Creating A Solid Defense

If a loved one was pulled over and arrested for a DUI, then you might be panicking. You might want to help them, but probably don't know how you can really do that. One of your best tools in this case is to help your loved one out with bail. To do this, you'll want to be aware of how your state treats commercial bail and how you can help your loved one get a low rate.

How Does Commercial Bail Work in Your State?

The first thing that you need to do is find out is what laws your state has about bail. Some states do not allow commercial bail at all, while others restrict the cost of commercial bonds by quite a bit. This can help you get a good idea of how much you will need to spend in order to get your loved one out of jail.

You won't know exactly how much money is involved until the bail hearing, but you can start talking to bondsmen long before then.

Vet Your Options Early

It's a good idea to examine your options and compare rates as early as possible, since that will allow you to pay bail and get your loved one out of jail as quickly as possible. Additionally, talking to a bondsman before the bail hearing can give you a good idea of how much the bail will actually be. These experts are quite familiar with DUI's and have a pretty good idea of how much bail will be involved in the situation as you describe it.

Once you find a bondsman that fits your needs, you can get their contact information. As soon as your loved one has their bail hearing, you can call up the bond agency and arrange a contract. If there is a long line of people waiting for appointments, having a contract can greatly speed up the process, getting your loved one out of jail a few hours or even an entire day early.

Get a Lawyer Discount

Your loved one will likely need a lawyer to help argue their case in court. If they already have a lawyer, then they are off to a good start, but if they don't have a lawyer, you can help them shop for one at a company like Boehmer Law. Once you do find a lawyer, you might find that there is a referral discount for bail. Talk to your lawyer and any potential bail agencies to determine whether they are offering such a discount, which could result in some pretty substantial savings. After all, both the lawyer and the bail agency would benefit from the services of the other.

If your loved one is out of jail on bond, then their lawyer will have an easier time meeting with them, since they won't need to travel to the jail. Similarly, if your loved one has a lawyer, then a bondsman can have much greater faith in the likelihood of your loved one (their client) appearing in court. Few people are willing to spend money on a lawyer and then fail to appear in court.