They are also reminding parents to adhere to some rules of thumb while out and about this Oct. 31.

• Urge children to use common sense.
• Remind children they are not to enter the home of a stranger.
• Have kids stick to trick-or-treating in neighborhoods they know.
• Ensure that costumes are visible in the dark so that passenger vehicles can see them.  Reflective tape and/or using glow sticks can help drivers see children as they dart around the street.

If your adult fun included alcohol, be wise; do not drink and drive. Not only will police throughout California be out in force all weekend, but drunk driving can be deadly. So, be safe:

• If you’re going out drinking, plan ahead how you will get home
• Have a designated driver
• If someone your with has been drinking, contact friends or family, or call for a cab
• Never let an intoxicated person drive themselves home, even just around the corner.

If you or someone you know does get arrested for a DUI, you may not need bail. This varies based on the jurisdiction and the circumstances. If you call us, we will provide you help based on your specific circumstances for any California jail. (Our number is 1-888-224-5266; it’s easy enough to remember from the drunk tank: 888-BAIL-BOND; 8+8+8=BAIL BONDS 24 Hours!)

The Los Angeles Police Department is advising that those who are attending parties to plan a safe way hope prior to arriving and/or to designate a sober driver to get them home at the end of the night. It’s also recommended those who have had a few too many drinks call a taxi, friend, roommate, or family member or to take public transportation to get home.  It’s further suggested that if you see someone who is visibly impaired who is about to get behind the wheel, to take their keys and assist in getting them home safely.

In our experience, most people who are arrested for first time DUI are released without bail about 8-12 hours after arrest, depending on their blood alcohol level. Repeat offenders, drivers involved in accidents or others with mitigating circumstances will require bail bonds to obtain release from jail. Additionally, certain jurisdications such as Burbank and all of San Diego County require bail for every DUI arrest.

Patch reports that a sobriety checkpoint will be conducted between 8 p.m. Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday at Ventura Boulevard and Big Oak Drive in Studio City. A second checkpoint will be conducted between 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 a.m. Sunday at Sunset Boulevard and Bronson Avenue in Hollywood.

Friday, September 2, 2011 Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

- Venice Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Wilshire Area
- Topanga Boulevard and Califa Street in Topanga Area

Saturday, September 3, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

• Venice Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard in Pacific Area
• Western Avenue and Slauson Avenue in 77th Street Area
• Figueroa Street and 9th Street in Central Area

Sunday, September 4, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Harbor Boulevard and 1st Street in Harbor Area

If you’re going to be drinking, please plan accordingly. Remember, the police are looking for “impared” driving or “driving under the influence” — litterally. Buzzed driving is going to get you in just as much trouble.

This year, the California Highway Patrol was especially busy on LA’s freeways, having made 236 DUI arrests as compared to the 158 they made last year between 6:01 p.m. Christmas Eve and 6 a.m. Sunday. Miraculously, no fatalities were reported (four occurred during the 2008 holiday week).

Meanwhile, in other Southern California counties, “business” continued to be equally brisk.  The Orange County CHP made 22 DUI arrests — the same as last year, but no fatalities were reported. In San Diego, the CHP reported 38 DUI arrests and 2 fatalities, as compared to 27 arrests last year.

In the entire state, 16 people have died in alcohol related traffic accidents, matching exactly the number of fatalities reported in 2008. Law enforcement officials will be conducting more anti-DUI round ups in nearly every city in Los Angeles County around the New Year’s holiday, through to Jan. 3, 2010.

AVOID, which studies DUI numbers, would like to remind drivers that the year-end holiday period is one of the deadliest times to be out on the road.  They encourage the public to report any drunk drivers they see by calling 911.

The AVOID campaign is funded by a California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant.

Earlier this week, Robin told us about the upcoming Labor Day Weekend DUI crackdowns. She painted a likely scenario of having martini’s and partying like a rock star, then foolishly driving home. But what does it really take to get a DUI?

You probably how you think most people get a DUI after a night of partying hard, but think again. Let’s just say you go to dinner have two glasses of wine. Pay the valet and head home. What’s with the traffic up ahead? DUI Checkpoint, but you’re fine, you just had a couple of glasses of wine… you unroll the window, the officer quickly shines a flashlight near you, your eyes give you away because they dilate involuntarily – especially if you’ve had a couple of drinks. “Step out of the vehicle,” says the officer. You’re still thinking no problem here… Think again, DUI is about being under the influence and you are! Sorry, but this is going to cost you.

You will be arrested and jailed if you’ve been drinking, you’re stopped and your blood alcohol level is found to be .08% or even under! 

According to commonly utilized alcohol impairment charts, many women would be over the limit with just one drink. Men may be legally under the limit with even four drinks, but .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is just a guideline. Driving under the influence is a per se law. This  means that the officer’s observations will be the first and foremost decide if you will be arrested. Handcuffs anyone?

When you are arrested for DUI (DWIin some states), you will generally be charged with two crimes: 1) Driving Under the Influence and 2) Driving with a blood alcohol over the legal limit – the higher your BAC, the more seriously the crime will be prosecuted.

As a bail bondsman, my experience with DUI is “after the fact”. Calls we get are often from jail, but sometimes are from friends or family looking to get a loved one out of jail. Generally, DUI arrestees will simply be held until they have “sobered up” and will not need bail. In California, this is six to nine hours. (Note that few jurisdictions do hold DUI suspects for bail or arraignment. For example, you will need bail in Burbank if you get arrested for DUI.)

There are other mitigating circumstances. If there was an accident, the BAC was particularly high or there have been DUIs, the suspect will generally not be released without bail.

Hopefully, you’ve just read information that will prompt you to plan ahead and not take chances. Drinking and driving is serious, not just because you could be inconvenienced by an arrest, but because it’s dangerous. Please think and act accordingly, not just over the holiday weekends, but always.

Photocredit: © Rob Byron- Fotolia.com

It’s Labor Day weekend. Your  best friend’s hosting the swankiest end-of-summer party and all your  beautiful friends are there.  You hit the martini bar a couple of times,  maybe have a beer or two toward the end of the night because you know you need to drive in a couple of hours… It’s  now after midnight. You have an early work meeting in the morning so you bid your good nights. You go to grab your keys  in your pocket but hey, they’re not there. Oh, that’s right -other pocket. Hmm, maybe you left them on the kitchen table…  Hello? Wake up!  If you do end up finding them, don’t even think about using those keys to drive a car. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), GHSA and local law enforcement are joining forces across the nation this year to take part in the campaign called Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. 

But they aren’t waiting for Labor Day. There are currently 41 ‘Avoid DUI Task forces’ out in effect.  Starting August 21st, 2009 and going through September 7th there will be 111 individual jurisdictions mounting enforcement mobilizations.  To top that off, look out for any extra check points placed randomly throughout the state, including increased saturation patrols covering; get this, 98% of the entire state of California’s population!

That’s right. Don’t even think about it. Simply and smartly, don’t take the chance.

In California on your first DUI offense, your license will be suspended for 4 months. You’ll get increased penalties if your blood level alcohol concentration is above .15%. Your car will be confiscated and impounded, but  you’ll still have to make the payments. And that’s just the beginning.  I’m assuming if you still have a job in this economy, you’ll probably want to hold on to it.  A clean record helps.

Instead of grabbing those keys yourself: 

1. Ask your friend or host of the party if you can spend the night.
2. Call a taxi. There are many communities that offer the Safe Rides program for a free ride home. You can always get your car later. (As for your morning meeting, you aren’t getting there if you get arrested. You will be in jail until the authorities decide you’re sober, which is generally 9 hours.)
3. Choose a designated driver or ask a non-drinking friend to help get you home.
4. You may have a cell phone. Call your mom or dad, sister or brother, cousin or uncle. They’ll understand.
5. And, when you do get that ride home, always wear your seat belt. You never know who else visited the martini bar a few times and had trouble finding their keys before they got behind the wheel.

Finally, if you really just don’t think this applies to you: Call me at 1-888-BAIL BOND from whatever jail you’ve landed in anywhere in California.  I’ll bail you out.

Photocredit: © mario beauregard- Fotolia.com

In Los Angeles, the Cinco de Mayo holiday has quickly become the leading Mexican holiday. It has surpassed Mexican Independence day which lands every year on September 16th.

The Cinco de Mayo holiday also comes with the connotation of heavy drinking, wily crowds and numerous arrests. There are millions of dollars spent annually on this day of celebration, most of which plays into the marketing of alcohol as one of the most important elements of the holiday. With television commercials from beer and tequila companies, commercialism has played a major role, coining it one of the ‘biggest drinking holidays’ of the year.

So revelers beware. In Los Angeles, law enforcement agencies will be out patrolling in force. There will be sobriety checkpoints set up in different areas of the city. You may also need to be aware even if you’re not over the .08 legal limit, at the officer’s discretion, if found you’ve been impaired at all, they will take you to jail.

If you are arrested, as Tonya has pointed out in a previous article about  what to do if arrested:

• Never argue with the arresting officers.
• Don’t run away from or touch the officers.
• Keep your hands in view at all times.
• Be polite.
• Give your real, true name; because bailing out somene from jail named “John Doe” or “Sue Z. Cue” is next to impossible.

Landing in jail is not a very  fun way to end the day while celebrating… freedom. So, as you toast your first “salud” on Cinco de Mayo and start to forget the rest of what I’ve said, remember: Call 1-888 BAIL BOND if you do get arrested. We’re here for your 24 hours a day.

Photocredit: © Alexei Ryskin – Fotolia.com