Getting a divorce can be a pretty ugly mess, especially when children are involved. Custody battles can be terrible, and can cause rifts between both parents that last a lifetime. However, those differences should be put aside for the sake of the children, no matter which parent they end up with. After all, by having kids in the first place, both parents signed on to the job of taking care of and raising them.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen after a divorce. Even though a parent may have lost custody of their children, they still usually have to pay some form of child support because children are expensive. If a parent doesn’t pay that money, the other parent will struggle to provide their children with what they need. This isn’t fair to the kids, which is why some California lawmakers are looking into ways to ensure that parents always pay their child support.
Assembly Bill 1498
In an effort to ensure that kids always get the support they need from their parents, some lawmakers here in California have authored a new bill. Under this new bill, some parents who are behind on their child support payments might get some extra encouragement to start making those payments.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1498 was authored by California Assemblyman Tom Lackey and introduced to the State Assembly earlier this year. The bill proposes creating a new website that would publicly display important information about parents who are behind on their child support using a similar method that a few other states have adopted. Some of the information that would be on display includes:
- Name
- Photo
- Amount of child support owed
- Zip code
- Number of children
The idea is that by displaying this information in a public way, the parent will be peer pressured into making up those missed child support payments. It is important to note that not every parent who is behind on child support payments will be listed on the site.
For starters, the ex-spouse of the parent would have to okay the act of putting the other parent on the site, since it could draw unwanted attention towards the children. On top of that, only parents who owe more than $5,000, have been delinquent for a minimum of 12 months, and have not made a payment in 6 months. The parent cannot be going through any financial trouble, such as bankruptcy, or be locked up in jail or prison to be eligible to be placed on the site.
This proposed bill, of course, has supporters and opponents. There are those who that this sort of shaming is deserved if a parent isn’t doing their part in taking care of their child. However, there are those who argue that this is taking things too far.
The Consequences as They Are Now
Currently, when a parent is behind on their child support payments, there are some pretty big consequences. After all, this money is meant to help raise a child, and as such, falling behind on the payments is a very bad thing. Aside from the basic penalty of acquiring interest on the late payments, there are harsher consequences as well. Some of the consequences for falling behind on child support include:
- Revoking the parent’s driver’s license.
- Intercepting the parent’s wages and transferring them directly to the custodial parent.
- Intercepting the parent’s tax returns or unemployment.
- Placing a lien on the parent’s property.
- Deny passport, or other government, applications.
In cases where the parent has the money for the child support, but refuses to pay it, that parent could face legal trouble and jail time.
Child Support Is a Very Big Deal
Paying child support is a very big deal. In theory, it is money that would have been there had the parents not become separated in the first place. That money is meant to ensure that the child is provided with everything he or she needs growing up. That is why it is such a big deal when a parent falls behind on child support payments, and why lawmakers here in California are looking for more ways to ensure that parents keep up with parents.
Lawmakers like Assemblyman Lackey hope that by publicly shaming parents who are behind on their child support payments, the parent will be more likely to avoid falling behind, or work harder at making up those payments. The idea is to use peer pressure in a good way.
What do you think of this proposed bill? Is it a good thing, or are lawmakers taking things too far? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
Shaming Parents Behind on Child Support Payments
/in Blog, Chino Bail Bonds, Chino Hills Bail Bonds, Rancho Cucamonga Bail Bonds, Redlands Bail Bonds, Rialto Bail Bonds, San Bernardino Bail Bonds /by crystalGetting a divorce can be a pretty ugly mess, especially when children are involved. Custody battles can be terrible, and can cause rifts between both parents that last a lifetime. However, those differences should be put aside for the sake of the children, no matter which parent they end up with. After all, by having kids in the first place, both parents signed on to the job of taking care of and raising them.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen after a divorce. Even though a parent may have lost custody of their children, they still usually have to pay some form of child support because children are expensive. If a parent doesn’t pay that money, the other parent will struggle to provide their children with what they need. This isn’t fair to the kids, which is why some California lawmakers are looking into ways to ensure that parents always pay their child support.
Assembly Bill 1498
In an effort to ensure that kids always get the support they need from their parents, some lawmakers here in California have authored a new bill. Under this new bill, some parents who are behind on their child support payments might get some extra encouragement to start making those payments.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1498 was authored by California Assemblyman Tom Lackey and introduced to the State Assembly earlier this year. The bill proposes creating a new website that would publicly display important information about parents who are behind on their child support using a similar method that a few other states have adopted. Some of the information that would be on display includes:
The idea is that by displaying this information in a public way, the parent will be peer pressured into making up those missed child support payments. It is important to note that not every parent who is behind on child support payments will be listed on the site.
For starters, the ex-spouse of the parent would have to okay the act of putting the other parent on the site, since it could draw unwanted attention towards the children. On top of that, only parents who owe more than $5,000, have been delinquent for a minimum of 12 months, and have not made a payment in 6 months. The parent cannot be going through any financial trouble, such as bankruptcy, or be locked up in jail or prison to be eligible to be placed on the site.
This proposed bill, of course, has supporters and opponents. There are those who that this sort of shaming is deserved if a parent isn’t doing their part in taking care of their child. However, there are those who argue that this is taking things too far.
The Consequences as They Are Now
Currently, when a parent is behind on their child support payments, there are some pretty big consequences. After all, this money is meant to help raise a child, and as such, falling behind on the payments is a very bad thing. Aside from the basic penalty of acquiring interest on the late payments, there are harsher consequences as well. Some of the consequences for falling behind on child support include:
In cases where the parent has the money for the child support, but refuses to pay it, that parent could face legal trouble and jail time.
Child Support Is a Very Big Deal
Paying child support is a very big deal. In theory, it is money that would have been there had the parents not become separated in the first place. That money is meant to ensure that the child is provided with everything he or she needs growing up. That is why it is such a big deal when a parent falls behind on child support payments, and why lawmakers here in California are looking for more ways to ensure that parents keep up with parents.
Lawmakers like Assemblyman Lackey hope that by publicly shaming parents who are behind on their child support payments, the parent will be more likely to avoid falling behind, or work harder at making up those payments. The idea is to use peer pressure in a good way.
What do you think of this proposed bill? Is it a good thing, or are lawmakers taking things too far? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
Los Angeles County Redefines Smoking
/in Blog, Chino Bail Bonds, Chino Hills Bail Bonds, Redlands Bail Bonds, Rialto Bail Bonds, San Bernardino Bail Bonds /by crystalIn 2016, Californians voted to legalize the recreational usage of marijuana in the state. Since then California residents have been able to use marijuana however they want, within reason. However, this has caused some issues in certain areas as people smoke marijuana where other people would prefer they didn’t.
On top of the rise of marijuana usage, electronic cigarette usage has also increased. It is no longer uncommon to walk down a street and see, or smell, someone vaping in public. As with regular smoking and marijuana, some people have a problem being around this as well.
Due to this, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has recently expanded its definition of smoking. This new definition changes where people can smoke marijuana or electronic cigarettes within LA County.
The New Definition in Los Angeles County
On Tuesday, March 26th, the Board of Supervisors in Los Angeles County decided to redefine its legal definition of smoke and smoking. This new definition now includes smoke from marijuana and electronic cigarettes.
What this means is that the smoking of marijuana, or e-cigs is now banned wherever smoking is banned in LA County. This includes county parks, government buildings, bus stops, outdoor bars, county-owned golf courses, beaches, and beach parking lots. Some of the beaches where smoking e-cigs and marijuana is now banned include:
This has all been done in an effort to remove a loophole and help keep the air clean in smoke-free zones. Now non-smokers will not have to worry about second hand smoke from e-cigs and marijuana.
This change simply reflects state laws surrounding marijuana usage that were already in effect. The same law that legalized marijuana in the state also outlined when and where it can be used. One of the stipulations is that marijuana cannot be smoked or used on or around government buildings or property. This new definition of smoking just further enforces this law within LA County, reminding people that smoking marijuana in public places where smoking is banned is illegal.
Smokers Need to Choose Where They Light up Carefully
The city of Los Angeles looks to further look into the matters of smoking marijuana and e-cigs, especially in regards to minors. They plan on looking at how other cities are handling these issues, and learn from those cities. One such example could be San Francisco, which is really tightening down on e-cigs, even looking to go as far as banning the production of electronic cigarette products within the city.
So, while this new ban may seem strict, some of it was technically already in place due to the passing of Prop 64, at least as far as marijuana usage was concerned. However, for people who use vaping products, this could make things more difficult for them.
What do you think of Los Angeles County’s new definition of smoking? Should other counties and cities follow suit, or is this taking things too far? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
Could Banning Facial Recognition Become the New Norm?
/in Blog, Chino Bail Bonds, Chino Hills Bail Bonds, Rancho Cucamonga Bail Bonds, Redlands Bail Bonds, Rialto Bail Bonds, San Bernardino Bail Bonds /by crystalToday’s modern world has a lot of technology that a one point had simply been considered science fiction. Things such as earbuds, video calls, and mobile phones were just cool, out of this world ideas when they were first depicted in books and movies. Nowadays, they are a part of everyday life for most individuals. While many of these things are welcomed with open arms, some technologies are a bit invasive.
One such example of invasive tech would be facial recognition. With cameras everywhere, law enforcement agencies are able to use this kind of technology to locate people of interest in cases and bring them into justice. However, these electronic eyes are always watching, and this causes some concern amongst some people. That is why one US city is considering banning the use of this technology, or at the very least, limiting its uses.
San Francisco May Be the First to Ban Facial Recognition
The city of San Francisco is no stranger when it comes to creating new laws in uncharted territory. The city has been doing this for years now, and is currently considering a ban on facial recognition technology due to its invasive nature. The current proposed law would prohibit the San Francisco police from using the software, but not affect businesses or people from using the software. It also would not prevent the software from being used at San Francisco International Airport or the Port of San Francisco.
While Facial recognition technology is an incredibly helpful tool, especially for law enforcement agencies, it is also very invasive. Essentially, any camera out there in the world can be used to locate a single person. This is very helpful for manhunts, but can be dangerous if used by people with less than honest intentions. According to the New York Times, there is a fifty percent chance that a person’s face is already in a law enforcement’s database by the time they reach adulthood.
Another problem comes from a recent study published by MIT Media Lab. The study found that the facial recognition software tended to make mistakes with identifying a person’s gender if they were female or had darker skin.
It is the possible invasion of privacy and large room for error that gives some people cause for concern. However, while some people are against the technology, they do recognize its practical uses. This leads to some people supporting some sort of limitations on the technology, instead of an outright ban. This way, it can be used as needed, or allowed to come back once the tech has a better success rate.
What This Could Mean for the Rest of the Country
Other cities and states, such as nearby Oakland and even Massachusetts, have also considered placing bans on facial recognition technology. It is safe to assume that they, along with other locations, will be paying close attention to San Francisco. Depending on how things go there, they may copy the ban or make alterations to better suite their needs or beliefs.
There is no denying that facial recognition software has many benefits, especially in the law enforcement field. The technology can help officers locate wanted criminals, or track down missing children. This is a very powerful tool. However, its strength comes at the cost of privacy. This technology looks at everyone, whether they want it to or not, and once they are in the facial recognition database, they likely aren’t getting out of it, if they ever even realize that they are there. That is what scares some people, and causes them to look for some sort of restrictions on the technology.
What do you think of facial recognition software? Is it a helpful tool for police officers, or is it too invasive to a person’s privacy? Is San Francisco right in the idea that the tech should be outright banned, or should they do something a little less permanent? Should other cities and states follow suite? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
People Do What Before Getting Into Public Pools?
/in Blog, Chino Bail Bonds, Chino Hills Bail Bonds, Rancho Cucamonga Bail Bonds, Redlands Bail Bonds, Rialto Bail Bonds, San Bernardino Bail Bonds /by crystalWith the weather quickly heating up, many people are starting to pull their swimsuits out from their winter hiding spots. With California’s thousands of miles of coastline, there are plenty of places to go to the beach. However, the beach isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer to cool off without having to worry about sand getting everywhere. That is why some people prefer going to a pool.
In addition to the lack of sand at pools, they are often cleaner as well. The water is maintained by humans, instead of being left alone. However, despite the chemicals, mostly chlorine, put into pool water to keep it clean, one recent survey found that pools aren’t always as clean as one would hope.
Public Pools May Not be as Clean as You Think
The clear blue water of pools often looks a heck of a lot cleaner than ocean, lake, or river water. Those waters typically have all kinds of debris floating beneath the surface, making them hazy. Pools lack this haze due to the chemicals put into them to kill bacteria, and the filtration systems in them to pick out the bigger particles like bugs and leaves.
However, despite all of that, pools can still contain bits of harmful bacteria, bacteria that is typically brought in by swimmers. A recent survey conducted by Water Quality and Health Council found that 51% of Americans used pools as a way to rinse off after performing sweat inducing activities.
The survey, which polled 3,100 American adults and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7%, also found the following information:
While chlorine does help keep pools cleaner, it isn’t an infinite source of cleanliness. Think of the chlorine in a pool like a bar of soap. Every time it is used to clean something, it becomes smaller and less effective until it is all used up. However, chlorine is not a replacement for soap.
Chlorine keeps pools clean by causing chemical reactions in the water that kill microorganisms and bacteria. By adding other chemicals to the mix, bodily fluids, makeup, and deodorant, a person reduces the strength of the chlorine in the water, thereby reducing its effectiveness.
Help Keep Public Pools Clean
Some of the findings in this survey are more than a bit disgusting. Hopefully, they will serve as a reminder to everyone that there are times when they shouldn’t go swimming, and more than that, they should shower before getting into a pool. Doing so can help keep the water cleaner, longer.
Pools are a great way to beat the summer heat, and most are likely maintained on a regular basis. So long as a pool’s owner keeps up with the maintenance of the pool, its filter system, and the chemical makeup, there is no reason to not go swimming in it. All public pools in California are required by law to be kept at safe and sanitary levels at all times. If a person suspects that this isn’t being done at a local public pool, they can report the problem to their local health officials.
As things begin to heat up this summer, be sure to help keep pools clean by not using them as bath time, and showering before getting into the water. This will help keep the pool water clean for everyone.
Sharing Your Summer Plans Online Can Be a Bad Idea
/in Blog, Chino Bail Bonds, Chino Hills Bail Bonds, Ontario Bail Bonds, Redlands Bail Bonds, Rialto Bail Bonds, San Bernardino Bail Bonds /by crystalAs the weather begins to warm up and chase away the cold winds of winter, people begin to emerge from their hiding places of warmth and safety. Spring allows people to venture outside once again and enjoy some fresh air. The season signals the end of winter and heralds in the warmer months of summer.
With the inevitable approach of summer inching closer, people begin to make their plans for the season, namely their vacations. Everyone needs to take a break from their day to day lives from time to time, and a vacation allows this. It is a chance to break away from the normal and have an adventure, or just a chance to relax. No matter what a person chooses to do on their vacation, they know they will have fun.
As with anything that is exciting in a person’s life, there is an intense desire to share the experience with loved ones. While this used to mean having them come along on the trip, nowadays, it can simply mean posting about the vacation on social media. However, doing so can actually cause problems for the person in question.
Talking about Trips Online Can Be an Invitation for Thieves
With all of the social media sites and apps out there, it can be hard for a person not to share their life with others. It has practically become second nature to share with others online. This can be a bit problematic when it comes to vacations. Anyone going on a vacation wants to post about it, however, they may be sharing this information with the wrong people.
Social media sites are great because they allow us to share with the world. Unfortunately, this means that world has access to information about us as well. While, for the most part, only loved one look at one another’s social media, thieves have learned to use these sites to their advantage. For instance, posting the dates of an upcoming trip tells a would-be thieve exactly when the house is going to be empty.
It is very important for people to realize that they can overshare information. As a general rule of thumb, most people are aware that they should never share personal information, such as a home address or social security number, online. However, it is also a good idea to not post about upcoming or current trips as doing so could be an open invitation for thieves. It is a good idea for people to not share the specific dates of their vacation online. They also shouldn’t share vacation photos until after they have returned home since doing so during the trip is just another sign that the person isn’t home.
Having social media accounts set so that only approved people can see what is posted is a good idea, but not always foolproof. Sometimes friends, who may or may not have strict privacy settings, can share information with their friends. This could make it so that thieves still learn when a person isn’t home.
Don’t Overshare about Your Vacation
Everyone needs a little vacation from time to time. However, no one wants to come home from their relaxing trip to find that their home has been robbed. That would completely erase the relaxation felt from the trip and cause an untold amount of stress. In order to avoid that unnecessary stress, a person should be careful about what they post online about their vacations and other planned trips. They do not want to advertise to the world that their home will be empty for the next few days. Thieves see that as an open invitation to let themselves inside.
Since talking about any upcoming summer trips online is a bit of a bad idea, why not share some of your favorite vacations? What is your favorite summer trip that you think others would enjoy? Let us know in the comments down below.
Parents, Don’t Serve Alcohol at Graduation Parties
/in Blog, Chino Bail Bonds, Chino Hills Bail Bonds, Ontario Bail Bonds, Rancho Cucamonga Bail Bonds, Rialto Bail Bonds, San Bernardino Bail Bonds /by crystalAs summer draws nearer, students of all ages grow more and more antsy. Soon enough, school will let out for the most marvelous break of all, summer vacation. While all students look forward to the end of this school year, one group is more excited than all of the others. This group is, of course, the seniors in high school.
For high school seniors, the end of this school year is the end of their public school career. While some will be heading off to college, others may be heading off to a trade school or straight to a new job. Whatever a student is heading to, this is an exciting time. Naturally, this leads to a lot of celebrating and parties.
While many of these soon-to-be ex-students will be legal adults, they will still be too young to consume any alcohol. Since no one wants to end up breaking any laws, parents need to be careful when they are hosting graduation parties. If they aren’t careful, they could find themselves liable for a drunk driving accident.
Minors, Alcohol, and Host Liability in California
When it comes to raising young adults, parents all have their own, unique approach. For some parents, being over 18, but under the age of 21, means that their child cannot have alcohol no matter what. Other parents feel it is okay to allow their child to have a few drinks, provided they have adult supervision. Unfortunately, for those latter parents, that is actually against the law here in California under Business and Professions (BP) Code 25658.2.
Here in the state of California, it is illegal for anyone, including the parents, to allow a minor to consume alcohol in public or in their own household. If the minor then leaves the house and drives or causes a traffic accident, not only will the minor face legal charges, the adult who gave them the alcohol will face misdemeanor charges. This means the adult could face up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.
This makes things very difficult for anyone planning on hosting a graduation party. Party hosts are responsible for ensuring that the minors at their parties stay safe and healthy. Responsible adults need to take all reasonable steps to ensure that no underage drinking occurs at any of their parties. This means doing more than just telling the minors that they can’t have any alcohol if the host is providing alcohol to the adults at the party. If a minor does have alcohol, and then drives away from the party, the host could be held responsible for any accidents caused by the drunk minor.
If a drunk minor were to get into an accident, they would face harsh repercussions related to DUI. Aside from that, the adult in charge of the party could face legal charges such as contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing a minor with alcohol. Plus, the adult could be held liable for paying for any of the damages caused by the minor, which depending on the size of the accident, could be very costly.
It Is Better for Everyone to Keep Things Safe and Sober
Nobody wants to deal with a drunk driving accident, especially if it involves a minor on the verge of graduating from high school. The results of an accident like that could be utterly devastating. That is why it is best to keep alcohol far away from graduation parties.
While graduating seniors are on their way to becoming full-fledged adults, they aren’t quite there yet. They are still in the tail end of that teen phase, and as all adults will attest to, teens don’t make the best decisions. That is why the legal drinking age across the country is 21. By then, teens have typically matured a little more and are more prepared to take on all of the responsibility that comes with consuming alcohol.
What do you think of California’s take on minors and drinking? Is the state too strict, or is it on the right path? What about the states take on host responsibility? Do you think party hosts should be held liable for any damages caused by a minor that got drunk at their party? Let us know what you think in the comments down below, and congratulations to all the seniors out their preparing to graduate from high school.
Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego Will Help You Right Away
/in Blog, Carlsbad Bail Bonds, Chula Vista Bail Bonds, National City Bail Bonds, Oceanside Bail Bonds, San Diego Bail Bonds /by crystalThere are plenty of events in life that can occur and cause a person to panic. A perfect example of this is when someone gets arrested. Anyone can see how getting arrested is a scary experience. A person is ripped from their life and placed into a jail cell. No one wants to experience that, and no one wants a loved one to experience that.
This is why, when people find out that one of their loved ones has been arrested, they begin to panic. However, they don’t need to. Bailing someone out of jail can be quick and easy with the right bail help. The best bail help in California can be found here at Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego. No other bail bond company in the state can help you like we can.
Here at Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego, we have over 30 years of experience. We use this experience to provide our clients with expert bail help, and to get the bail process finished as quickly as possible. We understand how stressful and unpleasant being in jail is, so our agents work quickly to get their clients out of jail.
An arrest usually comes without warning, and can occur at any time. This means that you will need bail at any time. Our bail agents are available 24/7 to accommodate your needs. They will start working for you right away and will answer all of your questions. Our agents will be by your side for the entire bail bond process, ensuring that you never have to face this alone.
You didn’t expect a loved one to get arrested today, but you are not going to let that stop you. You refuse to leave your loved one behind bars, and thanks to the professional help from Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego, you will be able to bail him out of jail. Our agents will happily assist you in rescuing your loved one from jail.
Don’t wait another minute. Call 866-736-6977 or click Chat With Us now to get started right away.
Don’t Let an Unexpected Arrest Hold You Back
/in Blog, Carlsbad Bail Bonds, Chula Vista Bail Bonds, National City Bail Bonds, Oceanside Bail Bonds, San Diego Bail Bonds /by crystalNo matter how hard people try to plan out their days and their lives, we can’t plan everything. There are moments that will arise without warning, and while some can be good, such as surprise parties, others aren’t so exciting. One such bad surprise would be discovering that a friend or family member got arrested.
Once you learn of this incident, you jump into action to rescue him from jail. Unfortunately, you have never bailed anyone out of jail before. You have no idea what you are doing. Luckily, there are people out there who can help. All you have to do is contact Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego. Our professional bail agents will be more than happy to assist you.
Here at Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego, we have dozens of bail agents working all over the state of California. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They will always be ready and waiting to help you bail a loved one out of jail. All they need to get started is your loved one’s name, birthday, and county of arrest.
With that small amount of information in hand, our bail agents will be able to locate your loved one in the county jail database. From there, they can get the rest of the needed information for the bail bond’s paperwork. Plus, they can use some of that information to fill you in on why your loved one got arrested in the first place.
The arrest of a loved probably caught you off guard, however you are not going to let that prevent you from helping your loved one get out of jail. Not even your lack of experience will hold you back. You know that the bail agents at Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego will do everything that they can to make the bail process as quick and easy for you as possible. All you have to do is talk to them.
What are you waiting for? You can get started right now by calling 866-736-6977 or clicking Chat With Us now.
Bail Can Be Simple, with the Right Help
/in Blog, Carlsbad Bail Bonds, Chula Vista Bail Bonds, National City Bail Bonds, Oceanside Bail Bonds, San Diego Bail Bonds /by crystalIf you are like most people, then everything you know about bail, which isn’t much, came from television. Unfortunately, television doesn’t reveal a whole lot about the bail process, and makes it look super simple. Sadly, due to high bail amounts here in California, that isn’t always the case.
Bailing someone out of jail can be easy, provided you get the right help. The best place to get bail help here in California is by contacting Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego. Our professional bail agents know everything about bailing someone out of jail. They will happily share that information with you. All you have to do is talk to one.
Our experts will walk you through each step of the process and answer all of your questions. You will not have to face this alone. Our agents will always be there for you, no matter what time it may be. They will communicate with the jail for you and work quickly to secure your loved one’s release.
On top of that, our bail agents will work with you to create a payment plan that works for you. This plan will be customized to work with your unique budget. This will help make the bail more affordable, which makes bailing someone out of jail a lot easier. With one of our payment plans, you will only have to pay a small portion of the bail bond before your loved one is bailed out of jail.
While TV shows don’t always depict the truth, bailing someone out of jail can be that simple with the right help. The best help in California can be found here at Penny Bail Bonds in San Diego. Our expert bail agents are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They will always be ready and waiting to lend you a helping hand whenever you may need it.
What are you waiting for? You can talk to a bail agent at any time by calling 866-736-6977 or by clicking Chat With Us now.
Who Is Liable If a Minor Drinks at a Party?
/in Blog, Chino Bail Bonds, Chino Hills Bail Bonds, Rancho Cucamonga Bail Bonds, Redlands Bail Bonds, Rialto Bail Bonds, San Bernardino Bail Bonds /by crystalFrom time to time, people get adventurous and decide that they want to throw a party at their home. Maybe they haven’t seen their friends and family members in a while, or they have some big event to celebrate, whatever the reason, they want everyone there.
Hosting a party is no easy undertaking. Figuring out what to serve to guest can be challenging, especially if kids and teens are going to be around. While the adults might enjoy a bit of alcohol, the younger crowd will need their own beverages.
Providing alcohol at parties can do a lot more than just get people drunk. In some places, it can get the host into legal trouble if one of the attendees gets too drunk and hurts someone. This law is often referred to as social host liability. This can apply in a number of different scenarios, especially if minors are involved. A party host needs to really pay attention to what is going on at their party if they want to avoid getting into any trouble.
What Is Social Host Liability?
Social host liability is a term that most people aren’t really aware of, despite the fact that many people have thrown parties in their lifetime. However, despite the lack of knowledge on the subject, it is still very important to know, since it could keep a person out of trouble.
Essentially, social host liability holds a party host responsible for any damages a drunk partier could have caused. For example, say Bob is at a party hosted by Karen. Bob has too much to drink, and then decides to drive himself home. He gets into an accident and hurts another driver. In some states, that driver could then turn around and sue Karen because she provided Bob with the alcohol and allowed him to drive away from her party.
This kind of law varies from state to state. Here in California, Civil Code 1714 states: “the furnishing of alcoholic beverages is not the proximate cause of injuries resulting from intoxication, but rather the consumption of alcoholic beverages is the proximate cause of injuries inflicted upon another by an intoxicated person.”
What this means, is that the person who drinks an alcoholic beverage is responsible for their actions, not the person who gave them the drink in the first place. This applies in most cases, except when a minor is involved.
Who Is Responsible When Minors Drink at a Party?
In the state of California, it is illegal for anyone to knowingly give alcohol to a minor, even the minor’s legal parent or guardian. This provides an exception for Civil Code 1714. In these instances, the term “knowingly” can become tricky. In some instances, a host can get into trouble even if they told the minors that they couldn’t have any alcohol, but the minor snuck some anyways. This means that knowingly providing alcohol doesn’t just mean giving the alcohol to a minor, it can also mean having alcohol available for adults at a party that minors are also attending.
If a minor gets drunk and causes an accident after leaving the party, the host could be liable for any of the damages caused by the minor. This can be very costly, and harmful. That is why it is in a party host’s best interest to ensure that minors do not consume alcohol at their party.
Party Hosts Need to Keep an Eye on Whoever Drinks
Throwing a party is a hard enough task on its own. The host has to make sure that there is entertainment and enough food and drink for everyone. They also have to make sure everything runs smoothly over the course of the whole event. With the addition of social host liability, the host also needs to make sure that no minors drink and cause trouble.
Throwing a party can be a stressful thing, but it shouldn’t be. After all, parties are supposed to be fun. A host needs to make sure that no minors drink at their party, and make sure that anyone who does drink, gets a safe ride home that doesn’t involve the drunk person driving themselves, because that is never a good idea. By doing that, a host can reduce the chances of themselves getting into any legal trouble and have a good time.