Safety Tips for College Students
It’s the time of year when many young adults are preparing for their first semester of college. In most cases, this is the first time they have lived without the supervision and guidance of their parents. One of the things collegebound students should already be reviewing is how they can make sure that they have fun and manage to stay safe during their freshman year.
Always Be Mindful of Your Safety
The great thing about living in a dorm is that the close living quarters means forming a tight bond with many of the people living on your floor. The downside to living in a dorm is that the sense of family and friendship can cause you to become lax when it comes to your safety. The biggest problem many students encounter while living in the dorm is that they become so comfortable that they start neglecting to lock their doors.
From day one, get into the habit of locking your door and double-checking the lock each time you enter and leave your dorm room.
Establish the Buddy System
While staying in your dorm and only going to classes will keep you safe, it’s not much fun. Rather than locking yourself away, get into the habit of creating a buddy program when you go out. Make a deal with a few different friends that no one goes home without the others and to keep an eye on one another the entire time you’re out and having a good time.
Keep Your Phone Charged
Each time you leave your dorm room make sure your phone is fully charged and that it’s easily accessible. It’s your first line of defense if you get into trouble while you’re out.
Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
When you’re out and about, pay attention to your surroundings. Stay in brightly lit areas. Stick to areas that are populated and heavily patrolled by campus security. Keep your eyes on the environment rather than on your phone.
Get Your Own Drinks
It doesn’t matter if you’re at a party, relaxing in your own room, or at a local pizza place, always get your own drinks. You should also never leave your drink unattended. If for some reason you do have to walk away from your drink, discard the unfinished portion and get yourself a new one.
Don’t be Afraid to Contact Campus Security
If your friends leave without you, it’s better to contact campus security and have them give you a ride back to your dorm than to try to walk home alone. Remember, that they’re paid to protect you.
Following these safety tips and using common sense provides you with the tools needed to stay safe while also enjoying your first year of college life.
Establish Patterns for Contacting Loved Ones
While you don’t necessarily want to always use the same route for going to classes and parties, you do want to establish good patterns when it comes to checking in with friends and family. Checking in on a specific day of the week and close to the same time each time is a good warning system if something goes wrong. If you don’t check-in, they know that they should contact the authorities and have someone do a physical check on you.
Off-roading in California’s State and National Parks
Off-roading isn’t just a lot of fun, it’s also a great way to see parts of California’s state and national parks you wouldn’t otherwise, get to see. Off-roading provides you with the means to visit more remote areas than the traditional roads take you to, while also allowing you to cover more ground than you would if you were hiking or biking.
While there are many benefits connected to off-roading through California’s state and national parks, going off-road also means you have some additional responsibilities you must adhere to.
Make Sure Your Permit is Current
You’re not allowed to hop into your ATV and start tooling around California’s state and national parks. The only people who are allowed to enjoy off-road adventures are those who have the proper permits.
If you’re going on an off-road adventure in one of California’s state parks, you need to fill out an application with California’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The vehicle you are using must comply with current state environmental codes, and your off-highway vehicle permit must be kept current. The OHV permit is $25 if you’re purchasing a season-long pass. You only have to pay $5 for a day pass.
If you’re not a California resident, you still have to purchase an OHV permit before you can embark on an off-road adventure through the truly stunning state parks. The cost of the permit for non-residents is $30.
Off-Roading in National Parks
Some people make the mistake of thinking that because they got an OHV permit from the state, that they can also go off-roading in California’s national parks. That’s not the case. The National Park Service manages the National Parks and has its own permit. You’ll have to contact the National Park Service to learn about the application process and cost of the off-road permit.
Follow the Rules
Don’t assume that your off-road permit allows you to go anywhere and do whatever you want. That’s not the case at all. The National Park Service in particular is diligent about enforcing rules that pertain to what you can and can’t do while off-roading. Breaking one of the rules could end up costing you a lot of money.
If you’re going off-roading it’s important to find out exactly where you can and can’t go. Most parks have maps and even post the areas where you’re not allowed to take your off-road vehicle.
Simply getting caught off-roading in a section of a National Park, where off-roading is prohibited, is considered a violation of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations. If you’re convicted of the violation, you could be sentenced to as much as 6 months in prison and also fined $5,000. Additional charges that are often added to this violation include violating an endangered
species, littering, wildlife, plants, and natural or cultural features violations, and damaging archeological resources.
Have fun on all of your off-road adventures this summer!
Strange Laws from California
When people think about laws, they often think about sensible rules that make sense. However, it is important to remember that laws are made by people, and this means that some real nonsense can be made into actual laws that govern the people. This is true of every country, state, and city. California is no exception.
The Golden State is home to its own bits of weirdness thanks to some odd laws. Many of these laws were created long ago, and as such, show their age. Others are a little more recent, and while it may be possible to see what the lawmaker was going for, the wording of the law isn’t quite right.
Why Are These Even Laws?
California became a state on September 9, 1850. Over the last 170 year period, a lot of laws have been enacted and removed across the state’s 160,000 square miles. Some of the laws have made sense, such as don’t steal from people and don’t kill each other. Others are a bit stranger. Some of the weirder laws that are still technically active in California include:
- A person can only wear cowboy boots in Blythe if they own two or more cows.
- A person cannot wash someone else’s car without the owner’s permission in Los Angeles.
- Cursing on a golf course in Long Beach is illegal.
- Detonating a nuclear device in Chico will result in a $500 fine.
- Flying a kite higher than 10 feet is illegal in the city of Walnut.
- Garages in San Francisco are meant for storing personal vehicles and nothing else.
- In California, it is illegal for women to drive cars while wearing housecoats.
- In San Francisco, ugly people are not allowed to walk down the street.
- It is illegal to drive in reverse in Glendale.
- It is illegal to pour salt on Hermosa Beach streets.
- Men and boys are not allowed to dress as women in Walnut unless it is for a play, or they receive a permit from the sheriff.
- Peacocks always have the right of way in Arcadia.
- San Diego homeowners can be fined $250 for having their Christmas lights up after February 2nd.
- Vehicles without drivers cannot drive over 60 mph.
- Visitors of Fresno city parks are prohibited from bothering lizards.
- Women may not wear high heels in Carmel city limits.
What Are the Penalties?
With how easily broken some of these laws can be, some people may wonder what would happen to them if they did break any of these laws. Luckily, the enforceable laws are pretty unknown by most law enforcement agents. Even if they do know about these laws, no one in their right mind would fault someone for breaking these laws.
The only law on the above list that will result in penalties, and rightfully so, is detonating a nuclear device within Chico city limits. However, the consequences for doing so will probably be more than just a $500 fine. The person will have to pay $501, at least.
These Laws Are Still in the Books
What seems to happen with a lot of these odd laws, is that they just get laughed at and forgotten. No one in this day and age is going to fine someone for wearing cowboy boots when they don’t own a cow, or arrest a woman for wearing high heels. Most of these laws are so outlandish that a person has nothing to worry about. These laws serve only as jokes at this point.
How Is Bail Priced?
When it comes to getting someone released from jail, the one question that everyone has is how much will it cost. Everyone wants to rescue their loved ones from jail, but they want to make sure they can actually afford to do so. Sadly, answering this question without any specific information isn’t as simple as listing a number.
Bail is dependent on all sorts of variables. First and foremost, a person’s bail amount is dependent on what crime he has been accused of. Next, the bail amount is dependent on where the person was arrested. Every county in California has its own list of bail amounts for different crimes.
After that, a person’s criminal record plays a part in the bail amount. People who have committed more crimes in the past are typically more likely to commit more crimes in the future. These people tend to get higher bail amounts than people with cleaner criminal records.
Lastly, when deciding a person’s bail amount, a judge will look at the likelihood of the person running away once released. The higher that chance is, the higher the bail amount, up until it is decided the person cannot be released from jail.
All of these little things play into the pricing of a person’s bail. So without knowing any of this, it is hard to say how much a person’s bail will cost. However, this does not mean we can’t help. Here at Absolute Bail Bonds, we know everything about bail. If you have a loved one who has been arrested, we will be more than happy to figure out their bail amount and help you post bail at an affordable price.
Some of the services we provide for our clients include:
- 24/7 Bail bond service
- 20% Discount
- Phone approvals
- 0% Interest payment plans
- No hidden fees
- No collateral with working signer
- Se habla Español
For a free consultation to get your questions answered, just call 1-800-793-2245 or click Chat With Us now.
Post Bail Online
In today’s world, realizing that you can’t do something online can be extremely disappointing. In some instances, people may actually be discouraged from buying a product or using a service if they cannot get it online. Some people may mistakenly assume this to be the case with bail, but they are wrong.
Here at Absolute Bail Bonds, our goal is to make the bail bond process as simple as possible for our clients. One of the ways we do this is by letting our clients apply for a bail bond online. Using the chat feature on our website, our clients can talk to a bail agent no matter where they are or what time it is.
With the chat feature, our bail agents can answer all of your questions and collect all of the information they need to locate your loved one in the county database. All they need to get started is your loved one’s name, birthday, and county of arrest. Once they have that information in hand, they can get to work.
The only thing that can’t be done online, is showing us proof of ID documents and the signing of the paperwork. For that, you will need to meet one of our bail agents in person. Luckily, there are dozens of bail agents located across California who will drive to meet you.
Some of the other services we provide for our clients include:
- 24/7 Bail bond service
- 20% Discount
- Phone approvals
- 0% Interest payment plans
- No hidden fees
- No collateral with working signer
- Se habla Español
At Absolute Bail Bonds, we want to do everything that we can to make the bail process as simple as possible. One of the best ways to do that is by allowing our clients to apply and fill out the paperwork for the bail bond online.
What are you waiting for? You can get started right now by clicking Chat With Us or calling 1-800-793-2245.
What Documentation Is Required?
People have a lot of questions when it comes to posting bail with a bail bond for the first time. Most people have never posted bail before and would like to get through the whole process as quickly as possible. They want this not just for their sake, but for the sake of their incarcerated loved one as well. After all, nobody wants a loved one to be stuck in jail.
A person can help speed up the bail bond process by having certain documents ready to go. Here at Absolute Bail Bonds, we need the following documentation to setup a bail bond:
- A recent paycheck or pay stub.
- A piece of mail with home address for proof of California residency.
- A valid California ID.
If you have this information ready to go when you meet with a bail agent, it can help speed up the process of bailing out your loved one. That is all anybody wants.
Another way to help speed up the bail process is to have some co-signers ready to go before calling. Co-signers are important because they help share the responsibility of the bail bond. With multiple co-signers taking care of the bail bond, it reduces the pressure of paying for the bail bond.
Bail may be new to you, but with help from the professionals here at Absolute Bail Bonds you have nothing to worry about. Don’t panic if you don’t have all of this ready to go right away. Our bail agents will be more than happy to help you out and answer your questions about bail. You will not have to face this alone.
You can talk to a bail agent for free at any time by calling 1-800-793-2245 or click Chat With Us now.
How Long Do You Have to Post Bail?
The need for bail can arise without warning. As such, most people are not prepared to post their loved one’s bail. They need time to get enough money for the bail bond, but they are afraid they will miss the window to post bail entirely. Luckily for them, the time limit for posting bail is very forgiving.
While there is a time limit to posting bail, that limit is dependent on the length of the person’s trial period. You have until the court reaches a verdict on your loved one. After that point, a person can’t be bailed out. Once the court has decided whether your loved one is guilty or innocent, they either no longer need the bail or can no longer be bailed out because they are serving their sentence.
The one problem with waiting to post bail, is that the bail amount can change. Sometimes judges will alter the bail amount after they have reviewed the case. They may decide that the bail is too high and lower it. However, they are also just as likely to raise the bail amount, meaning it will cost more to bail out your loved one.
Most people prefer to get their loved ones out of jail quickly and reduce the amount of time they spend behind bars. Absolute Bail Bonds helps with this. We provide personalized payment plans for all of our clients. This breaks up the cost of the bail bond and spreads it out over several months, making it more affordable from the get go.
Some of the other things we do to help our clients include:
- 24/7 Bail bond service
- 20% Discount
- Phone approvals
- 0% Interest payment plans
- No hidden fees
- No collateral with working signer
- Se habla Español
Needing to post bail may come without warning, but it doesn’t have to be impossible to deal with. With help from Absolute Bail Bonds, bailing someone out can be a quick and easy process. We will always be there to help you whenever you decide to bail out your loved one.
When you’re ready to post bail, call 1-800-793-2245 or click Chat With Us now
Can I Have a Payment Plan?
When people need to make big expenses, they want to make sure they can truly afford the expense. This is especially important when it comes to rescuing a loved one from jail. You want to be able to afford the bail. Sadly bail, costs several thousands of dollars here in California. Luckily, Absolute Bail Bonds is here to make things more affordable.
One of the easiest ways we do that is by providing payment plans for our clients. With a payment plan, the cost of the bail bond, which is already 90% cheaper than the bail itself, becomes more manageable. The payment plan takes the bail bond and breaks it into smaller pieces that a person can actually afford.
Things get even better when you take into account the fact that we personalize all of our payment plans. Here at Absolute Bail Bonds, we understand that everyone is different and has their own, unique budget. That is why we make sure that the monthly payments work with each client’s budget.
If, for some reason, a client knows that they are going to be late with one of their payments, they can talk to their agent beforehand. We understand that things change and what might have been affordable a few months ago can be unaffordable this month. As long as our clients talk with us in advance, we are more than happy to work with them to make sure the bail bond remains affordable.
Aside from providing payment plans for our clients, we also provide all of the following:
- 24/7 Bail bond service
- 20% Discount
- Phone approvals
- 0% Interest payment plans
- No hidden fees
- No collateral with working signer
- Se habla Español
If you need to bail someone out of jail and want to make sure that you can afford to, contact Absolute Bail Bonds. We will provide you with a personalized payment plan that breaks down the cost of the bail bond and spreads it out over several months. With our help, you will be able to afford to rescue your loved one from jail.
Don’t worry about anything, just call 1-800-793-2245 or click Chat With Us now.
Who Can Bail Someone Out?
People have a lot of questions when it comes to bailing someone out of jail. Most people don’t use bail on a day to day basis, so this confusion is understandable. Luckily, the professionals working at Absolute Bail Bonds are more than capable of helping provide answers for those questions. Here are just a few examples of the questions our agents answer all the time.
- What is a co-signer? A co-signer is a person who is willing to take responsibility for the bail bond and sign the paperwork. They are in charge of making sure that payments are made on time and that their friend or family member goes to all of their court dates. There can be multiple co-signers for a bail bond.
- Who can bail someone out? Unlike what some people may think, a person doesn’t have to be related to someone in order to post their bail. You just need to know enough about the person in order to fill out the paperwork for the bail bond.
- If I cannot bail somebody out immediately, up to how many days do I have to be able to bail them out of jail? In most cases, the only time limit to bailing someone out of jail is their trial period. Once the trial is over, the person is no longer bailable. So you have until then to get the person out of jail.
- What happens if I do not post bail? Your loved one stays in jail for the remainder of their trial.
- Can you bail someone out of jail in Nevada? No, we cannot. Absolute Bail Bonds is only licensed to provide bail bonds within the state of California. If you are looking to bail someone out in another state, you will need to contact a bail agent in that state.
- Can you tell me what my friend was arrested for? Yes, but in order to do that we will first need to locate your friend in the jail system. We will need, at the very least, his or her name, birthday, and county of arrest.
This is just a small sample of the questions our agents are asked on a daily basis. Hopefully this helps answer some of your questions. If not, you can always talk to one of our agents. Our bail agents are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and consultations are always free.
What are you waiting for? If you’ve got a question, call 1-800-793-2245 or click Chat With Us now.
Don’t Let Bail Ruin Your Day
One call can ruin your day. Finding out that someone you care about has been arrested is horrible. Luckily, one phone call is all it takes to fix the problem too. Just talk to the professionals here at Absolute Bail Bonds. For over 30 years we have helped Californians face bail. We can help you too.
Since Absolute Bail Bonds’ founding in 1987, we have helped thousands of clients face bail. With all of their years of training, our bail agents know everything about bail. With just a small bit of information about your loved one, our agents can answer all of your questions. All they need to get started is your loved one’s name, birthday, and county of arrest.
Once our agents have that information in hand, they can locate your loved one in the county database. There they can get the rest of the information they need and find the details on the arrest itself. This allows our agents to simultaneously answer your questions and fill out the paperwork for the bail bond.
When it comes to the bond itself, our bail bonds only cost 10% of the bail that they are for. This means you get a 90% discount just by coming to us. On top of this discount, we create personalized payment plans for all of our clients. This helps reduce the upfront cost of bailing someone out of jail, making it much more manageable.
- 24/7 Bail bond service
- 20% Discount
- Phone approvals
- 0% Interest payment plans
- No hidden fees
- No collateral with working signer
- Se habla Español
Signing for the bail bond is a piece of cake. So long as one of the co-signers for the bond is working, then we can use that signature as collateral. Plus, with Absolute Bail Bonds, you will never have to worry about hidden fees. The price we tell you is the price you will pay. We never try to milk more money out of our clients.