Learn About DUI Bail Bonds in Texas
Being charged with a DUI is serious, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience if you have the right people on your side. In Texas, a DUI or DWI arrest can lead to a lot of potential legal charges and consequences. (Note: driving under the influence (DUI) is the term that most people are familiar with, but the courts typically refer to it as DWI or driving while intoxicated.)
It’s important to know what to expect when being charged with a DWI, including whether a Texas based bail bond agent could help you get out of jail and back to your life while awaiting trial.
Bail Amounts for Texas DWI Arrests
When someone is arrested for driving while intoxicated, a judge will look at the circumstances of the case and set conditions for their release while awaiting trial. While more minor crimes often result in people getting released from jail on “their own personal recognizance,” DWI cases usually require bail to secure the defendant’s release.
First-time offenders in Texas will usually see total bail amounts ranging from $200 to $1,000 for DWI arrests. For second or concurrent offenses or felony DWI cases, bail could go as high as $10,000 or be denied entirely. The factors that affect bail include:
-Previous convictions for violent crimes, felonies, or other DWIs that indicate someone is a danger to their community.
-Evidence of someone being a flight risk or likely to fail to appear in court or attempt to flee.
-Refusing to submit to the blood alcohol content (BAC) breath test after arrest.
-The behavior of the person during the traffic stop and/or arrest, including whether they complied with the officer’s requests.
If someone is involved in a serious DWI involving another person’s injury or death, they could be charged with intoxication assault or manslaughter. The exact charge will depend on the injuries or fatalities, and the severity of the punishment will usually depend on these factors, as well as criminal history and any other DWI conviction on record. The severity of the charge will also be a factor the judge considers when setting the defendant’s bail amount.
Posting Bond or Bail
Few people have the money available to pay their total bail amount outright. For some defendants, even coming up with $1,000 might seem impossible. For that reason, it’s a good idea to contact a bail bondsman for assistance in getting out of jail.
When you work with bail bond companies in Texas, they will post a bond on your behalf to the court. That bond is the bondsman’s promise to the court that you (the defendant) will appear at future court dates. In exchange for this service, the bail bond agent will require you to pay a nonrefundable fee that is typically 10% of the total bail amount. Once the bail bond agent has posted bond on your behalf, you will be released from jail until your court date.
No money is exchanged between the bail company and the court when a bail company posts bond on your behalf. A bond is only a promise to appear. If the defendant doesn’t appear in court, a bench warrant will be issued for their arrest, and the bond will be revoked. If the defendant does appear for all court dates, the bond will be considered satisfied, and the bond company’s relationship with the defendant will end.
Contact a Professional to Discuss Your DWI Arrest
In addition to hiring a qualified attorney for your DWI case, you also need to work with a reputable provider of DUI bail bonds in Texas. That will ensure that you get the best chances of having bond posted on your behalf. It’s wise to start by hiring an experienced DWI attorney, since they could help get your total bail amount reduced – that in turn makes paying the bail bondsman’s 10% fee even more affordable.
DWI charges are serious, but thanks to the bail bondsman offering DUI bail bonds in Texas, you can get back to your life while you’re awaiting your next court date.