Jun 15 2021
Is It Worth Fighting A Traffic Ticket?

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When you get a traffic ticket for speeding or running a stop sign, you can easily pay it, but you wonder whether it is worth fighting the ticket. You might be able to get it reduced or thrown out altogether. In some cases, it can be worth it to fight. However, it is not always the easiest or fastest thing to deal with. In the long run, you may end up losing more money on wasted time. Before you decide, evaluate the pros and cons, including how disruptive it could be to your daily routine and how much you have to gain or lose financially. You need to look at not only your ticket, but your insurance premiums that could increase due to the ticket.

You can get out of paying for a traffic ticket if you show up for court, but the officer does not. This results in an automatic win for you because you are being denied the right to question your accuser. If you postpone your court date and even choose one close to the holidays, you could be increasing your chances on having a no-show from the officer. Officers tend to schedule all their court appearances on the same days so they can do them all at once. If you can get the date moved, you could be in luck. If you get a date close to a major holiday, there is a chance the officer is off on vacation. The officer also may not show up for court if your ticket is inexpensive and is for a very low-level incident.

If you get a ticket based on camera footage, the ticket can get dismissed if the court does not have the video or picture. The courthouse may not want to go through the trouble of acquiring that video footage which means you win and do not have to pay the ticket.

There are other ways to fight a ticket, like getting a lawyer who specializes in traffic cases, but the ones mentioned here are the easiest, fastest, and most affordable ways to get out of paying for the ticket. These depend on your luck, but there could be a chance that luck is on your side.

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Jun 3 2021
Cash Bail Vs. Bail Bonds

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When needing to post bail, a defendant has a couple of options. Which option he or she chooses is dependent on what they can afford.

The first option is cash bail. For this option, the defendant, and anyone on his or her behalf, must pay the full bail amount to the court in order for the defendant to be released. The full amount must be paid before the defendant will be released. The money can be refunded later on, if the defendant shows up for court and does not cause any further problems.

The second option is a bail bond, where the defendant hires a third party bail bond company to assist with the process. The defendant, and anyone on his or her behalf, will pay the bail bond company 10% of the full bail amount, which is called the premium. The premium is paid off over a payment plan that continues after the defendant is released. Collateral is also pledged, but as long as the defendant appears in court and does not cause any further problems, the collateral will be released back to the original owner. The money for the premium, however, is not refunded.

Given the flexibility of the bail bond option, more people go this route than the cash bail. Both are equally legitimate options and choosing one over the other does not necessarily indicate financial stability at all. Even celebrities use bail bonds. It is what the person can afford and what assistance they want.

Learn more about bail and bail bonds by contacting Action Bail Bonding online or at 901-476-2245. Talk to one of our helpful bail agents for a FREE consultation. Ask about our no down payment bail bonds and bail bond discount we offer along with you other bail-related questions. We are open 24/7 for your convenience. Call us today and get your questions answered.

To learn more about services we offer at Action Bail Bonding, call 901-476-2245 or Chat With Us now. Consultation is always FREE!

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Jun 2 2021
Child Endangerment In Tennessee

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Tennessee’s lawmakers believe that adults have a moral and legal responsibility to protect children. Failing to do so can put you on the wrong side of the law.

The Tennessee Penal Code 273a PC deals with the issue of child endangerment.

The interesting thing about Penal Code 273a PC is that while it deals with child endangerment, it isn’t the same law that defines child abuse.

The idea behind child endangerment is that the episode is often a single episode. It doesn’t always involve a child getting hurt, but rather addresses the fact that a child, which according to the Tennessee legal system is anyone under the age of 18, could have been hurt or killed as a direct result of your actions. Getting behind the wheel and driving drunk while your passenger is a minor, is a good example of a child endangerment case.

Additional examples of child endangerment include:

  • Hiring the services of a babysitter who has an abusive past.

  • Exposing your child to a dangerous animal.

  • Failing to notice that your child is playing in the middle of a busy road.

  • Leaving a firearm laying around the house while a child is present.

Many parents don’t realize that in extreme cases, failing to seek medical assistance for a child who is for an extremely sick or badly injured child can be considered child endangerment.

Just because you’ve been accused of child abuse and the case has gone to trial, it doesn’t mean you’ll be sent to jail.

In order to be convicted of child endangerment in Tennessee, the prosecutor has to effectively prove that you knew there was a chance that your actions (or lack of action) created a situation where the child was in danger.

Defenses that have been successfully used in child endangerment cases include:

  • You couldn’t have known that the child was potentially in danger.

  • The child wasn’t your responsibility.

  • You were falsely accused (false accusations of child endangerment aren’t uncommon in cases that also involve a custody dispute).

  • The endangerment was completely accidental.

You’ll be surprised to learn that child endangerment is one of Tennessee’s wobbler laws. The details of the case determine if you’re charged/convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony.

If there was a chance that the situation could have resulted in death or extreme injuries to the child, you should expect the prosecutor to pursue felony child endangerment charges.

If you’re convicted, the potential consequences could include:

  • A fine that doesn’t exceed $10,000.

  • Getting sentenced to anywhere from 2 to 6 years on a state prison.

If it doesn’t appear that the child could have been severely injured or died as a result of your actions, the prosecutor will go after a misdemeanor charge.

If you’re convicted, you could:

  • Be sentenced to up to one year in the county jail.

  • Be charged a fine that doesn’t exceed $1,000.

The best way to avoid child endangerment charges in Tennessee is using common sense and avoid dangerous situations whenever possible.

 

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May 31 2021
How To Dress Properly For Court

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It doesn’t matter if you’re in civil or legal court, you want to make sure you’ve dressed appropriately. The good news is that getting dressed for court isn’t difficult. It’s also likely that you have most of the items needed to make a good impression so you don’t have to worry about the expense of a shopping trip.

The first thing to consider is the color of the clothing you’re going to wear. It’s suggested that you stick to conservative, neutral colors. Most people opt for dark colors.

It’s a good idea to layer. Some courtrooms run hot and some are cold. While you’re in court you want to be paying attention. You don’t want to worry about freezing or overheating. Layers allow you to peel off a jacket or cardigan if the courtroom is warmer than expected.

Choose clean clothing. In addition to making sure that everything you wear to the courtroom is clean, take a few minutes to check for stains and tears. Depending on the type of material your court clothes are made out of, you might have to give yourself enough time to iron them before leaving court.

You want to appear nicely dressed while you’re in court, but since you could be sitting for a long time, you also want to choose comfortable clothing. Avoid anything that bunches, twists, is too tight, or that tends to pinch. You want to pay attention to the judge and the lawyers, you don’t want to be playing with your clothing.

When dressing for court, you should strive for a professional look. If you don’t own a suit, at least consider a nice button-down shirt and a pair of slacks. If you don’t own slacks look for a dark pair of jeans that fits well.

If you must wear jewelry, keep it simple, tasteful, and minimal. There are two reasons for this. Clunky and jangly jewelry is distracting in a courtroom setting. It can also make you look less serious. The second reason to wear as little jewelry as possible is so that you have less to remove when going through metal detectors.

It’s likely that you’re supposed to be in court relatively early in the morning and you don’t want to be late. Decide what you’re planning on wearing to the court the night before and lay everything out. Give yourself plenty of time to get ready and still arrive in the courtroom on time.

 

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May 21 2021
What Happens If You’re Accused Of Extortion In Tennessee

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California lawmakers consider the act of using a threat or force to compel someone into giving you something, usually money or property, that they’d prefer to keep for themselves. In Tennessee, extortion and blackmail are considered the same thing.

In Tennessee, extortion is considered an extreme situation. It is a felony with none of the wiggle room that’s connected to Tennessee’s wobbler laws.

Over the years, several extortion cases have made their way through the Tennessee court system. Some of these cases involved a burglar threatening the life or physical safety of the homeowner unless the owner revealed the location of valuables. There have been cases of public officials being blackmailed in an attempt to influence their vote. Some athletes have found themselves involved in extortion cases after someone placed a large bet that hinged on a certain team winning or losing. Eldercare extortion cases are also common. In these cases, care is withheld until the elder provides money to the caretaker.

The problem with extortion cases is that it’s not easy to put together a good defense. The most commonly used defenses are that the extortion didn’t happen and that the defendant was falsely accused. There have occasionally been people who’ve beaten extortion charges when it was revealed that the person or victim who filed the charges ultimately didn’t give in to the extortion.

If you’re charged with extortion, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced defense attorney right away and start preparing your case. If you want to argue mistaken identity or false accusations, you’ll have to find witnesses and prepare documented proof that there is no way you benefited from the alleged extortion. In the case of false accusations, it’s a good idea to have proof that the individual who filed the charges stand to gain in some way if you’re convicted or that they have a history of making your life difficult.

Because extortion in Tennessee is a felony offense, if you’re convicted, you’ll serve time in a state prison.

If convicted you could be forced to:

  • Serve a maximum of a four-year prison sentence
  • Be required to pay a $10,000 fine
  • Have to make restitution

In some cases, particularly first-time extortion offenses, the judge has opted to allow the defendant to serve felony probation rather than prison time.

If you’re convicted of extortion, the felony record not only damages your reputation, but it can also make everything from getting a job, to acquiring a house, and even securing a line of credit difficult.

 

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May 19 2021
About Our Online Bail Bonds Program

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If you live out of state, struggle with transportation or aren’t in a position where you can make a trip to the Action Bail Bonding office, but also need to arrange to bail a loved one out of jail, you should seriously consider our online bail bonds program.

What Is Our Online Bail Bonds Program?

Our online bail bonds program is quite similar to an online car insurance program. Instead of calling, you use the Chat With Us link which immediately puts you in touch with one of our bail bond experts. During the FREE bail bond consultation, our expert will listen to the unique details of your situation. They will also discuss how the Action Bail Bonding program works. If you want us to provide the bail for your loved one, the next step is going through our online bail application process.

How Our Online Bail Program Works?

Don’t worry. You won’t be overwhelmed by our online application. It’s quite straightforward and simple. First, you’ll have to provide some basic information which includes:

  • Date of Birth
  • Address
  • Current Employment
  • Driver’s License Number
  • Phone Number

The most complicated part is explaining the circumstances of your loved one’s arrest. Most people find it that it only takes them 10 or 20 minutes to complete the application. Since our bail expert has already discussed the situation, it doesn’t take long to approve the online bail application.

Once you’ve completed the application, we review it and discuss bail bond payment plans. At this point, you’ll be sent a copy of the contract that you’ll have to sign. You can do this by either using an electronic signature program or by printing the contract, signing it and scanning the newly signed form. In addition to the signed contract, we’ll also need a photo of your driver’s license or state-issued identification card.

How Long Before Your Loved One is Free?

We can’t predict how long it will take the courthouse to file the paperwork, but we can assure you that as soon as we approve your bail contract, we work as quickly as possible to pay your loved one’s bail and get them released from jail. In most cases, the entire bail process doesn’t take long at all.

Why Choose Our Services?

In addition to creating a simple, straightforward online bail bonds program, there are several other reasons you should consider using Action Bail Bonding when you or someone you love requires Tennessee bail.

Additional reasons to contact Action Bail Bonding include:

  • 24/7 Bail Bond Service
  • FREE Consultation
  • 20% Discount
  • 0% Interest Payment Plans
  • Over the Phone Approvals
  • No Hidden Fees
  • No Collateral with Working Co-Signer
  • Easy to Understand Contracts
  • Discrete Service
  • Se habla Español

We have people on hand who speak Spanish.

Here at Action Bail Bonding, we’ve done everything in our power to make the entire bail process as fast and stress-free as possible.

For a FREE bail consultation with a professional bail agent and to get additional information about how our online bail program works, just call Action Bail Bonding at 901-476-2245 or click Talk To An Agent Now to chat.

 

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May 18 2021
How You Should And Shouldn’t Conduct Yourself In Court

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How you represent yourself in your court hearing is nearly as important as the case your lawyer is making. Your body language, dress, and overall presentation, speaks volumes to the jury, the judge, and others. Granted, some defendants will not be able to present themselves as neatly and professionally as others because they were not able to post bail, but our team at Action Bail Bonding will make sure that is not you. We will help bail you out of jail. Then, you will be able to live at home and better prepare for court. After posting bail with us, follow these general rules of how you should and shouldn’t conduct yourself in court.

  • The night before court, try and get some good sleep.

  • Dress professionally and conservatively, do not overdo the makeup and jewelry.

  • Remove sunglasses and hats.

  • Do not chew gum.

  • Arrive to court early and use the restroom before court begins.

  • Acknowledge the judge as “Your Honor.”

  • Speak and stand when asked to.

  • Answer only what you are asked.

  • Answer yes or no verbally rather than nodding or shaking your head.

  • Turn your cell phone off.

  • Leave young children at home.

  • Remain calm and poised; do not become angry or argumentative.

You and your lawyer will go over court procedures beforehand as preparation, including questions they will ask, questions the prosecution will likely ask, and how to answer both. During court, your lawyer will protect you as much as possible, but remember to leave everything in their hands and not get frustrated.

That being said, if you need a bail bond now, for yourself or a loved one, contact Action Bail Bonding immediately. We can be reached 24/7, online and at 901-476-2245. Consultation with one of our helpful bail agents is always FREE, so do not hesitate to ask any questions and inquire about our no down payment bail bonds and discounts we offer. They will be more than glad to help you.

To learn more about our services, feel free to call Action Bail Bonding at 901-476-2245 or Chat With Us now. Consultation is FREE!

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May 5 2021
Consequences Of Ignoring A Jury Summons

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The idea of a jury sounds like a great aspect of democracy right up to the point when you get a jury summons. It’s perfectly natural to wonder what would happen if you choose to ignore the letter telling you that you need to report to the courthouse and be considered for jury duty.

While ignoring a summons to appear for jury duty might not seem like a big deal to you, state’s are starting to really crack down on those who do. The exact consequences of skipping out on a jury summons can vary from one district to another, most courts will issue a bench warrant. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the cops will knock on your door, but it does mean that if you get pulled over, when the patrol officer runs your name through their computer system, they’ll discover the warrant and arrest you on the spot.

Even if you get lucky enough to never cross paths with a police officer after a failure to appear for jury duty bench warrant has been issued, the bench warrant can have an enormous and negative impact on your life. There’s been at least one report of someone from Tennessee getting denied when they tried to rent an apartment. When the person investigated the reason, they found that skipping jury duty resulted in a bench warrant that had popped up when the landlord ran a background check. That person hadn’t even lived in Tennessee when the court sent the summons. It took some time, but the individual was able to prove that they hadn’t been a Tennessee resident. They worked closely with the Tennessee state patrol and were eventually able to get the bench warrant dropped.

In Georgia, a woman who ignored a jury summons was sentenced to three days in jail. In Massachusetts, approximately 48,000 residents were charged a $2,000 fine after they failed to obey a jury summons.

A recent report indicated that Action County collected more than $940,000 from people who didn’t honor a request to sit on a jury.

When all is said and done, it’s in your best interest to obey the jury summons. If you have a exceptionally good reason for not being able to honor the request, talk to the judge. They may accept your excuse and let you off the hook.

 

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May 5 2021
Can Police Search My Vehicle Without A Warrant?

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Pretty much every driver has experienced the slight panic of seeing a police car behind them while driving even if they haven’t done anything wrong. That shows how much people don’t want to get pulled over. On those occasions where people are pulled over, they can then find themselves worrying about the officer searching through their vehicle.

Despite what people might think, police officers and other law enforcement officers cannot just search a vehicle without reason or a warrant. This is a protection granted to every United States citizen under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. The Fourth Amendment prohibits law enforcement agents from conducting unreasonable searches and seizures. The amendment also sets forth guidelines for how warrants are issued.

When Is A Warrant Unnecessary?

If a law enforcement officer ever wants to search anything, including a person’s vehicle, they usually need a warrant. However, there are 5 instances when a warrant isn’t required for an officer to conduct a legal search of a vehicle. These instances are:

  1. Consent was given.
    If a driver gives the officer their consent, then the officer can search the vehicle without a warrant. The consent for the search has to be given voluntarily, not under duress from threats by the officer.

  2. There is probable cause.
    Probable cause is when the officers have reliable information from an informant, can see contraband in the car or the driver is acting suspiciously. In these instances, an officer can search the vehicle without a warrant since they have evidence that would have earned a warrant, but they had to act quickly because vehicles can be easily moved.

  3. An occupant is being arrested.
    If someone in the car is being arrested and the officer have reason to believe there is evidence in the vehicle, then they can search it without a warrant. This also applies if someone being arrested was within reaching distance of a vehicle and the officer suspect the person may have hidden something within it.

  4. An occupant is being temporarily detained.
    Otherwise known as stop-and-frisks or Terry stops, these occur when officers reasonably suspect a person of being involved in criminal activity. The officers are allowed to temporarily detain the person and search them or their vehicle for any weapons or drugs.

  5. The car has been impounded.
    Law enforcement officers are allowed to search vehicles that have been impounded to take inventory of the vehicle.

If a person’s vehicle is searched without a warrant for any reason other than those mentioned above, then the search was illegal and any evidence that may have been found within the vehicle will have to be ignored during the trial.

They Need A Warrant

The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution was created by the Founding Fathers to protect citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures that were commonly conducted by occupying British forces at the time. They wanted to ensure that US law enforcement agents didn’t become as corrupt as their enemies had been.

If a driver is ever pulled over, they should know that unless the officer has good reason to suspect them of any wrongdoing, the officer cannot search the vehicle without a warrant. To do so would be against the law, and therefore any evidence that the officer may have found could be dismissed in the court case since it was acquired by illegal means.

 

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May 3 2021
The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On Crime Rates

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Whenever you turn to your preferred source of news, you’re likely slammed with information about the toll COVID-19 is taking on healthcare and the economy. Everyone is happy to share information about how overrun the hospitals are, how people’s mental health is suffering, and how the economy will never recover.

What hasn’t been talked about much is the impact COVID-19 is having on the crime.

When the pandemic first struck the United States, the crime rates dropped. That has changed. Today it’s obvious that the pandemic has triggered a surge in crime, particularly homicides.

NPR reported that in 2020, there had been over 750 homicides in Chicago, that’s an increase of over 50% from the year before. Chicago wasn’t the only city where homicide rates spiked. Action police dealt with 30% more homicide investigations. The increase in New York City exceeded 40%.

Experts agree that the spike is directly connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeff Asher, who works as a data consultant, studied the crime rates in 50 major cities and concluded. “We have good data that the rise in murder was happening in the early stages of the pandemic. We have good data that the rise in murder picked up in the early stages of the summer,” Asher explained to NPR, “and we also have good data that the rise of murder picked up again in September and October as some of the financial assistance started to wear off.”

Not everyone agrees that economic struggles are the sole reason homicide rates are climbing.

“It’s clearly related, in part, to the coronavirus and to the fact that people are cooped up,” New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio hypothesized. “And it’s certainly related to the fact that the criminal justice system is on pause and that’s causing a lot of problems.”

COVID-19 didn’t simply result in a spike in homicides. Experts have noted that other types of crimes have also risen sharply since the pandemic.

Data collected by the COVID-19 Council revealed that:

  • Aggravated assault cases jumped 6%.
  • Domestic violence reports increased at the start of the pandemic.
  • Gun assault charges increased by 8%.
  • Robbery reports spiked by 9%.
  • There were 30% more drug-related offenses.
  • Vehicle theft increased by 13%.

While these numbers are bleak, it isn’t all bad news:

  • Non-residential burglary decreased by 7%.
  • Residential burglary decreased by a staggering 24%.
  • Drug-related offenses dropped 30%.

Hopefully, the pandemic will end soon and life, as well as crime rates, will return to normal.

 

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