214-747-4110
163 Pittsburg Street, Suite A2, Dallas, TX 75207
940-383-4600
909 E. McKinney St., Denton, TX 76209
972-562-6057
1502 W. University Suite #101, McKinney, TX 75069
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As 2019 draws to a close and people all across the DFW Metroplex prepare to celebrate the dawning of a new year, you can bet police will be on high alert for anyone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Sometimes they set up roadblocks where drivers must submit to a sobriety test, and failure means a quick trip to jail. Is this legal? What should you do if you run into a DUI checkpoint this holiday season? Doc's Bail Bonds has the answers. We'll also bail you out 24/7 if you get hit with a drunk driving charge.
That's a gray area. While the Texas government has not specifically approved DUI checkpoints, they get treated like legal roadblocks for all intents and purposes. Opponents claim they violate a driver's right to protection from unreasonable search because everyone on the road gets pulled over and questioned, even if the officers had no probable cause to detain them. You are within your legal rights to refuse a field sobriety test or breathalyzer, but such a refusal can lead to criminal charges.
Getting out of jail is a chore, but Doc's Bail Bonds makes it go as smoothly as possible. During the holidays, you don't want to wait while a loved one sits behind bars. So what does the bail bond and check-in process look like at Doc's? Here's a guide so you'll know how we do things at our trusted Dallas bail bond company.
Every holiday, someone gets arrested for doing something reckless – like road destruction, for example. The state considers it an offense for anyone to damage a sign or a telephone pole by running into it. If your loved one gets arrested, it's up to a family member or friend to bail them out. Enter Doc's Bail Bonds.
When a father, mother, or friend calls up Doc's to post a bond, we assess what kind of a charge you're posting for and work from there. If the offense is a Class C Misdemeanor, bonds run from about $500-$750. Smaller crimes, or Class B misdemeanors, typically post for $150. Everyone who needs a bond must come to the office and co-sign for it themselves, since Doc's can't post any bonds without a signature (two signatures are needed – the co-signer and the arrestee's).
Identity theft is still a problem today. According to a 2019 study by Javelin Strategy and Research, 14.4 million people in America fell victim to identity fraud in 2018, representing a total of $14.7 billion dollars in losses.
But how is it that so much crime happens during the holidays? Many people observe the chaos of the season and determine to take advantage of the shopping rushes, charitable giving, and unoccupied homes to commit acts of crime spanning the whole nation. Even with the police ramping up their vigilance during the holidays, somebody's holiday out there is ruined by those on the loose during this festive season.
Here's a list of the top five most common crimes during the holidays and how to avoid falling victim to them.
Where there's online shopping, there's identity theft. As mentioned above, it's a very real threat to those going about purchasing items this holiday season as well as year-round. But identity theft experts have a way of stealing personal information, including a social security number and credit card number, by means of pretexting, phishing, skimming, and old-fashioned physical stealing.
Are the conditions in Dallas County jails really all that grueling?
Lew Sterrett Justice Center is one of Dallas County's largest jails, otherwise known as the gloomy compound sitting alongside Trinity River. Constructed in 1993, it's a relative eyesore on the river. And in January of last year, Shannon Daves, a homeless and unemployed resident in Dallas County, found herself trapped inside. Without the money to pay for her $500 bail for alleged shoplifting from Macy's, she had to wait out her unconvicted sentence behind the bars of Lew Sterrett.
Daves described the path she went on to the local ACLU during her time of arrest in Lew Sterrett. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty.
When Daves arrived in jail, she watched as some of her fellow inmates broke down within 24 to 48 hours. The jail restricted water usage to two toilet flushes per day and a 6 oz cup of water every few hours. Reflecting on her time in Lew Sterrett, Daves mused that the amount of water received didn't seem reasonable enough to expect inmates to be 'ok'.
According to national statistics, two-thirds of all of the people behind bars have not been convicted of a crime. Although the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution prohibits excessive bail, the price range remains just out of reach for many Americans who still simply can't afford to pay it.
High bail costs are a huge reason why arrested, non-convicted citizens stay locked up for months or years at a time. But don't give up hope. Here are several things you can do when you or someone you know can't afford to pay bail.
Bail amounts are not set in stone. Anyone can hire a criminal defense lawyer to plead their case before the judge and request a lower bail. Your criminal defense lawyer can successfully work with the court to negotiate a lower bail amount. If the bail amount places an undue economic hardship on the defendant, for example, the bail may be lowered, but that decision ultimately rests with the judge.
Failing to appear in court will forfeit your bail bond deposit, return you to jail, and force you to put money down on a new bail bond. With consequences like these, who would miss a court date?
According to research by the Bureau of Justice from 1990-2004, the vast majority of defendants who miss their court date isn't because they're trying to flee town. Here are a few reasons why people often miss their court date, even when the stakes are high.
Prosecutors often say that suspects failing to appear in court is a means of evading justice. But oftentimes, it's extenuating circumstances that keep folks from showing up in court.
Jonathan Broad, a 57-year-old man residing in a New York City homeless shelter, was arrested for drug possession. Broad was suffering from heart trouble, asthma and diabetes. His bail was set to $3,000. When he couldn't pay his bail amount, Broad knew that getting locked up in jail could be his death.
Governor Greg Abbott called for statewide bail reform after Texas officer Damon Allen was killed in 2017. The man who killed Allen was previously convicted of assaulting an officer in 2015, as well as ramming into a deputy's vehicle two years later. For the first conviction, he served one year in jail. For the second conviction, he was released on a $15,500 bond, according to Smith County local news. However, the issue highlighted was the fact that the judge allowed bail. Because the man who killed Allen was clearly a risk to the public, he should not have been given the option. The judge who set the bail said he was unaware of the man's previous convictions.
The proposed bill—titled the Damon Allen Act—surfaces as several counties in Texas (as well as municipalities across the country) fight lawsuits challenging their existing bail practices. Harris County, which includes Houston, recently announced dramatic changes to its current bail practices. These specifically address its detainment of defendants accused of minor offenses.
The heated debate around Dallas' bail bond system has been an ongoing issue for several years now. After a series of lawsuits (and counter-lawsuits), both Dallas and Harris County are finding themselves torn in the middle of an inconclusive back-and-forth—a limbo, if you will. Today, Dallas lawmakers and county officials are planning to implement a new system; one that strikes a balance between our current bail process and one that eliminates bail for detainees considered 'flight risks,' or a 'danger to society.'
For context, Governor Greg Abbott introduced the Damon Allen Act in 2018, named after a Texas State Trooper who was gunned down by a violent criminal recently released on bail. Because the murderer's previous charges included assault of a deputy sheriff, the crime's controversial nature prompted Texas lawmakers to propose limiting bail options to specific, non-violent individuals.
While this particular bill is still being debated, one thing is certain: the algorithm-based system determining who can get a bail bond—which other counties and states already use—is likely a big part of Dallas's future. Here are a few things you need to know about this system, and why it's a big deal.
If you found out about an active warrant for your arrest, you may have a hundred thoughts running through your mind. For what? Is the Dallas Police Department (DPD) looking for you? Can you drive?
Before anything, you must know exactly why you have a warrant, and what it's for. Depending on who you are, you may know exactly what it's for. Other times, it may simply be due to forgetting to pay a ticket (which is common). Before you take any steps towards trying to resolve this situation, you must know the details of your warrant. Some examples of key information you need to know are:
While your warrant notice (the letter) states all the above information, it never hurts to learn more. With your unique case number (as stated in the letter), you can find your detailed records either online or over the phone.
To find all the details about your current legal status (and important records), contact your county clerk's office. Many forget to use this vital resource when dealing with legal issues, as it holds the complete legal record of each citizen within its jurisdiction. By Googling 'county clerk,' you'll be able to pull up the nearest records department to you, and all the ways you can contact them.
If you've recently been arrested, we understand the last few days were tough. This is especially true if you missed work—and even worse if you didn't get to call your boss ahead of time. While it's a terrible thing to happen, it happens to the best of us. The folks at Doc's Bail Bonds fully understand the gravity of this scenario and have seen it play out thousands of times during our field of work—which is why we've decided to share some advice on how to keep your job after an arrest.
We're aware most bail bond companies don't have true concern for the overall well-being of their clients, perhaps feeding into the common stereotype of The Greedy Bailbondsman™️. However, there are many benefits when working with an honest, genuine, and reputable bail bond company—such as free advice. That's why we've compiled a short list of ways to tell your boss about your arrest safely.
First, what do we mean by 'safely?' This means it's done in a way that is both honorable and honest; two very distinct traits most celebrated by most employers in North Texas.
With six offices in 5 counties, Doc's Bail Bonds serves the following areas, including but not limited to Dallas, Denton, McKinney, Bonham, Garland, Sherman, Allen, Frisco, Richardson, Carrollton, Irving, Mesquite, Farmers Branch, Flower Mound, Lewisville, The Colony, Dallas County, Fannin County, Denton County, Collin County, and Grayson County.
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