Anyone arrested for a San Diego DUI charge need to post bail these days but not before. Until last year, if a first-time DUI offender was hauled into jail, he would simply be held until he sobered up and then released with a court appearance date.

Now first-time San Diego DUI /drunk driving offenders must post bail in the amount of $2,500.

That new rule is part of this year’s bail schedule for San Diego County. Each year, local judges gather to assess bail bond fees.

Today’s bail schedule reads like a menu for various offenses: possession of drugs runs $5,000; a misdemeanor domestic violence charge is $10,000. “So, let’s say someone gets in a fight with his wife and the wife calls 9-1-1,” says Junior of one Bail Bonds Co. “The police pick up the guy driving a stolen car and there are drugs in the car. That’s three offense with a total bail of $25,000.”
In most cases, a family member of the person in custody becomes the co-signer for the total amount of the bail. King Stahlman Bail Bonds has financial criteria that must be met before they’ll finance bail. “We’re just like a bank that lends money,” Junior says.

The younger Stahlman says the target market for bail bonds is broad: “It’s 18 to 80 and it covers everything. San Diego DUI / Drunk driving, domestic violence, theft, drugs – anything and everything.”