of underage drinking, then the charges are brought up to a felony offense. In this case, consequences include 1+ years in prison, thousands of dollars in fines, probation, and again, a lost liquor license if applicable.

You cannot expect the court to be forgiving if a parent supplies alcohol to their child. There is just no way of knowing if the judge will be kind or not. Everybody knows the minimum drinking age is 21 and that there are no exceptions to this rule. Due to this law, there is no reason a parent should give alcohol to their underage children.

Published May 23, 2017

Bail Amounts for Common Offenses

In order to be released from jail, a person must meet certain “requirements.” This includes:

• Having not yet been convicted of the crime.
• Having solid, reliable relationships with others in the community. This shows that the defendant is likely to appear for court and less likely to flee.
• Not appearing as a threat to the public.
• Having little to no prior criminal history.
• Being accused of a crime that is neither serious nor violent.
• Being granted bail.

How much bail is will really depend on a case by case basis. Understandably, the more serious the crime was, the more expensive the bail will be. Additionally, if the defendant is a repeat offender, they are more likely to have a higher bail than a person who is a first time offender. Bail can range from a few hundred to thousands; in more high profile cases, bail can be hundreds of thousands to millions.

Luckily, the majority of people who are granted bail are not going to face that million dollar price mark. Here are some common crimes and the average bail for the charges:

• Driving when the license has been suspended or revoked: $1,000+ for a first offense, $5,000+ for repeat offenses.
• Fleeing the scene of a hit and run, and another person was injured or killed: $10,000+.
• DUI: $5,000 for a first offense
• Speeding and racing with other drivers: $10.000+
• Violating a restraining order: $50,000
• Possession of illegal drugs: $30,000 if possession is up to 1 kilogram. Bail increases if there are more drugs in possession.
• Robbery: $50,000+
• Assault with a deadly weapon: $100,000

Bail bond companies like Apple Valley Bail Bonds work with defendants and their families to lower the amount they pay for bail. To clarify, bail bond companies cannot get the official bail lowered, instead, they provide defendants with payment plans whose payments sum up to 10% of the full bail.

If you have questions or would like a free consultation, please contact Apple Valley Bail Bonds online or at 760-247-4444.

Published May 23, 2017

Celebrities Have to Pay for Bail Too

Celebrities are frequently given the red carpet treatment almost anywhere they go, for almost everything they do. They get special VIP access and treatment that the public never gets to experience. For all the glitz and glam, it sure seems beneficial to have a well-known name and face.

Occasionally, celebrities do not get special treatment. In fact, having star-status brings them more attention than they want. For example, being a celebrity and having a run-in with the law. Celebrities do not get away if they break the law. Just like any other person who broke the law, a celebrity must face the same legal proceedings and possible consequences as everyone else. If a celebrity wants to get out of jail for their trial, they must post bail using one of the same methods available to everybody: cash bail or a bail bond. This shows that the law is not too easily forgiving to people with lots of money and fame.

Aaron Hernandez, former New England Patriot
You have probably heard Hernandez’s name in the media over the last couple of years, and even more in recent weeks. Hernandez was indicted in 2012 for murder. Earlier this year, he was acquitted for a second murder charge on a separate case. Just a week after his acquittal, Hernandez committed suicide. Bail was denied for Hernandez.

Marion Hugh “Suge” Knight Jr., former CEO of Death Row Records
Knight’s bail was set at $2 million for his direct involvement of a fatal hit and run.

Lindsay Lohan, actress
Lohan is no stranger to jail. In 2007, her bail was set at $300,000 because of reckless driving, DUIs, theft, and more. With the help of her bail agent, she paid only $75,000 and was released.

Katt Williams, comedian
William’s bail was set at $40,000 in 2011 for burglary. He committed to pay only a portion of it with the help of his bail agent. However, he failed to make good on his payments and so he was arrested again. His second bail, $10,000, was one he had to pay all on his own.

It can be easy to think that posting bail would be no problem for celebrities because they have the funds to pay it without hassle. Yet, even celebrities choose to post bail with a bail bond because it is more affordable overall. As evidenced, some celebrities neglect to keep up with their payments. Celebrities are not perfect, and they definitely do not have it easy. When it comes to dealing with the law, they are just like any other person.

If you are ever in need of a bail bond for yourself or a loved one, Apple Valley Bail Bonds can help you out. We provide free consultations and can be reached anytime both online and at 760-247-4444.

Published May 21, 2017

Are You Ready for the Next Big One?

As Californians, we are always on the lookout for the next big earthquake. The San Andreas Fault runs along the entire length of the state, making California highly susceptible to earthquakes. In fact, California has around 10,000 earthquakes a year.

Since our state is so prone to shaking, it is important for all of us to be prepared for the next big quake. Here are some tips to help keep you ready for the next big earthquake:

• Have an earthquake plan ready. This way, you will have a better idea of how to react when an earthquake happens.
• Make sure large objects like bookcases or china hutches are bolted to studs in the wall so they cannot fall over during a quake.
• Locate a spot in every room of your house where you can find shelter during a quake. This means a place where nothing can fall on you.
• Have a supply of 3 gallons of water per person, canned food, an up-to-date first aid kit, and flashlights in an accessible place.
• Know how to shut off your gas and water mains.

Following these tips can help you in the aftermath of a big earthquake. As Californians, we have all studied the history our state has with earthquakes. We know how bad they can be, which is why it is so important to be prepared for the next big quake.

Published May 21, 2017

Do Not Believe Everything You Read Online

You always hear that you should not believe everything you see online, and unfortunately, it still needs to be said. You can still find stories online of people who were scammed or cheated out of money.

This can happen quite often on websites such as Craigslist and Amazon were goods and services are sold and exchanged. People will advertise that they are selling one thing, but then fail to deliver on that promise. When a buyer gets their product, if they do actually get their product, they find out that what was sent did not match what was pictured.

This is why most sites have introduced review systems. This allows clients to leave a warning to any future clients. The reviews also help prospective clients determine if they want to buy anything from that seller. This is why, you should always look at the product and seller reviews before making a purchase online. Doing so can prevent you from wasting your money.

Another thing to be wary of online, is whether or not a statement or claim is true. An example of this would be when you can routinely find celebrity death hoaxes circulating different social media sites. A good way to fact check stories that you read online, is to first make sure that you are getting the information from a credible source. Next, you can check the information on Snopes.com. This is a fact checking site that looks into stories that come from less than credible sources.

The internet has a lot of information to offer, but not all of it is real. Learn to figure out what you can and cannot trust online, and you will be able to better protect yourself from all sorts of internet scams.

Published May 21, 2017

Neighbors Partying Too Much?

Do you have neighbors who love to party and create a lot of noise late at night, or even into the morning hours? If so, they have probably awoken you, or prevented you, from sleep on numerous occasions.

If you are like most people, you like being able to sleep so that you will have enough energy to face the day tomorrow. This means these noisy neighbors are preventing you from efficiently handling your days. If that is indeed the case, you probably want them to stop with all of the racket.

Your first step to handling this problem, should be to politely confront your neighbors. Let them know that they are making quite a bit of noise and that it is keeping you awake. Be sure to be nice and not be rude or mean to them, doing so could make the situation worse. There is a chance that your neighbors did not know they were being too loud and they might keep it down.

If you have tried talking to your neighbors, but that has not solved the problem, talk to your local authorities. Most cities have noise ordinances that make it illegal to create too much noise during normal sleeping hours. If this is what is happening with your partying neighbors, then local law enforcement will come and shut their party down. Then you will be able to get a good night’s rest.

Published May 18, 2017

The Very Serious Consequences of Hazing

Hazing is an initiation ritual or practice that happens most notoriously with college fraternities, school sports teams, or other clubs and organizations. In order for prospective members to be initiated into the fraternity, the existing members will have them complete certain tasks that are humiliating and sometimes dangerous. At times, the prospective members will also have to drink copious amounts of alcohol. If they fail to complete the tasks, they will lose their chance to become a part of the organization.

Hazing officially became a crime in California in 2006 when a 21 year old college student died at California State University, Chico after being forced to drink huge amounts of water and perform many tiring exercises in the cold. At the same time, the fraternity members were dousing him with water. There have been numerous hazing crimes since then, and a more recent one that has caught national news is the death of a young man at Penn State. The man, who’s BAC at the time of his death was well over the legal limit, fell down stairs. For the next 12 hours, he was in and out of consciousness and constantly falling over and hitting his head. Fraternity members neglected to call 911. Instead they continued to shrug off the possibility that he needed medical attention. 18 members of the fraternity are being charged with multiple penalties and the fraternity has been banned from the university.

In California, a person can be charged with a misdemeanor or felony if hazing resulted in serious injury or death. The charge will be determined based on the facts of the case and the defendant’s criminal history. If it is a misdemeanor, the defendant faces up to 1 year in jail. If it is a felony, the defendant faces up to 3 years in prison. If a defendant is charged with additional related crimes like forced sexual penetration, and assault and battery, they can get extra time in jail tacked on.

In addition to legal consequences, the defendant faces other consequences like getting expelled from school, getting their fraternity banned from the university, damaging their reputation, severing relationships with friends, and damaging their conscience knowing they participated in events that led to someone’s serious injuries or death.

Hazing is not condoned on college campuses in California or the rest of the United States. It is illegal here and in the majority of other states. If you see it happening, speak up to the authorities before someone else, even yourself, gets seriously hurt or in trouble. You can save a life of a victim and the life of someone who would otherwise face very harsh consequences.

Published May 18, 2017

Dear Drones: The Sky is Not the Limit

When it comes to drones, the sky is not the limit anymore. In fact, it has not been for quite some time now. The discussion of drone usage and laws has largely died down, but we think it is appropriate to revisit and go over the laws again. This even more important now that we are approaching fire season again. A few weeks ago a brush fire broke out in Riverside; the firefighters had to temporarily halt their aircraft, to spray water from the air, because of drones in the area. To avoid having to stall emergencies like these, there are certain drone usage rules set in place for both commercial and private usage. Some laws overlap, while others apply to one or the other.

• Drones must be registered with the FAA.
• Drones must be flying within eyesight at all times, may not fly higher than 400 feet, and may not fly faster than 100 mph.
• Drones may only be used during the day.
• Unless given permission, a drone may not be flown over other individuals and their private property.
• If a drone is carrying a package, the combined weight of the package and the drone must be under 55 pounds.
• People need a pilot’s license to fly a commercial drone or have passed an aeronautical knowledge test and a background check at an FAA-approved facility.
• If a business sees the need to use their drone in ways that would go against the standard regulations, they may apply for a waiver from the FAA.
• Drones may not fly near airports and must not interfere with manned aircraft operations such as police or fire helicopters that are in active duty.

There are other rules and regulations for drone flying, in addition to those mentioned above. Anyone caught violating any of the laws will generally face a misdemeanor and the fine can be a few hundred to a few thousand, depending on the situation. Consequences can get worse if drones are intentionally flown to stall emergency operations, such as the need to put out a spreading wildfire. The longer firefighters are stalled, the bigger the fire gets, the more damage it does, and more resources are wasted.

Simply put: the sky is not the limit when it comes to drone usage.

Published May 18, 2017

How Much is One Serving of Alcohol?

The countdown to summer break has begun, leaving students and families eager to get away from school and work in order to have some fun. These long hot days and warm nights bring some of the best memories each year. Admittedly, alcohol has a big part in that because it allows everyone to relax and loosen up. Moreover, if there is no work, school, or another obligation to attend to the next morning, the alcohol will keep flowing. With that being said, the alcohol consumption should only go so far. Each individual should know when to say no to a drink.

The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in California is 0.08%. It does not take the same amount of drinks for everyone to reach that level. How much alcohol has an effect on someone depends on a large number of factors. Person A can have 3 drinks, be at 0.04%, and feel extremely drunk. Meanwhile Person B can have 5 drinks, be at 0.07% and still be much more coherent and aware than Person A.

BAC can depend on gender, body weight and build, the number of drinks consumed, the types of drinks consumed, whether or not a person has eaten, any medications they might be taking, and more. Generally, women feel the effects of alcohol much faster than men, and smaller body types will feel the effects faster than bigger body types will. If a person has food in their stomach, that will help soak up some alcohol. Conversely, if they are drinking on an empty stomach, they will get drunk faster.

When it comes to determining what 1 serving of alcohol means, it depends on the type of drink you want to look at. As a general rule, 1 serving of alcohol equals 1 oz. of 100 proof liquor, a 12 oz. beer, or 4 oz. wine. A 12 oz. beer is much more liquid volume than a glass of wine, but the servings are considered equal. 3 glasses of 4 oz. wine each, 12 oz. total, is theoretically 3 times the serving of a 12 oz. beer.

We mentioned that the legal BAC limit in California is 0.08%, yet many people are drunk well before this limit. If a cop pulls a person over and they blow a 0.05%, they can and will still arrest them for a DUI, especially if they do not appear coherent and alert enough to drive safely. There is never a good reason to drink and drive. The risks are far too dangerous for this person and others on the road. At the same time, even if a person is not driving and is relying on a designated sober driver, they should still know when to stop drinking. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and the ability to make safe and sound decisions. People put themselves at risk and vulnerability when they drink. It is just a precaution to know how much is too much.

Published May 16, 2017

One Day, Your Arrest will be Forgotten

“Stressed” is an extreme understatement when you learn your loved one has been arrested and you need to help bail them out of jail, deal with lawyers, and go through trial. You and your family are not responsible for taking care of everything. Professional bail agents and lawyers will help you out a great deal of the way, alleviating a lot of that stress. A big part of your job would be is to offer emotional support to your loved one. If you think you are stressed, imagine what they are thinking. You need to reassure them that this is not the end of their life.

Think of it this way: you might know someone else who was arrested once and dealt with everything you are dealing with right now. This person could be a coworker, a neighbor, the parent of your child’s friend, your mailman, or even the guy who bags your groceries. Obviously they do not go around bragging about their criminal history, but how well do you really know them anyway?

They could have been arrested for something minor, or something a little more serious but it is kept a secret. You just know this person as a hard-working individual with a stable job and a happy family. No one would ever guess that they were once arrested years ago. This can be your loved one in the future. People are going to look at your thriving loved one and would never guess they were in such a dark spot before.

An arrest is not necessarily going to weigh a person down for the rest of their life. It does not have to stop them from achieving their goals in the future. You will have to help them and keep their spirits lifted. Your support means a great deal to them during this time.

Apple Valley Bail Bonds is also here to provide the best support we can too. We will create a custom payment plan with you for a bail bond that costs 10% of the full bail amount. We are here with you each step of the way and just like you, we want you and your loved ones to come out of this situation with relief.