When it comes to the holiday season, most people think about spending time with family, decorating a tree, opening presents, mistletoe, and good food. But the holidays are notorious for something less festive—getting arrested. Whether it’s due to an increase in alcohol consumption, opportunity, or stress, more people get arrested around the Christmas holiday season than any other.
Below are some of the most common reasons why people get arrested during the Christmas season in Forth Worth and Tarrant County.
Shoplifting
Sometimes the deals are too good to pass up. And in the leadup to Christmas, charges for five-finger discounts go higher. The value/price of the stolen item will determine what kind of charge you face. That’s the regular price, not the Christmas sale price.
Depending on the retail price, a charge for shoplifting can range from a misdemeanor to a felony. In Texas, if you’re arrested for stealing anything valued between $100 and $750, you can get hit with a $2,000 fine and face up to 180 days in jail. If the item is worth between $750 and $2,500, you’re looking at jail time of up to 365 days and a fine of up to $4,000.
Package Theft
The rise and convenience of Internet shopping has led to a massive increase in package theft. Would-be porch pirates follow postal carriers and delivery drivers and seize upon Christmas gifts left on the front porch. It might be an easy target, but thanks to the rise of anti-theft devices, like doorbell cameras, it’s getting easier to catch porch pirates.
The penalty for package theft is similar to shoplifting. Except in this case, it’s a total surprise. That’s because you don’t know the value of the product inside the package. And, like shoplifting, you’re charged based on the retail value of the gift.
Airport Contraband
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, hundreds of thousands of people travel through the Dallas-Forth Worth Airport to visit family and friends. It doesn’t matter if you’re departing from the DFW Airport, landed from anywhere else on the planet, or are catching a connector flight, if you get caught with contraband, like guns, drugs, or any other controlled substance (marijuana, CBD oil, or THC) you could get arrested. Even if you’re flying in from a state that has legalized recreational cannabis use, you are subject to the laws of Texas. Your case will be filed in Tarrant County, Texas, which means you need to make your way back there to attend court.
Family Violence
The holidays are filled with a lot of stress, which might explain why the number of domestic violence arrests are so high. Depending on the nature of the assault, being arrested for domestic violence can lead to a misdemeanor or felony. The offense can carry a range of punishments of anywhere from one day in jail to 10 years locked up, and fines of up to $10,000.
Driving Under Influence
We all like to make merry over the Christmas holidays, but it can easily get out of hand. And getting behind the wheel while drunk can have serious consequences. In Texas, if you’re charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), you can face a range of charges, from a misdemeanor (if it’s a first or second offence) to a felony (if there’s a child in the car or the driver has been convicted of DWI twice before).
If its your first time being convicted of a DWI, the penalty can be up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. A second offense is a Class A Misdemeanor which is punishable by a 30- to 365-day jail sentence and $10,000 fine. If you’re caught driving under the influence with a child in the car, its punishable by 180 days to 24 months in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
PCS Bail Bonds, Helping Those Who Get Arrested Over Christmas
If you or a loved on gets arrested over the Christmas holidays and you need to get bail in Fort Worth or anywhere in Tarrant County, Texas, contact the experienced bail bondsmen at PCS Bail Bonds immediately.
The skilled bail bondsmen at PCS Bail Bonds will process your case quickly and efficiently, and get you out of jail fast, so you can get back to your family. We serve clients in Fort Worth, Texas, and other municipalities in Tarrant County. Our bond agents are always on call and we can be down to the jail in under 30 minutes.
Contact us now by phone at 817-335-1655, at our e-mail, visit in-person, or fill out our bail bond request form. You can be confident that you’re working with experts who are dedicated to helping you.