Is Public Intoxication a Misdemeanor in Memphis?

Posted on May 18, 2022 by karen

Everyone knows that we’re not supposed to drink and drive. Many of us have gotten really good about making sure that whenever we go out to have a good time, we have a plan for getting home that doesn’t involve us driving. In some situations, we simply decide to walk home.

Although walking home while you’re drunk is preferable, you should be aware that it’s still not the safest option. All of the alcohol you’ve consumed slows your response time and dulls your reflexes. Not only does this make you an attractive target to any criminals you may encounter on your walk, but there’s also a chance a patrol officer could notice you staggering home and decide to charge you with public intoxication.

That’s right. Being extremely drunk while in public is a crime.

Public intoxication is a misdemeanor. If you’re convicted, the maximum sentence is:

Six months in a county jail
A $1,000 fine

A public intoxication conviction may be embarrassing but it’s not an offense that will negatively impact your rights. It’s also possible to have the public intoxication charge expunged.

What Happens if You Ignore a Subpoena?

Posted on May 17, 2022 by karen

One of the mistakes some people make when they witness a crime is assuming that since they weren’t actively involved in the crime, they don’t have to be involved in the investigation or trial. This attitude causes some people to ignore a court subpoena. If you’ve been issued a subpoena, you should know that ignoring it is a mistake that will likely result in you getting into legal hot water.

Subpoenas are a very important part of the state’s justice system. To make sure people like you don’t ignore a subpoena, laws have been passed that make ignoring a subpoena punishable. If you’re convicted, you could spend some time in jail.

Many subpoenas are issued because you are a witness and the case depends on your testimony. If you fail to make your court date, the judge will request a Proof of Service document. If this is requested, the next step is issuing a body attachment which is more commonly referred to as a bench warrant. If you’re pulled over for a routine traffic stop, have to call the police for some reason, or the police simply knock on your door, you’ll be arrested immediately.

One of the interesting things about charges related to ignoring a subpoena is that this is one of the Bail Warrant crimes. This is a big deal because it means that once you’re arrested, you aren’t going to be released from jail until your case involving not obeying a subpoena case has been concluded.

Considering how long you could be potentially sitting in a jail cell for ignoring a subpoena, it makes more sense to rearrange your day and simply appear in court rather than pretending you never saw the subpoena.

Penalties for Illegal Street Racing

Posted on May 4, 2022 by karen

Yes, the Fast and the Furious movie franchise made street racing look like a great way of generating some excitement on a Friday night, but before you gather a group of your friend together to see who can drive the fastest, you should know that street racing, drag racing, and other vehicular speed contests aren’t legal on public roads.

In most cases, you’ll find yourself facing misdemeanor charges. If you’re convicted, you’ll go through life with a criminal record and have to pay some extremely hefty fines. You may even spend some time in jail.

In order to secure a guilty conviction in a street racing case, the prosecution must be able to prove that in addition to actually driving the car, you were also aware that you were street racing. You can’t be convicted of street racing if you simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and got swept up in a street racing sting.

You can be charged with street racing if you and another driver challenge one another to a race while sitting at a stoplight. It only takes two people to create an illegal street racing situation.

If you’re convicted of speed racing a second time, you will lose your driving privileges.

While you’re not legally allowed to engage in any type of speed contest while operating a vehicle on public roads, you’re free to do what you like while on private property, including private roads. While the police won’t stop you from street racing on a private road, you still want to be careful. If someone is hurt because of your actions while you’re behind the wheel, it’s possible you’ll be named in a civil case.

Graduation Parties | Consequences of Minors Drinking

Posted on May 4, 2022 by karen

Finally! It’s graduation season. For many students and parents, this is a day they’ve been waiting for their entire lives. They’re finally putting high school behind themselves once and for all and allowing themselves to focus on the future.

If you’re a graduating senior or someone who just likes to hang out with a group of senior friends, remember that while you’re allowed to have a good time and enjoy life, you aren’t legally allowed to consume alcohol. The fact that you’ve graduated from high school doesn’t matter. Getting caught consuming alcohol at a graduation party prior to your 21st birthday can have an immediate negative impact on your future.

One of the first things you need to realize is that you don’t have to be caught actually drinking in order to get into trouble for consuming alcohol when you’re still underage. If you’re surrounded by beer bottles, have a drink in your hand, or simply drank a little bit, you’re still going to be in trouble with the law.

The consequences of getting caught drinking at a graduation party while you’re a minor are both scary and expensive. In most cases, the judges will order you to pay fines and do substantial community service. In some situations, especially if this isn’t the first time you’ve been caught drinking while still a minor, the judge will decide that you should spend some time in jail.

You’re bad decision to drink at a friend’s graduation party even though you were a minor will likely result in you losing your driving privileges for a time. It doesn’t matter that you were smart enough to avoid driving after you were drinking. If you’re caught buying alcohol, using a fake ID to get alcohol, or being in possession of alcohol, your driver’s license will likely be suspended. Not only does this mean you have to beg for a ride whenever you want to hang out with friends, but it also makes getting a summer job more difficult. When you are finally able to drive again, you’ll likely have to pay a significantly higher insurance premium.

An increasing number of colleges are starting to crack down on minors who get caught with alcohol. There have even been reports of scholarships being withdrawn and application approvals getting rescinded.

Considering the long-term impact a single drink can have on your future, it’s in your best interest to avoid alcohol this year while you’re celebrating graduations.

Consequences of Making Annoying Phone Calls

Posted on April 27, 2022 by karen

To you making an annoying phone call might not seem like a big deal. In fact, it’s something many of us did when we were bored teenagers. If you did, hopefully, you outgrew the prank because in this day and age, making an annoying phone call is a misdemeanor. That’s right! Each time you pick up the phone and place an annoying call, you’re breaking the law.

Most of the annoying phone call incidents that generate police attention are either obscene or threatening, the victim is truly threatened and/or terrified. That doesn’t mean prank calls are allowed. A person is free to contact the police if they are getting irritating phone calls when those calls happen over and over again.

It’s important to understand that making annoying phone calls isn’t an infraction. It’s a isdemeanor, which means a conviction will result in you getting a permanent criminal record. If you’re convicted, you could be sentenced to spending six months in jail and/or charged a $1,000 fine.

Other things that fall into the category of annoying phone calls include:

Text messages
Unwanted emails
Letters sent via fax
Unsolicited smartphone photos

The best way to avoid getting charged with annoying phone calls is to stop and consider if you would consider the call annoying, threatening, or repetitive. If you would, don’t make the call.

A Family Member Has Been Arrested

Posted on April 27, 2022 by karen

As far as you know it, getting arrested means that your life is pretty much over. You’re going to be kicked out of school and/ or fired from your job. You won’t get another career-focused job. You won’t get a loan, or an apartment. Your relationships with friends, family, and lovers will be ruined. This is not true.

We understand how stressful and flustered you must feel when you learn a loved one has been arrested. You never expected to have do deal with bail and we will continue to keep that task from you as much as possible. We’ll take care of the paperwork; we’ll take care of the processing with the jail. You take care of your loved one.

What To Expect

1. The family member is arrested and charged with a crime. The District Attorney (DA) will review the case and decide whether or not to file charges. If the DA decides not to move forward with charging the individual with a crime, the case is dismissed and he or she is free to go home.

2. If the DA does file charges, the individual will have an arraignment, at which time he or she will be notified of the charges made against them, and bail will be set.

3. The individual will be able to post bail with the court or through a bail agency. You may need (if you so wish) to help your family member meet the dollar amount for bail. If paying the court directly, the entire bail will need to be paid before he or she can be released. If paying a bail agency, the dollar amount is 10% of the full bail amount, and this can be paid on a schedule after the person is freed. Alternatively, your family member can choose to stay in jail and not pay bail at all.

4. At some point, trial will begin and end, at which time you all will learn of your loved one’s fate: freedom? A prison sentence? Community service?

Don’t psyche yourself out too much about your loved one. The best thing you can do right now is help pay his or her bail and support them.

How Can A Person Be Eligible For Own Recognizance Release?

You can consider being granted “own recognizance” release as the sincerest form of flattery when it comes to bail. This is a no cost bail where a judge will allow a defendant to be released from jail by signing a written promise to attend any and all court appointments. The defendant does not have to pay any money to get out of jail, which is a huge relief since bail is not cheap.

How does a judge decide whether a person is trustworthy enough to be released on own recognizance, or how expensive their bail is if they must pay?

Severity of the crime
Past criminal history, if applicable
Ties to the community
Danger to the community

Still, being released on own recognizance comes with certain conditions. On top of having to show up in court, a judge may require regular check-ins with a probation officer. A judge might also order the defendant curfew or to abstain from alcohol. If the defendant neglects any conditions of his or her release, or gets in trouble again with the law, he or she can be arrested again and bail eligibility would likely be taken away.

Some defendants are not so lucky and will have to pay money for bail. Conditions will still apply, like needing to show up in court and anything else the judge orders. Bail is expensive and if a defendant is unable to pay the court, they are highly encouraged to contact Memphis Bail Bonds. Paying for bail in this manner is more affordable than paying the court directly.

If you would like bail bond help, our company, Memphis Bail Bonds, is your answer. You can learn more details by calling us at (615)544-0000.

What You Need to do to Prepare Yourself for Court

Posted on April 21, 2022 by karen

For the most part, your lawyer will take care of the majority of court preparation over the days and weeks leading up to your court date. However, on the actual day itself, you will need to do a few extra things to prepare and present yourself properly. Your lawyer will also give you some tips of what to do and what not to do for your court appearance:

Dress as if you are going to a business meeting or interview and do not overdo the accessories.
Remove sunglasses and hats in court.
Do not chew gum.
Arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled court time and try and leave young children at home.
Use the restroom before going into the courtroom, and turn off your cell phone.
Sit and stand straight.
Speak clearly and loud enough for the room to hear and only when you are spoken to, and only what you are asked of.
Do not grow angry and argumentative.
Refer to the judge as Your Honor.

How you present and conduct yourself in court will speak to the judge and the jury in addition to the case, facts, and evidence itself. For example, if you get angry, verbal, and disruptive in court, the judge may pause the trial for the day and when you come back, they will be stricter with you. In essence, they are watching you for your behavior.

Listen to and trust your lawyer. If you are out on bail, do not forget to stay on track with bail bond payments. Memphis Bail Bonds will help make sure of this as well.

What if I Miss Court

Did you know that a person who is out on bail is more likely to show up for their court dates? One of the biggest reasons this is true is that their current release could not have happened if it were not for the bail bond co-signer and/ or anyone who pledged collateral.

If the defendant fails to appear in court, the co-signer feels the consequences and the collateral is taken away. So loved ones are betting on the defendant to show up in court; the defendant does not want to let their loved ones down. They want to prove to them, and to everyone, that they can handle this situation maturely and responsibly. This is why they are more likely to show up for court.

We can be reached at (615)544-0000 or online should you have any questions or concerns.

Types of Pleas a Defendant can Enter When Attending Court

Posted on April 21, 2022 by karen

Memphis Bail Bonds has bailed you out of jail and now you’re anxiously and nervously waiting for the day you have to appear in court. What do you do in the interim to prepare yourself? Read up on proper court etiquette.

Do not chew gum.
Dress professionally.
Try to leave restless and disruptive children at home.
Arrive early.
Only speak when you are asked to.
Stand straight and speak clearly.
When asked a yes or no answer, speak “yes” or “no,” do not shake your head.
Refer to the judge as “Your Honor.”
Do not grow angry and argumentative.

You resent your actions that led you to this compromising situation and you are truly sorry for those who have been affected by your actions. Just by showing off your court etiquette, you are already on track to proving to others and the community you will improve your behavior.

Arraignment Hearing

When a person is arrested for committing a crime, they will have an arraignment hearing before the actual trial begins. At a defendant’s arraignment hearing, they learn the charges that are being filed against them. The defendant will then be asked to enter a plea, which they will do so after consulting with their lawyer. There are 3 options for entering a plea:

Guilty

When a defendant pleads guilty, they are conceding and admitting that they did commit the crime for which they were arrested. They waive all rights. The court must consent to this plea. In this case, no trial happens. The judge will announce the consequences and punishment.

Not Guilty

When a defendant pleads not guilty, they are maintaining their innocence in the matter. The police, detectives, and prosecutors will have to prove the case in court beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant will then begin to prepare for a trial.

No Contest

When a defendant pleads no contest, they are not admitting guilt, but they can be punished. In this case though, it cannot be used against them in another proceeding. For example, the defendant can plead no contest to a criminal assault charge and they will be sentenced for punishment. If they are facing a civil suit, this criminal assault charge cannot be used against them. The court must consent to a No Contest plea.

If a defendant pleads either “not guilty” or “no contest,” then the judge at the arraignment hearing will proceed to announce whether or not the defendant can post bail to be freed from custody for the duration of trial. If they are denied bail, they will remain in custody. If they are granted bail, then it is up to the defendant and his or her loved ones to come up with the money, and or bail bond, so that the defendant can be released.

If the defendant pleads guilty, then they will not be granted bail because they will report immediately to their punishment.

If you would like more information on bail and bail bonds, please contact Memphis Bail Bonds online or at (615)544-0000.

Does Bail Need to be Posted Right Away?

Posted on April 20, 2022 by karen

You’ve just gotten a call from a loved one. They’ve been arrested. They’re scared. They know how much bail is needed but they don’t have the funds available. You’ve agreed to help but aren’t sure how much time you have to act.

The first thing you need to do is stop and take a deep breath. You’ve got this!

Yes, your loved one wants to be released from jail as quickly as possible but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a little time and think about the situation. The good news is that you’re loved one’s bail doesn’t have to be posted right away. Yes, they may have to spend a few more hours or days in jail, but they’ll be fine. Bail doesn’t have a time frame. It can be posted right away or six months after you’re loved one was arrested. You’re free to take as much time as you need to decide how you want to handle the situation. You deserve to take your time and approach this project with a clear head.

The second thing you want to do is decide how you want to cover your loved one’s bail. Do you have enough money to cover the bail yourself or do you need the help of a bail bonds agency? If you decide you need an agency, you’ll want to give yourself enough time to research all the local ones so that you can choose the one that’s the most reputable.

Once you’ve selected a bail bonds agency you want to work with, you must learn what kind of things you need to secure a bail bond. Find out if you’ll need a co-signer if you have to use anything as collateral, what your responsibilities are as the signer of the bail bond, and if you qualify for any discounts or payment programs. Make sure you ask lots of questions during your initial consultation with the agency.

Before you sign with a bail bonds agency, you need to have a serious conversation with your loved one. This conversation is to make sure you’re both going into this process with your eyes wide open. Make sure you discuss who is paying the 1% to 5% fee the bail bond agency requires, what is at stake if they fail to attend their court dates, what rules they have to follow while their out on bail, and what you expect them to do after they’re released from jail.

This is one of those situations where everyone must be on the same page.

If you or a loved one finds themselves in need of a bail bond, it’s in your best interest to contact Memphis Bail Bonds. We have a long history of helping people just like you. We offer free consultation, flexible payment plans, easy-to-understand contracts, and 24/7 service.

Feel free to call (615)544-0000 for a free consultation.

Make Sure you Choose a Reputable Bail Bonds Agency

Posted on April 20, 2022 by karen

When you learn that one of your loved ones has been arrested and needs you to help them secure a bail bond, the kneejerk reaction is to call the first bail bonds company you see and sign a contract.

Granted, there is a chance that this could work out in your favor and you could find yourself working with a wonderful bail bonds agency that truly cares for both you and your loved one. The problem is that there’s also a chance you could find yourself dealing with a shady business that leaves you in a worse situation than what you were in before you contacted them.

Given how much money you will pay the bail bonds agency and the fact that you’ll be linked to them for several months, it’s in your best interest to choose the most reputable bail bond agency you can find.

Here are some things you should look for that tell you you’re dealing with a reputable company.

Free Consultations

A free consultation is a good sign. Not only does it provide you with a free way of learning about the bail bonds process and the Tennessee bail program, but it’s also an excellent way to establish a connection.

If you’re dealing with a reputable bail bond agency, they will use the consultation to answer all of your questions, get some background information on your loved one, and make sure you fully understand how the bail bond system works. What you shouldn’t experience during the consultation is pressure to make a fast decision and sign with the agency.

Upfront Fees

A reputable bail bonds agency will be upfront about all their fees and charges. The standard fee for a bail bond is 1% to 5% of the set bail price. In some cases, it may be a little less if the agency offers a good discount, but it shouldn’t be more.

Some disreputable agencies will try to pad the fee by adding some hidden charges to the bill. If the agency isn’t upfront about all the items on their bill, or if they try to charge more than 1% to 5%, you need to look for a different bail bond agency.

They Have a Good Reputation at the Jail

There’s nothing that says you can’t ask officers and court officials who are hanging around at the jail for suggestions about reputable bail bond agencies. They’ll probably be happy to provide you with a few ideas.

Memphis Bail Bonds has been operating for several decades. We have a reputation for fair prices, outstanding customer service, and for writing bail bonds and springing people from jail in a short time frame. When one of your loved ones requires bail, we suggest calling us. We’re confident we can help. We’re open 24/7 and all consultations are free.

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