Bail in DWI Cases
Bail
If you are reading this, you have probably already posted a bond (bail) to get out of jail. You may have either posted a Cash Bond (where you put up the entire amount), or a bail bond through a bondsman. In the case of a cash bond, at the disposition of your case, you are entitled to that money back (minus a small percentage to the court clerk). With a bail bond, any amount you paid to the bondsman will be retained by that bondsman. It is their "fee" for putting up the rest of the money for you.
If you bonded out of a city jail (i.e. Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Richardson, Denton), you will probably have to go to the County Jail to get processed in. You usually need to do this within 10 days of your release. If you were taken directly to the County Jail (McKinney for Collin County, Lew Sterrit for Dallas County, or Denton for Denton County), you would not need to go back to check yourself in.
Your bail bond is your promise to reappear for all court hearings. The point of the bond is to set a price that will ensure you show back up, and don't flee to Mexico. With most DWI cases, this is never a problem, and as long as you show up as scheduled, everything is fine.
The judge or magistrate may also require certain conditions of bond if they choose. One of the most common conditions is that you install an ignition interlock device on your car. This is actually a REQUIREMENT of your bond if you are charged with DWI 2nd.
