Comments on: Bail Bonds by the Bay http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/ Reporter Chris Henry talks about life in the county seat of Port Orchard and surrounding areas. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:25:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: First Time Visitor http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-12009 First Time Visitor Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:39:52 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-12009 My wife and I visited Port Orchard for the first time a couple weekends ago and were pleasantly surprised at the downtown and the shops. We are looking to purchase land in Manchester and having a 'cute' small town with it's small businesses and services is very important to us. I have to say the presense and number of bail bonds offices is an immediate detractor from the appeal of the downtown area. So much so I actually searched on the internet and found this article to try to explain why there were so many :-). The immediate impression to us was that the area must have a high crime rate to warrant the extreme number of bail bonds. Objectively of course that may not be the case (proximity to the courthouse may be a reasonable explanation). Unfortunately to many folks that may not make up for the poor first impression a visitor to your city may receive. Hopefully there is a reasonable solution that makes everyone happy... and I don't have to try to explain to friends and family that visit us in Manchester why we seem to need so many bail bondsmen. My wife and I visited Port Orchard for the first time a couple weekends ago and were pleasantly surprised at the downtown and the shops. We are looking to purchase land in Manchester and having a ‘cute’ small town with it’s small businesses and services is very important to us.

I have to say the presense and number of bail bonds offices is an immediate detractor from the appeal of the downtown area. So much so I actually searched on the internet and found this article to try to explain why there were so many :-) .

The immediate impression to us was that the area must have a high crime rate to warrant the extreme number of bail bonds. Objectively of course that may not be the case (proximity to the courthouse may be a reasonable explanation). Unfortunately to many folks that may not make up for the poor first impression a visitor to your city may receive.

Hopefully there is a reasonable solution that makes everyone happy… and I don’t have to try to explain to friends and family that visit us in Manchester why we seem to need so many bail bondsmen.

]]> By: Mike http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-9580 Mike Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:47:57 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-9580 Well it happened, after months of waiting on my justification from the Kitsap County Prosecutor's Office, I received a letter today from them stating that they were unable to process my justification because the County Courts are working on the adoption of local court rules requiring "portability" clauses in the bail bond justification orders. This would allow for any posted bail bonds to be transfered from District Court to Superior Court and vice versa at no additional cost to the defendant. The process is not going to be completed until September 2010. Spoke with the Prosecutor's assistant as well today (finally), she claims that the judge (Hartman) refuses to sign any and all justifications either new or trying to rejustify, the problam is with this is that this new order if it passes will not be signed until after September 2010 and everyone needs to re-justify by June 1st, Guess what, it's not going to happen.......... I was told no bail bondsmen will be allowed to post bail after june 1st 2010, until September 2010 until this new ruling either passes or fails. If you care to know more please feel free to contact my office at 360-895-4848 or you can come to my office located at 810 Bay Street Downtown Port Orchard... This is an issue we all need to address immediatley, I can see my company not getting to justify, but to not let anyone re-justify in June concerns more then just me and my company. Is this related to what the Mayor has quoted in the past, who knows but it does seem kind of odd that what the Mayor quoted and whats going on with my company in the Court system seems to be related. By shutting us down for 5 months could financialy hurt some bail bondsmen's in the community, seeing some of them only opperate here in the County, you deffinatley will see some 4 - Rent signs in old vacant bail bonds offices, I'm sure a new bar will probably open up in a few of the old offices on Bay Street, then we could rename the town's slogan to boozin it up on the Bay,, actually I think I will trade proffessions and start being a bar owner, cause it looks like to me thats the business to be in around here. Well it happened, after months of waiting on my justification from the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office, I received a letter today from them stating that they were unable to process my justification because the County Courts are working on the adoption of local court rules requiring “portability” clauses in the bail bond justification orders. This would allow for any posted bail bonds to be transfered from District Court to Superior Court and vice versa at no additional cost to the defendant. The process is not going to be completed until September 2010.
Spoke with the Prosecutor’s assistant as well today (finally), she claims that the judge (Hartman) refuses to sign any and all justifications either new or trying to rejustify, the problam is with this is that this new order if it passes will not be signed until after September 2010 and everyone needs to re-justify by June 1st, Guess what, it’s not going to happen………. I was told no bail bondsmen will be allowed to post bail after june 1st 2010, until September 2010 until this new ruling either passes or fails. If you care to know more please feel free to contact my office at 360-895-4848 or you can come to my office located at 810 Bay Street Downtown Port Orchard… This is an issue we all need to address immediatley, I can see my company not getting to justify, but to not let anyone re-justify in June concerns more then just me and my company. Is this related to what the Mayor has quoted in the past, who knows but it does seem kind of odd that what the Mayor quoted and whats going on with my company in the Court system seems to be related. By shutting us down for 5 months could financialy hurt some bail bondsmen’s in the community, seeing some of them only opperate here in the County, you deffinatley will see some 4 – Rent signs in old vacant bail bonds offices, I’m sure a new bar will probably open up in a few of the old offices on Bay Street, then we could rename the town’s slogan to boozin it up on the Bay,, actually I think I will trade proffessions and start being a bar owner, cause it looks like to me thats the business to be in around here.

]]> By: Mike http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-9495 Mike Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:08:46 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-9495 Well here we go, the first bail bondsmen to feel the pinch of the politics surrounding the bay street bail bond offices downtown Port Orchard. We are A AAA A24/7 Bail Bonds, Inc. located at 810 Bay street Downtown Port Orchard, Phone # 895-4848.. We not only do business in Port Orchard, we also have a branch office located at 803 Vandercook Way Suite 3 Longview, Wa 98632 Phone # 360-636-7313, this does not include the counties of Clark, Mason, Lewis, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Pacific, There's 30 more counties to list so if your reading this you get the point. We filed our Justification paperwork to the County over 2 months ago November 24th, 2009 to be exact, also paid the $230.00 filing fee that was required, were still waiting.... and waiting... I'm sure the poor secratary in the prosecutor's office knows me by first name now, cause I have called their several times asking to speak with the prosecutor or his assistant in regards to our case, I keep getting the run around kicked to voice mail, and the couple times I had the pleasure of talking with the assistant I was told that there were fires that needed to be put out and she would speak to the prosecutor about our case and call us right back so we would know about how long we need to keep waiting until this gets done, and still no return phone calls.. I understand that it takes time in the court system and you have to be patient and understanding because they do have a work load on there desks, I understand that,,, their busy,,, but when another local bail bondsmen new to the business thats not down here on bay street like I am, filed there paperwork at the same place I went, paid the same fee I paid, the only difference is they filed their paperwork on January 4th, 2010, almost 2 months after I filed ours, their case was reviewed by the prosecutor's office on January 20th, 2010 and a Note For Motion Docket Order For Justification Hearing set for Febuary 5th, 2010. In the time we have been waiting there case was submitted, reviewed and a hearing set for their approval for justification. How is this, and how did I get leap froged in the Court system by another bondsmen that filed the same paperwork as me and be justified before me when I filed months previous, , I am at a loss here, me and my business partner are still scratching our heads trying to figure out what to do next, we have invested thousands of dollars in advertisment, rent, phone's, and to the Parking Enforcement for all those lovely parking tickets we get trying to do business in downtown Port Orchard. Yes the Mayor's Quote "lets just hit them in their pocekets and try and slow the progress down" is actually working, he is hitting me in my pockets, thousands of dollars a week are spent trying to keep my business going in Kitsap County, So yes we are feeling the pinch if anyone care's out there.. I am not one for all this politics, I am just a simple business man trying to do fair business in this community, I dont hang out at the court house and solicite business and pass out business cards to the unfortunate people that get remanded back to jail, we do straight up good business practices and treat the community as we would like to be treated if we were in there situation. In my opinion there are just as many bars, and tattoo shops on bay street then there are bail bond offices, the city council and the mayor have decided on their own behalf that we as bail bondsmen bring a bad reputation to this community, do you think, If there was going to be a potential problam downtown do you think it would happen in front of a bail bond office, my bet would be on the drunken fool hanging out smoking and throwing his ciggerette butts on the concrete creating a disturbance out front of one of the 7 bars on bay street, I think if somethings going to happen it would be at one of those places first.. Dont you think???? Not to open a new can of worms, but if I had to get rid of a business because it gives the community a black eye it would be the local taverns first. Instead of renaming the city Bail Bonds By the Bay, we can call it Booze up on the Bay, and when you get pulled over and go to jail for a D.U.I you can call me at 895-4848 located at 810 Bay Street. A AAA A24/7 Bail Bonds, were there when you need us, the name does say it all..... 24/7 ... If anyone has any questions please feel free to give us a call, and also if you want answers to why there are so many bail bondsmen in Port Orchard we especialy incourage you to call, we would love to give you the answer to that question. And to the Mayor if he reads this, you have to remember sir, that the pockets you want to hit people in are pretty deep, there's atleast 7 companies on bay street that may hate me but do share the same opinion as me, so when it comes time for re-election dont stop by my office located at 810 Bay Street and want to put up your election signs, keep truckin buddy, my vote goes to whoever is running against you, that guys sign will be in my window, along with donations to his or her campain to run against you.. cause obviously you dont want our support, but I'm sure some canidate in the future will want our support, so to those who read this and your thinking of running for mayor in the future contact us for contributions, and donations torwards your campain, we would love to hear from you, and pass along to the thousands of clients we deal with every week your idea's and concerns that can help make a difference in this community... Thank You Michael Thornton A AAA A24/7 Bail Bonds, Inc. 360-895-4848 Well here we go, the first bail bondsmen to feel the pinch of the politics surrounding the bay street bail bond offices downtown Port Orchard. We are A AAA A24/7 Bail Bonds, Inc. located at 810 Bay street Downtown Port Orchard, Phone # 895-4848.. We not only do business in Port Orchard, we also have a branch office located at 803 Vandercook Way Suite 3 Longview, Wa 98632 Phone # 360-636-7313, this does not include the counties of Clark, Mason, Lewis, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Pacific, There’s 30 more counties to list so if your reading this you get the point. We filed our Justification paperwork to the County over 2 months ago November 24th, 2009 to be exact, also paid the $230.00 filing fee that was required, were still waiting…. and waiting… I’m sure the poor secratary in the prosecutor’s office knows me by first name now, cause I have called their several times asking to speak with the prosecutor or his assistant in regards to our case, I keep getting the run around kicked to voice mail, and the couple times I had the pleasure of talking with the assistant I was told that there were fires that needed to be put out and she would speak to the prosecutor about our case and call us right back so we would know about how long we need to keep waiting until this gets done, and still no return phone calls.. I understand that it takes time in the court system and you have to be patient and understanding because they do have a work load on there desks, I understand that,,, their busy,,, but when another local bail bondsmen new to the business thats not down here on bay street like I am, filed there paperwork at the same place I went, paid the same fee I paid, the only difference is they filed their paperwork on January 4th, 2010, almost 2 months after I filed ours, their case was reviewed by the prosecutor’s office on January 20th, 2010 and a Note For Motion Docket Order For Justification Hearing set for Febuary 5th, 2010. In the time we have been waiting there case was submitted, reviewed and a hearing set for their approval for justification. How is this, and how did I get leap froged in the Court system by another bondsmen that filed the same paperwork as me and be justified before me when I filed months previous, , I am at a loss here, me and my business partner are still scratching our heads trying to figure out what to do next, we have invested thousands of dollars in advertisment, rent, phone’s, and to the Parking Enforcement for all those lovely parking tickets we get trying to do business in downtown Port Orchard. Yes the Mayor’s Quote “lets just hit them in their pocekets and try and slow the progress down” is actually working, he is hitting me in my pockets, thousands of dollars a week are spent trying to keep my business going in Kitsap County, So yes we are feeling the pinch if anyone care’s out there.. I am not one for all this politics, I am just a simple business man trying to do fair business in this community, I dont hang out at the court house and solicite business and pass out business cards to the unfortunate people that get remanded back to jail, we do straight up good business practices and treat the community as we would like to be treated if we were in there situation. In my opinion there are just as many bars, and tattoo shops on bay street then there are bail bond offices, the city council and the mayor have decided on their own behalf that we as bail bondsmen bring a bad reputation to this community, do you think, If there was going to be a potential problam downtown do you think it would happen in front of a bail bond office, my bet would be on the drunken fool hanging out smoking and throwing his ciggerette butts on the concrete creating a disturbance out front of one of the 7 bars on bay street, I think if somethings going to happen it would be at one of those places first.. Dont you think???? Not to open a new can of worms, but if I had to get rid of a business because it gives the community a black eye it would be the local taverns first. Instead of renaming the city Bail Bonds By the Bay, we can call it Booze up on the Bay, and when you get pulled over and go to jail for a D.U.I you can call me at 895-4848 located at 810 Bay Street. A AAA A24/7 Bail Bonds, were there when you need us, the name does say it all….. 24/7 … If anyone has any questions please feel free to give us a call, and also if you want answers to why there are so many bail bondsmen in Port Orchard we especialy incourage you to call, we would love to give you the answer to that question. And to the Mayor if he reads this, you have to remember sir, that the pockets you want to hit people in are pretty deep, there’s atleast 7 companies on bay street that may hate me but do share the same opinion as me, so when it comes time for re-election dont stop by my office located at 810 Bay Street and want to put up your election signs, keep truckin buddy, my vote goes to whoever is running against you, that guys sign will be in my window, along with donations to his or her campain to run against you.. cause obviously you dont want our support, but I’m sure some canidate in the future will want our support, so to those who read this and your thinking of running for mayor in the future contact us for contributions, and donations torwards your campain, we would love to hear from you, and pass along to the thousands of clients we deal with every week your idea’s and concerns that can help make a difference in this community…

Thank You
Michael Thornton
A AAA A24/7 Bail Bonds, Inc.
360-895-4848

]]> By: Robert http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-3929 Robert Tue, 05 May 2009 16:26:36 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-3929 Oh and also Sharon...the people that are allowed a bail through the court are people that have been charged with a crime and are not yet convicted or found guilty of the crime. Thanks :-) Oh and also Sharon…the people that are allowed a bail through the court are people that have been charged with a crime and are not yet convicted or found guilty of the crime. Thanks :-)

]]> By: Robert http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-3927 Robert Tue, 05 May 2009 16:17:12 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-3927 Sharon, The Defendants or people in trouble are not the ones that physically go to the bonding companies, these people are generally incarcerated. I am speaking of friends and family members that would need access to theses services in order to post bail for their loved one. And yes many elderly people and people that are disabled do post bail for their sons daughters etc...it is good that you are asking questions because often times the bail industry is misunderstood. In order for someone to be released from jail on a bail bond a friend or loved one must first come into a bonding company and financially apply for a bail bond. They fill out legally binding paperwork to ensure the Defendants appearance in court. All bail bond agents are fully licensed through two state regulatory agencies and also backed by multi-million dollar surety companies. If the loved one qualifys for the bail bond and the paperwork they have filled out is processed and approved then the next step is for the bail agent to post the bail at the jail and start the process for release of the Denfendant or incarcerated person. Another interesting tidbit, is that the court systems are the ones setting the bail amounts for those that are incarcerated. The court system decides whether to allow someone a bail or to place them on a no bail hold not the bondsman. Hopefully this sheds some light on the issue. Sharon,
The Defendants or people in trouble are not the ones that physically go to the bonding companies, these people are generally incarcerated. I am speaking of friends and family members that would need access to theses services in order to post bail for their loved one. And yes many elderly people and people that are disabled do post bail for their sons daughters etc…it is good that you are asking questions because often times the bail industry is misunderstood. In order for someone to be released from jail on a bail bond a friend or loved one must first come into a bonding company and financially apply for a bail bond. They fill out legally binding paperwork to ensure the Defendants appearance in court. All bail bond agents are fully licensed through two state regulatory agencies and also backed by multi-million dollar surety companies. If the loved one qualifys for the bail bond and the paperwork they have filled out is processed and approved then the next step is for the bail agent to post the bail at the jail and start the process for release of the Denfendant or incarcerated person. Another interesting tidbit, is that the court systems are the ones setting the bail amounts for those that are incarcerated. The court system decides whether to allow someone a bail or to place them on a no bail hold not the bondsman. Hopefully this sheds some light on the issue.

]]> By: Sharon O'Hara http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-3910 Sharon O'Hara Tue, 05 May 2009 04:46:54 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-3910 Robert, do you mean physically challenged folks need an elevator to get to a bail bonds office? I can't imagine such folks needing a bail bonds person. When was the last time a physically challenged person needed a bond? Most are too busy to get into such trouble.... Sharon O'Hara Robert, do you mean physically challenged folks need an elevator to get to a bail bonds office?

I can’t imagine such folks needing a bail bonds person. When was the last time a physically challenged person needed a bond?
Most are too busy to get into such trouble….
Sharon O’Hara

]]> By: Shannon http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-3907 Shannon Tue, 05 May 2009 00:44:15 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-3907 Mr. Coppola, I appreciate your effort in coming by my office today...I may have failed to explain in my past response that I am a young mother of two young children ages 18 months and 5 years. Sometimes mommy duty trumps the business duty. Anyhow, my offer still stands. Thank you. Mr. Coppola,
I appreciate your effort in coming by my office today…I may have failed to explain in my past response that I am a young mother of two young children ages 18 months and 5 years. Sometimes mommy duty trumps the business duty. Anyhow, my offer still stands. Thank you.

]]> By: Robert http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-3906 Robert Mon, 04 May 2009 23:39:49 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-3906 What about people with disabilites who need to access the services of these companies? Are their elevators and wheelchair ramps to the second stories of these old buildings? Or are we now discriminating against them along with credible small businesses. This sounds like a can of worms to me. What about people with disabilites who need to access the services of these companies? Are their elevators and wheelchair ramps to the second stories of these old buildings? Or are we now discriminating against them along with credible small businesses. This sounds like a can of worms to me.

]]> By: Biznews http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-3900 Biznews Mon, 04 May 2009 19:44:55 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-3900 Shannon, I stopped by your office this morning (Monday, May 4, around 11:30 a.m.) to discuss your post with you, but alas, the office was empty - as were all four other downtown bail bond offices I visited today for the same reason. I also called you, but just got your voice mail. The City isn't "attacking" the bail bond industry. The City recognizes the need for the valuable service you provide. And while we're pleased to know you and the other bail bonds companies that have responded about this issue find our downtown to be a very safe place to be located in the middle of the night, the City Council believes the retail level on Bay Street is simply an inappropriate location. There's nothing more to this. Second floor offices on Bay Street would be completely acceptable, which is where non-retail businesses were originally intended to be. And that means ALL non-retail businesses, not just Bail Bond companies. It was an oversight in the Downtown Overlay District zoning ordinance that should have been corrected before the ordinance was adopted by the previous Council. Hopefully, that clears the air on the City's position and puts this issue to rest. And Sharon, it's good to see we agree on something...In my opinion. Shannon,

I stopped by your office this morning (Monday, May 4, around 11:30 a.m.) to discuss your post with you, but alas, the office was empty – as were all four other downtown bail bond offices I visited today for the same reason. I also called you, but just got your voice mail.

The City isn’t “attacking” the bail bond industry. The City recognizes the need for the valuable service you provide. And while we’re pleased to know you and the other bail bonds companies that have responded about this issue find our downtown to be a very safe place to be located in the middle of the night, the City Council believes the retail level on Bay Street is simply an inappropriate location.

There’s nothing more to this. Second floor offices on Bay Street would be completely acceptable, which is where non-retail businesses were originally intended to be. And that means ALL non-retail businesses, not just Bail Bond companies. It was an oversight in the Downtown Overlay District zoning ordinance that should have been corrected before the ordinance was adopted by the previous Council.

Hopefully, that clears the air on the City’s position and puts this issue to rest.

And Sharon, it’s good to see we agree on something…In my opinion.

]]> By: Sharon O'Hara http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/2009/04/23/bail-bonds-by-the-bay/comment-page-1/#comment-3876 Sharon O'Hara Mon, 04 May 2009 08:30:34 +0000 http://pugetsoundblogs.com/south-kitsap/?p=1372#comment-3876 I agree. 'Downtown' should be retail or businesses visitors are drawn to, not just the people needing to post a bond. PO used to have bustling retail (include restaurants) downtown. I used to drive all the way over to Jorden's Department store for my riding boots and other items I couldn't find elsewhere. Jordens is where I first saw -and bought- my first wonderful rain shedding canvas jacket. Why couldn't the city find other spots for the bail bond businesses, be generous and help them move if they were agreeable. Sharon O'Hara I agree. ‘Downtown’ should be retail or businesses visitors are drawn to, not just the people needing to post a bond.

PO used to have bustling retail (include restaurants) downtown.
I used to drive all the way over to Jorden’s Department store for my riding boots and other items I couldn’t find elsewhere.
Jordens is where I first saw -and bought- my first wonderful rain shedding canvas jacket.

Why couldn’t the city find other spots for the bail bond businesses, be generous and help them move if they were agreeable.
Sharon O’Hara

]]>