FYI don't wish this on anyone)
1) after my lunch /visit w/the drunk vice cop
about 3:30pm..after being strip searched & my vehicle searched & no miranda & 1 hour of questioning
2) in handcuffs to a big CA jail
3) was put into a room for about 5 minutes((only chance for phone call).
4) taken into processing: anti-lice shower & chest x-ray,put into orange jumpsuit.
5) interigation about gang actiity?????
6) put into a very crowded concrete room until 4am!!!
7) put into jail into tank ( horrible concrete room) with about 60 scary girls..
unable to sleep,eat & cried to entire time
8) about 7am I finally  got to use a phone. called someone & begged to come get me & pay the $1000 bail.. they got right on it, paid my bail paid by 11am..
9) at 5:30pm (next day) I was breathing fresh air.
10) could not wait to take a bath!!!! ick,
11) called attorney & started making arraigmnets to fight this !!!
12) almost 7 years later I still remember , the horrible experence.. & still suffer..
13) remmeber,, I had nothing prior!!!! & this was a fabricated flimsy case.... & they wanted to put me back in there & I live on the other side of the continent!!!!!!!!!!!extreme fear!!!!!!

Wow I am sorry this happened to you.  Good luck I hope your lawyer can get you off

I sure don't want to see any good person go through this...but knowledge is key
of course,it was a 100% shock  & there I was in a nasty big city jail far far away from home.
1) sometimes "auto clubs" will post bail  right away for small things...I could have used mine rather than stay in .2 days..'til i could use the phone & arrange things..( harder than you think..everybody is not around in an emergency)
2)stupid me ( I had almost no phone numbers memorized)  have someone to call
3)ask to be (released on your own regog.).. I had heard of that term ..but did not know you must "request this"..I kept wondering why they were keeping me.. when I had no priors & it was after all a "thought crime" at worst  ..no drugs no violence, no victom....jaywalking is worse..
trust me it is really bad experience... I am not good with crowds.loud noise etc. I am a pretty quiet  super clean-aphobic person..I was really out of place..it was disgusting  with dirty stale air... horrible...jail is for mean people..not a kind person  that was taken advatage of or even someone that made a mistake

"Auto clubs" will post bail for solicitation? Maybe I'm the only one who did not understand this but what exactly do you mean here?

What a nightmare for you Cathy. I also was unaware they did chest x-rays right after the arrest. I guess this is for TB but given the volume of people arrested they must employ a full time radiologist.

Thanks for giving us an inside look at what happens.

I faked a hypoglycemic attack and got some descent food.  Better than most airline meals these days at least.  

The 55 year old man on X, grinning his way through processing was worth the price of admission alone.  

Try and remember the experience with some humor and keep in mind you're one of many.  Some see it as a badge of honor.  MLK comes to mind.  

Sometimes, it's best to block out frigidity

I was surprised too
but, I did check this out "afterwards".. look at the "benefits" of you "auto club card"  and one  benefit  is  "instant bail"   up to $1000.. & not related to drugs/DUI & few others exceptions... but in OC.. my bail was $1000 & in smaller cities it most likely lower than $1000. and the actual charge was disorderly conduct 647
& the (b) was the "ho part"...according to the fine print this would qualify. The bail benefit is for small things ie: (max of $1000)...jaywalking,disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, tresspassing,etc...
you can check your card & I am sure different companies may very...but smart to have a Plan just in case....trust me, it is no fun to suffer through ,when You have other options save yourself a Lot of misery... & don't forget research how to request OR....

If I had not got out & stayed in another 24 hrs, until arraigment....I would have had to ride in a bus with DOC on the side, jammed packed with others in jumpsuits & hands & feet shackled into the court house & sat in court... as a lamb to slaughter..to go in front of Judge to plead NOT Guilty.... then ride back to get released ...it is just so much better to get out ASAP & not have to deal with the trauma. plus you lose control of your life....no one knows were you are & you won't want to explain...hope this never happens,,,... I was not prepared & suffered
1) avoid the LE contact
2) have a plans to get out::
auto club card,
Ask for OR
Way for someone to access to your money on your credit card with PIN.

I left my purse ,credit card & wrote down the PIN in my Car ( hide key under the tire)& had someone go get Car & stuff ..to get me out & some $$ had to be  wired.

and although I was surprised to see they do provide legal reimbursement for atty fees for some car accidents, they do not provide any bail that I can find. So I may have to call you to bail me out!

I believe Cathy is correct. Here is a link with some of their benefits including arrest and bail bonds.

I don't believe that it extends to anything other outside of motor vehicle violations, but they do offer coverage.

Will any or some places allow one to use their OWN credit card or debit card or even check to post their own bail??  Or is it stricktly cash only?


If you are carrying $1000 and the bail is $1000, can you use that money? Or is it considered 'evidence' or 'not availible'?

Hi ,  
self bail = it actually depends on the location;
you can google (bail out of jail credit card)
and they discuss that credit card & self bail is now avalible .. so far in over 30 states..swipe credit card & go.......
also, in some areas you can use your own credit card but you must have a bail bonds or friend do the actual swipe part on your behalf..

as far as "carrying the cash",you can bet .. LE would take it & try to say it was for illegal purposes..they accuse the most innocent thing as something....

Yes - jail sucks. It took me 6 hours to get out -several hours before the pigs would let me call, and then several hours after the bailbondman had paid my bail for them to process the paperwork.  Meanwhile, the jail was so filthy my allergies got to the point I though I was going to die.

Avoid contact with LE at all costs!  If detained, don't wait for a Miranda warning to remind you to shut up - just shut up!  The cops agenda is to get you talking so you will incriminate youself.  Then the pig will lie, and the prosecutor will also lie (not just about about the facts, but the law as well).

Even though may case was thrown out due to a complete and total lack of evidence, it still cost me time, money, and left a horrible memory.  The experience turned me from a conservative into a "bleeding heart liberal" now that I know first hand why our prisons are filled with people that did little more than make the mistake of believing the bullshit they were taught in school, read in the paper, or saw on TV about how our legal system works.  Many people - cops, prosecutors, and judges will pretend they are "looking out for your best interest" and similar crap.  Don't believe it.  And don't be the "low hanging fruit" - spend more time thinking than doing or talking.

Back in the day when we rarely checked reference I got busted, I gave the cop atb to completion and then he busted me.. They did however let me keep the money I had prior to seeing him, they didnt take none of my computer stuff or phone or nothing, not even my car( i did tell them i was homeless and carless lol) I was in the pokey about 8 hours and they let me sign myself out..
got the charges dropped a few years later  thanks to them being horndogs and my lawyer being a gooden..
SO.. I guess its all in the way they feel when they get you if they leave the money or not..
hugs.. deanna

Can you put a name to the auto club to mentioned above or below, please?  Thanks.

Arthur,
AAA is well known  &  benefits have variations  from state to state. also there are other auto club cards...you can go online & check what is availble for your state, Illinois even has a "bail bond card"..
also even better option is check & see if your state has the (credit card for bail program)...google "credit card get out of jail"  you will gets lots of information.. always expect the unexpected...I now carry a Credit card at all times (0 balance & high limit)  for whO knows what offence....but, I will never spend another nite in jail...you are smart to have a plan

just in case