Can Defendants Travel While Out On Bail?

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One of the more common concerns with bail bond release terms is whether or not the defendant is allowed to travel while out on bail. The answer can vary from defendant to defendant, and depends on the situation. Here are some examples:

Jane, out on bail, has no travel restrictions. This means she is allowed to travel to a neighboring city, another state, even out of the country. She just needs to make sure she shows up for her court appointments.

Gavin just posted bail and has travel restrictions. He is a California resident, and is only allowed to travel to Oregon, Washington, and Arizona for family, friends, and business. Any states other than those are off-limits. If he violates these terms, he can be taken back into custody. Gavin needs to make sure he shows up for court appointments.

How Will Bail Affect My Holiday Travel Plans?

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Holiday travel is something you planned on doing for a few months now. Your recent arrest was unexpected, a spur of the moment situation that unraveled the wrong way. Now you have to deal with the aftermath, comply with release terms, and stay out of trouble. So how will this affect your holiday travel plans?

The best case scenario is that your arrest and bail will not conflict with your holiday plans. The judge did not put any travel restrictions into play, and your court appearances occur before and after your travel period.

In another scenario, the judge may enforce travel restrictions. For example, you may only be allowed to travel within your home state, or within a handful of states...