For many people, the holiday season offers a chance to take a vacation, relax, spend time with family and friends, and participate in enjoyable activities while preparing to begin a new year. Unfortunately, nothing can ruin these festivities like getting arrested. Even though many people may be staying home or keeping their celebrations small this year due to the ongoing pandemic, others may be planning to attend Christmas celebrations or spend time out and about on New Year’s Eve. Because police are aware of the potential for drunk driving while people are celebrating, they will be looking to arrest anyone who may potentially be intoxicated. Those who are arrested and charged with DWI will need to understand their options for posting bail and getting released.

Increased Drunk Driving Stops and Arrests Over the New Year’s Holiday

Law enforcement officials have stated that the rate of drunk or intoxicated driving increases significantly during the holidays, and because of this, they regularly increase their enforcement efforts during this time of year. The Texas Department of Transportation has reported that there were 2,462 car wrecks in the state in 2020 between December 1 and January 1 that involved drunk driving or other forms of intoxication, and these led to 215 injuries and 93 deaths. In addition, the Texas Highway Patrol performed 615 DWI arrests during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays in 2020.

Getting arrested and being charged with a crime can cause a great deal of difficulty for a person and their family at any time of year, but these issues can be especially problematic during the holiday season. Dealing with legal issues related to a criminal case may throw a wrench into a family’s plans to travel for winter vacations, give gifts, and celebrate the holidays together. Most of the time, a person who has been arrested will be able to post bail and be released from jail, but they will need to understand how this will affect their other activities during the holidays.

Bail-Related Restrictions

After being arrested, a person will be taken into police custody, and they will be held until they have the chance to appear before a judge in an arraignment. While some courts may operate at reduced capacity during the holiday season, an arraignment must be held within 48 hours after a person is arrested. At the arraignment, the judge will set an amount of bail, and they may also impose some restrictions that will apply to a person after they are released.

The holiday season, which lasts between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, is usually thought of as an opportunity to spend time with loved ones, give and receive gifts, and enjoy time off work. Unfortunately, nothing can ruin this season like being arrested and charged with a crime. When a person is arrested, they and their loved ones will want to determine how they can get out of jail as soon as possible, which will help avoid any issues that could affect their ability to spend time with loved ones, as well as their employment and income. By posting bail after a person is arrested, they can get released quickly and avoid problems that could affect their holiday plans.

Common Criminal Offenses During the Holiday Season

Reasons for criminal arrests during the holidays may include:

• Driving while intoxicated - Many people attend holiday parties, including family get-togethers, events at friends’ homes, and gatherings at bars and restaurants. These parties often involve alcoholic beverages, and some people may also use other substances. When driving home from these events, police officers may pull a person over, and they may decide to arrest them on DWI charges. In these cases, a person will not only need to understand how they can be released from custody, but they will also need to determine whether their driver’s license will be suspended and whether they will need to find other methods of transportation.

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When a person is arrested, taken into police custody, and charged with a crime, a judge will usually set an amount of bail that must be paid before the person can be released. In most cases, a person will need to secure a bail bond that will allow them to get out of jail and get back to their normal lives. While a person’s family members or friends may help them secure a bail bond, these people will need to make sure they understand the terms of the person’s release on bail, including what may happen if the person “skips bail” or violates the conditions put in place by a judge.

Consequences of Bail Jumping

The purpose of bail is to ensure that a person will return to court whenever required during their criminal case. When you work with a bail bondsman, they will pay the full amount of bail, and you will usually only need to pay 10 percent of the total amount. The bail paid to the court will be refunded at the end of the case. To ensure that they will be able to receive the amount that was paid, the bail bondsman will want to make sure that a person meets all of their requirements.

In addition to appearing in court at all scheduled court dates, a person may need to meet other requirements put in place by a judge. The judge may restrict the person from traveling outside of a certain area, such as the county where the court is located, and they may prohibit a person from engaging in certain activities, such as associating with known criminals. A person may also be required to take regular drug tests or receive treatment for alcohol or drug abuse. 

If you have learned that a family member or friend has been arrested, you may wish to determine how you can help them get released as soon as possible. Being forced to remain in jail can cause a great deal of difficulty in a person’s life, and by bailing them out of jail, you can ensure that they will be able to avoid missing work or suffering other consequences, such as the loss of custody of their children. By working with a bail bondsman throughout the bail bond process, you can ensure that you follow all of the correct steps to allow your loved one to be released.

Steps in the Bail Bond Process

1. Find out where the person is being detained and their booking status - Although you may know where a person was arrested, you may be unsure about which police department, jail, or holding facility they have been taken to. If necessary, we can assist with an inmate search to help you locate your loved one. Once they have been located, you will also need to determine whether they have been booked and whether they will need to complete an arraignment where an amount of bail will be set before they can be released.

2. Determine the amount and conditions of bail - After bail has been set by a judge, this amount will need to be paid before a person can be released. A judge may also impose certain restrictions, such as requiring the person to submit to GPS monitoring and regular drug testing, or they may be restricted from leaving a specific geographical area. If the full amount of bail is paid, this amount will be refunded once your loved one’s criminal case is completed.

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