Know the New Smoking Age Limit in California

If you are 18, 19, or 20 years old and wondering why you are suddenly being denied cigarette purchases at your local convenience store, it is because the state of California has risen the legal smoking age to 21. You may be very bummed or upset about this, but it is the law and you have to follow it, as does the cashier at the store who used to sell you cigs. The store could be fined and lose its license to sell if they are caught selling cigarettes to minors and you could face some consequences if you are caught, just like you’d face consequences for underage drinking.

The purpose of this age limit increase, as you might guess, is to curb smoking among teens. A lot of people do it, but we all know the health risks that are carried with smoking, and that is what is at stake...

Everything and More at San Francisco Bail Bond Store

  • Free consultations
  • Customized payment plans
  • Accepts cash, check, credit, debit
  • Secure and convenient online payment portal
  • 24/7 state-wide availability
  • Zero interest
  • No hidden fees
  • Discounts available for qualifying individuals
  • Can be taken care of over the phone
  • Confidential and professional care
  • Friendly, approachable, and reliable bail agents
  • Almost 30 years in the bail bond industry
  • More success stories than most competitors

What more can you ask for in a bail bond company? It might sound too good to be true, but at San Francisco Bail Bond Store, it is all very much true. We ask the lowest fees and rates, and we genuinely care about each and every one of our clients. We do this because we want to help piece your family back together by bailing
your loved one out of jail.

Let us hel...

How to Pay Less for Your Old, Unpaid Traffic Tickets

Stop letting your unpaid traffic and non-traffic infraction tickets pile up. If you do a little research, you might find that you qualify for California’s one-time amnesty program that will run until March 2017. Here are quick points to find out if you are eligible:

  • Your unpaid tickets must have a January 1, 2013 due date, or you have a suspended driver’s license and are making payments on that ticket.
  • Reckless driving offenses, DUI offenses, and parking violations are not included in the relief program.

If you are eligible, you will find that you now only have to pay a smaller amount on the ticket, not the original full amount. The new fee will be calculated based on income level and other factors.

The purpose of this amnesty program is to provide relief for individuals who have fa...

Talk About Excessive Bail!

The 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the people from excessive bail. The word excessive is subjective, but we are pretty sure that the majority of the people would agree that the most expensive bails in U.S. history are excessive.

  • Michael Milken- $250 million; racketeering and fraud on Wall Street in 1989.
  • Kening Ma – $100 million; selling vehicles without proper safety certifications.
  • Bernie Madoff – $10 million; $50 billion Ponzi scheme.

There are a handful of names that fit in between these bail amounts to complete the list of most expensive bails in U.S. history, but we will let you look for them if you are interested.

If you have a loved one in jail, and find that his or her bail is too excessive for you to pay alone, you are not out of luck...

California Voting Rights for Felons

As you know, this is a Presidential Election year and recently, you have had a run-in with the law. Voting is a right. Is it still your right if you are in jail, on probation, or on parole? Find out here.

Question: My partner is currently serving time in prison, and will still be there during the election. Can he/ she vote?
Answer: No. No person actively serving time during the election may vote.

Question: My partner will be out of prison and on parole during election. Can he/ she vote?
Answer: No, any offender on parole during election time cannot vote. Once they are off parole, their voting rights will automatically be restored.

Question: Can my partner vote if he/ she is on probation during election time?
Answer: Yes...

How to Deal With Getting Pulled Over By the Cops

Getting pulled over by the police is always, on some level, nerve-racking, whether you know what the reason for getting pulled over is or not. Maybe you are drinking and driving, or maybe you do not know that your taillight is out. You do not want to make a wrong move, but you also do not want to look nervous to the point that you look suspicious. Hopefully these tips will help you out if you get pulled over:

  • Pull over in a safe place as soon as possible.
  • Turn off your car.
  • Turn your inside lights on.
  • Roll down the window when the officer approaches.
  • Do not make quick, sudden movements before the officer walks up, even if you are getting your license since reaching into your purse can raise suspicion.
  • Keep your hands on the wheel.
  • Retrieve your license, registration, and insurance when t...
  • Detention and Arrest Are Different

    Detention in school was simply staying late one day, and sitting in room with a handful of other students, and a teacher, either doing homework or nothing at all. Detention outside of school, when you are an adult, is not quite the same. This is when you are briefly stopped by the police and/ or taken to their precinct. They have reasonable suspicion to stop and ask you a few questions, but if you are not being arrested, then you may leave.

    If the officer’s reasonable suspicion grows to probable cause, then he or she may arrest you, and then you may not leave until you are booked, arraigned and allowed bail, and then post bail. Only when bail is posted may you leave, but because you were arrested, you will have to deal with lawyers and trials too...

    San Francisco Bail Bond Store Makes Bail Easier and More Affordable

    You probably think that bailing someone out of jail is difficult to do, especially since it means letting a possible criminal out in public. Yes, bailing out of jail can be difficult and challenging, but only if you do not know the best way to do this.

    For one, you do not have to attack this challenge on your own. Secondly, it does not have to be as expensive as the bail amount the judge declared.

    To get the best from your situation, hire a professional bail agent from San Francisco Bail Bond Store, one of California’s leading bail bonds companies. Your bail agent will be there to assist you each step of the way. You know how valuable it is to have a professional with you when you really do not know too much about the situation yourself, so why not seek help from a bail agent?

    San Franci...

    Probable Cause vs. Reasonable Suspicion

    To you, reasonable suspicion and probable cause sound like they mean the same thing. However, to San Francisco Bail Bond Store, the police, and the court, these have different, though similar, meanings.

    Reasonable Suspicion:
    Reasonable assumption that a crime has taken place, is taking place, or will take place, based on a police officer’s professional training and experience. It is a broader educated guess that can lead to a probable cause.

    Probable Cause:
    Probable cause is logical belief that a crime has taken place, is taking place, or will take place. The difference is that probable cause is much more heavily supported by hard, concrete facts and circumstances.

    A person can be arrested because of probable cause, then they will need to appear in an arraignment, then they might be abl...

    How to Party In College, a Lesson from San Francisco Bail Bond Store

    As much as all of you college-aged kids do not want to go back to school for academics, we bet you are excited to see all of your friends again and to not be under Mom and Dad’s roof. You have the best time at college; living with friends, going to parties, and being on your own.

    Partying and drinking are a big thing at colleges, and we would not want your college experience to go downhill. We are not going to tell you to stay away from alcohol and parties, but we will tell you to drink and party safely. Here are some tips that can help prevent trouble:

    • Designate a sober driver; do not drink and drive.
    • Keep your eyes on your cup at all times; do not set it down, turn away from it, then pick it up and drink from it.
    • Pour/ open your own drink, or watch someone else as they do it for you; ...