You got arrested in Southern California, and now you need to secure bail bonds in Van Nuys, the L.A. metro area, or somewhere nearby. Unfortunately, it’s very easy to be unable to think clearly during this ordeal, and approaching your bail wrong could spell disaster. We’ve compiled a list of the top mistakes to avoid when securing bail bonds in Van Nuys. Armed with this knowledge, you can prevent costly problems and spend less time in jail.
Five Mistakes to Avoid When Securing Bail Bonds in Van Nuys
If you get arrested, and you have money lying around, you could just call a friend or family member and have them bail you out of jail. However, bail is expensive.
Judges set bail so high because they have a responsibility to the courts and the community to ensure that:
- You are not a danger to yourself or others
- You won’t commit another crime before you return to court
- You will return for future court dates
- You will adhere to other conditions of your release (avoiding alcohol, drugs, or a specific place, etc.)
The threat of losing a great deal of money (your bail) is meant to encourage compliance. Unfortunately, the bail amount is too expensive to pay out of pocket for most people, and this is why they’ll need to use a bail bondsman.
1. Choosing the Wrong Bail Bondsman
While many bail bondsmen are upstanding people who are focused on quickly getting you out of jail in Van Nuys or elsewhere in L.A., not all bondsmen are this way. One way to determine this is to take a look at the fee they charge. The California Department of Insurance set the bail percentage at 10%. This is the amount a bail bondsman must charge you to work with them. This means that a $10,000 bail bond will have a $1,000 fee, and this fee is non-refundable.
Some smaller, newer, or less reputable bond agencies will charge you a lower percentage (which is illegal) to gain your business. Avoid these bail bond agencies at all costs.
2. Providing Incorrect Information
It’s a good policy to not lie in general, However, this is even more important when it comes to your bail bondsman. Both the bail bonds agency and the courts will ask you questions during the bail process. These may include your address, employer, and your ability to pay your bail obligations. Be truthful. If you choose to provide false information, your bail may get revoked. When this happens, the judge issues a bench warrant, and you will go to jail yet again. If bail gets set again, you’ll have to sign a new agreement with a bond agent and pay another fee.
3. Waiting to Get Bail Bonds in Van Nuys
If you’re arrested at night, you may think that you have to stay in jail until regular business hours. This isn’t always true. Once you’ve spoken to a defense attorney, contact a bail bondsman to begin the process. A good bail bondsman is available 24/7. They will start the paperwork immediately. It may take several hours to process the paperwork with the courts, so the earlier you start it, the better.
4. Asking the Wrong Person to Secure You Bail Bond in Van Nuys
A bail bondsman posts bail on your behalf. In order to do that, your bondsman will charge you the 10% discussed earlier and then take collateral for the rest.
The collateral can include:
- Real estate
- Vehicles like cars, boats, ATVs, etc.
- Personal effects like jewelry
- Electronics
- Stocks and bonds
If you don’t adhere to your bail conditions, then the bondsman will sell the collateral to make up any money they lost. If you don't have enough cash and property to secure your own bail, you may need to enlist the help of a co-signer.
A co-signer could be a friend or family member who:
- Has a stable job and residence
- Is willing and able to put up the cash for the fee
- Is willing and able to put up the collateral to make up the rest of the bail
- Trusts you to show up for court when required and understands what will happen if you don’t
Choose your co-signer wisely. If you choose the wrong co-signer in the beginning, it will slow down the process. Finding a suitable co-signer who will work with your bail bondsman, in order to get you out of jail, will take more time and effort.
5. Not Adhering to the Requirements of Your Bail
When you get bail bonds in Van Nuys or elsewhere in the L.A. metro area, there are only two conditions under which you’ll get your bail money back (minus the 10% fee):
- The charges against you get dropped
- You adhere to the conditions of your bail
Remember, bail ensures that you return to court when required, and that you follow the judge’s guidelines. If you don’t adhere to these requirements, then you forfeit any money and property you have put up. If you enlisted a co-signer’s help, they would forfeit their money and/or property. When this happens, you will have a very angry and disappointed loved one on your hands.
When you go before a judge, pay attention. Learn what you must do. Then do it!
Securing Bail Bonds in Van Nuys
When you get arrested in Southern California, you are in luck when it comes to bail bond services. Dan's Bail Bonds is a professional, reliable bail bonds agency with 20+ years of experience. Open 24/7, Dan can start the bail process any time of day or night. Dan provides bail bonds in Van Nuys, Rancho Cucamonga, and Los Angeles.
If you need help with bail, contact Dan's Bail Bonds to make your life (and the lives of your loved ones) much easier: (888) 773-8037.