While the rest of the country may be debating what to do about cannabis, Californians have already decided. California recently legalized marijuana for recreational use. We followed several other states like Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. While we weren’t the first ones to legalize weed recreationally, we are still one of the eight states that allows it recreationally. However, like with alcohol and cigarettes, there are laws that have to be followed.

Arguably the most important place to follow the law is behind the wheel. When a person steps behind the wheel of a vehicle they greatly increase the chances of causing harm to someone. Vehicle related deaths are some of the highest in the nation.

Before California allowed the sale of recreational marijuana, they passed several laws in anticipation. In particular they passed a law in regards to driving while smoking. According to this law, written by Sen. Jerry Hill, if a person is caught smoking marijuana while operating a vehicle, or while riding in a vehicle, they can be subjected to a violation. The violation will include a fine of $70.

This really isn’t a new law for us. It’s already illegal to drive while intoxicated. Obtaining a DUI isn’t because you were drunk, it just means you were under the influence of some kind of substance. Along with not being intoxicated while driving, you cannot have an open container of cannabis in your vehicle. This is similar to you not being allowed to have an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

Since we are one of the few states that have legalized the use of marijuana recreationally, we have to be the role model for other states in the future. As time continues, more studies will be released in regards to the use of marijuana, which will broaden our understanding of the subject as a whole. Until then, exercise caution, and just follow the law.

It is summertime in California, which means singing along to your favorite tunes and hanging out with friends. All year long you’ve been waiting to let go, go on vacation, and bring out your favorite summer playlist. You’ve got your swimsuit on, and the car packed for the beach. You’re all set, right? Wrong. You’ve forgotten to think about your safety, and the safety of those around you.

Even though you want to be carefree this summer, you still need to take the necessary steps to be safe. Before heading out anywhere alone, notify a family member, or close friend of your plans. It may seem ridiculous, but if something were to happen to you while you were alone, no one would know. Notifying someone of your plans allows them to know where you are, and to worry about you if they don’t hear back from you at some point. Traveling alone this summer can be a freeing experience, but can turn into a criminal mystery real quick if no one knows you plans.

If you’re traveling with friends this summer, talk about your plans. If you all plan on spending the night before drinking the night away, it’s best to set up an alternative way home, instead of driving yourselves. Knowing ahead of time that you plan on taking a taxi home will help eliminate the drama of last minute changes of plans. It also gives your group of friends the peace of mind of who is the designated driver. Most importantly, it doesn’t allow any drunk driving to occur.

Summer is all about exploring, but don’t surround yourself with strangers. Going to a party alone with strangers is a recipe for disaster. Party settings are usually full of drinking, smoking, and people making bad decisions. Don’t let yourself be in that kind of situation. Bringing a friend that you know to a party will bring you some peace of mind. If things don’t go well at the party, you’ll have a familiar face that you know you can count on.

Summer is the best time to cut loose and be a little crazy. However, you still need to be safe, and accountable for your actions. You can still have a carefree summer, just take a few small steps to remain safe. These small steps could make the difference between life and death. That may seem too serious for the summertime, but situations can turn deadly if no one took the necessary precautionary steps.

It’s a situation no one ever wants to be in, but it’s one that you may face in your lifetime.

Picture this: You’ve just been arrested, you’ve been booked and given a bail amount, and you’ve called someone for assistance. Now, you sit and wait in a holding cell while a loved one contacts a bail agent to help obtain your freedom. However, there’s a problem. The bail agency cannot issue a bond because, after running a credit report, their credit score isn’t high enough.

This is a serious problem because now you’re forced to sit in jail and wait until your court appearance. However, this is an avoidable problem. The answer is simple – keep your credit score up so that you never have to worry about it being too low to be approved. But what exactly is a good credit score? There is no right answer, however, according to ExperianExperian a credit score can range between 300 and 850. See below for an in-depth look at the credit score breakdown, courtesy of Experian.

In order to help ensure you and your loved ones have a good enough credit score to be approved for a bail bond, a home, or anything in between, we’ve compiled a list of three steps you can take starting today.

If you’re looking to increase your credit score, it’s important to know what your score is. There are a lot of free websites that will allow you to check it for free, utilize them. Keep in mind that improving your credit score takes time and doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll want to ensure that you follow these three tips every month and develop good financial habits.

Whenever anyone mentions the Fourth of July, you can bet that everyone’s first thought is fireworks. These colorful little explosives go hand in hand with the holiday.in fact, this is so true that you can’t buy most fireworks in California unless the holiday is just around the corner. While this may be inconvenient for some people, this is actually required by law within the state of California.

California has several laws regarding fireworks. Firstly, fireworks are divided into two categories within the state, they can either be “Dangerous” or “Safe and Sane” fireworks. Dangerous fireworks are what are seen at professional firework displays. Only people with special display licenses are allowed to set off dangerous fireworks within the state of California.

One of the most prominent laws regarding safe and sane fireworks, is that they can only be sold from noon on June 28th to noon on July 6th. Anyone can set off safe and sane fireworks, provided they are allowed to within their city or district. The problem there being that many places have banned people from setting off safe and sane fireworks on their own.

The restrictions set on fireworks are largely done to try and prevent any fires from starting. As most Californians know, wildfires are pretty common out here, which is why fireworks are banned in rural areas where a stray spark could set something ablaze. Due to their high fire risk, all safe and sane fireworks have to be approved by the State Fire Marshall.

The Fourth of July and fireworks are a lot of fun, however it is important to remember that fireworks can be dangerous when handled improperly. That is why, sometimes it is best to simply go to a professional show. Doing that will give you a much bigger show. No matter what you decide, just be sure to have a fun and safe Independence Day.

We are all familiar with mistakes and how they set us back from reaching our goals. People who have trouble with the law know this particularly well and at that moment, they want nothing more than to post bail so they can return home. There, they can reevaluate their near future and figure out how to tackle the proper steps to mend relationships, fix their reputation, and of course, deal with their trial.

The fastest, most affordable way they can post bail is to do so with a bail bond. It is pretty important not to commit any mistakes when filling out the bail bond paperwork because it can delay the whole process, or jeopardize it later on.

Here are the 6 bail bond “commandments” thou must not break:

1. Provide the correct contact information of the defendant. Double check it is current and accurate.
2. Get a co-signer who is willing and ready to make payments should the defendant fail to do so on their own.
3. Notify the bail bond company of the defendant’s court dates.
4. Make all bail bond payments in full and on time. Payments are accepted with cash, credit, debit, and checks. Do not fall behind on payments.
5. Pledge collateral that you can part with if it so happens that you need to because the defendant skipped court.
6. Make sure the defendant shows up for court as scheduled.

The bail bond is going to release the defendant from jail; it is a benefit to them. No one, including the defendant themselves, should jeopardize this freedom. So it is imperative to understand all the terms and conditions of the bail bond, and to make sure the defendant appears for court.

At LA Bail Bond Store, agents support their clients through the entire bail bond process. They are ready to help and ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible, at the most affordable cost. They will set each client up with a customized payment plan too. They want you and your loved ones to succeed and get through this stressful situation.

Contact LA Bail Bond Store at 877-793-2245 or chat with someone from the team online.

Collateral is a term used to cover something that is pledged as security for repayment of a loan. Collateral is forfeited in the event that the original payment for the loan does not occur. You may be familiar with the concept of collateral for bank financing purposes, but did you know that it is also common for bail bonds? Bail bonds are used to release recently arrested individuals from jail while they await there trial. There are a handful of requirements to secure a bail bond, and pledging collateral can be one of them. The following are.

• Valuables

  Valuables such as jewelry, precious metals, and electronics can be pledged as collateral. The value of these items, especially the jewelry and precious metals, will depend on the market value at the time you need the bail bond.

• Vehicles

  Cars, boats, trailers, motorcycles, ATVs, and more are examples of vehicles that can be pledged as bail bond collateral. In order for vehicles to be accepted as collateral, the owner must not be making any more payments on the vehicle and have 100% ownership of the vehicle.

• Real Estate

  Like with vehicles, a person can pledge real estate as collateral as long as they are no longer making any mortgage payments on it. At the very least, they must have a significant percentage of ownership of the real estate.

• Investments

  A person can pledge stocks, bonds, and other financial investments for bail bond collateral. There may be additional requirements for this, so in addition to consulting with the bail bond company, it is best to consult with a financial advisors on this to see how this could affect the investment.

Pledging the right collateral for a loved one’s bail bond most often depends on what is available to pledge and what they can live with in the instance that the collateral is taken by the bail bond company. The bail bond company will only take the collateral if the defendant, who the bail bond is for, fails to show up for court. Otherwise, if the defendant appears for court, then the collateral is eventually returned back to the person who pledged it.

Learn more about bail bonds and bail bond collateral by speaking with a representative from Los Angeles Bail Bond Store online or at 877-793-2245.

Car enthusiasts value their vehicles more than many other things in their lives; it is a prized possession. These people will not hesitate to keep spending money on their car(s) to upgrade, modify, and personalize it to their liking. These modifications can include tinted windows, car wraps, and new exhaust pipes. However, they can only legally do so much, according to the California DMV laws. Here are a handful of those laws.

• Sound

  There are laws that dictate how loud a vehicle may be. Exhaust systems cannot increase or amplify the amount of sound beyond what is produced by factory equipment. Vehicles that weigh less than 6,000 pounds cannot be louder than 95 decibels; motorcycles are excluded from this. The radio or other sound systems cannot be heard from beyond 50 feet from the vehicle.

• Windows

  Rear and back side windows can be tinted to any darkness. However, front side windows can only be tinted to a certain darkness. Non-reflective tint is only allowed on the top 4 inches of the front windshield; it is illegal to have non-reflective tint anywhere else.

• Engine

  All vehicles must pass a smog check, even when it is equipped with a new engine. In addition, all engines must be certified for use, and be certified as the same or newer model year of the vehicle. This ensures that it will function properly and meet the proper emissions standards.

• Frame and Suspension

  No vehicle can be taller than 14 feet in height. There are additional frame regulations according to certain vehicle weights.

Just because it can be illegal to modify a car a certain way, does not mean that it is impossible to do it anyway. You may have seen or heard cars that have been illegally modified.

Common illegal car modifications include cars that:

• Are too loud
• Whose front windows are tinted too dark
• Are equipped with radar detectors attached to the windshield of the car
• Are equipped with reflective covering over their license plate
• Have a license plate frame that covers any part of the number, letters, or state name
• Have neon lights under it

Not every state has the exact same car modification laws so if you ever plan on moving or taking your car out of state, make sure it is legal to drive it there.

Outperforming any other bail bond company in California is Huntington Park Bail Bond Store. This family founded and owned company has been in the business for 30 years. Over these years, we have racked up an impressive list of satisfied clients who claim no other bail bond company is quite like Huntington Park Bail Bond Store.

If you are in need of a bail bond for yourself, or a loved one, in California, keep Huntington Park Bail Bond Store in mind.

We provide all of the following:

• 24/7 statewide availability in California online, on the phone, and in our offices
• Free consultations
• Customized payment plans
• 0% interest
• No hidden fees
• Discounts available
• Cash, credit, debit, and checks accepted
• Convenient and secure online payment portal
• Phone approvals
• Licensed, friendly, and genuinely caring bail agents
• Fast, confidential service

At Huntington Park Bail Bond Store, we understand that your time is precious. We are not going to waste your time and we do not try to trick you into paying us more money. We get right down to business and we promise to get your loved one bailed out of jail as soon as possible.

Huntington Park Bail Bond Store can be reached online, or at 877-793-2245.

Bail bonds are an alternative method to posting cash bail. Cash bail can be in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. The full amount must be paid in order for the defendant to be released.

Bail bonds, on the other hand, offer more flexibility and breathing room.

1. A professional bail agent facilitates the entire process.
2. Only 10% of the full bail amount will be paid.
3. This 10% is paid off on a customized payment plan.
4. Only paperwork needs to be completed for the defendant to be freed; the payment plan extends beyond the defendant’s release date.

The main catch is that with cash bail, this money can be refunded, but the 10% for a bail bond is not refundable. Nonetheless, most people post bail using bail bonds because there is more guidance and assistance. If you have any questions regarding bail bonds, if you would like a free consultation, or if you want to start on the paperwork, do not hesitate to reach out to Florence Bail Bond Store.

We can be reached online, or at 877-793-2245.

No doubt, the best people to confide in when you are in a dark place are your parents, followed by your best friends. Going through a rough patch in life is so much harder if you go at it alone. When you have your supportive loved ones with you, overcoming the situation is a lot easier.

Dark secrets can be tough to share, like getting arrested. It is embarrassing to say the least. How will others react? Expect some anger, but expect more comfort and support afterwards. It is worth the initial embarrassment and uneasy conversation. Now more than ever, you will want them there for you, even if it is just emotionally.

Financially, lean on Contra Costa Bail Bond Store for the greater part of that. We will provide you with a bail bond that costs 90% less than your full bail amount. Plus, you will get a custom payment plan catered to your needs, or the needs of those who will be responsible for your bail bond payments.

Friends and family are friends and family for a reason. We are Contra Costa Bail Bond Store for a reason. Together, we will help you, or a loved one, post bail quickly and affordably.

Learn more about our services by Chatting With Us online or by calling 877-793-2245.