Weapons Charge Bail Bonds
Texas permitless carry made a lot of things legal. It did not make everything legal, and the exceptions are where people get arrested.
No charge to ask
"I thought Texas was constitutional carry" is the sentence we hear most. It is, for most adults, in most places. The arrests come from the exceptions: who you are, where you are, and what else is going on at the time.
Three ways a lawful carry becomes a charge
Since 2021 most Texans over 21 who can lawfully possess a firearm may carry one without a license. What trips people up is that the law kept a long list of conditions attached, and none of them are obvious from the roadside.
Prohibited persons
A prior felony conviction, an active protective order, or certain family violence findings can make carrying itself the offense.
Prohibited places
Schools, courthouses, secured airport areas, and licensed bars carry their own rules regardless of permitless carry.
Engaged in other crime
Carrying while committing another offense, including possession. Removes the protection entirely.
Not sure which applies?
Call with a name and date of birth and we'll find out what was actually filed before anyone guesses.
The most common Denton County version: a traffic stop turns up a small amount of a controlled substance and a firearm in the same vehicle. On its own the firearm may have been lawful; alongside the other charge, it usually isn't, and now there are two bails to post. Call 940-381-0338 and we'll total it properly.
From misdemeanor to serious felony
Weapons charges cover an enormous range, and bail tracks it closely. These are the categories we see most.
Unlawful carrying
Felon in possession
A firearm allegation can attract federal attention. Certain weapons cases get picked up by federal prosecutors, and a county bail bondsman cannot post a federal bond. If that's the situation, you need a federal defense attorney. We'll tell you straight rather than take a deposit.
Weapons charges rarely arrive alone
More often than not there's a second charge attached, and each one has its own bail amount. Families are frequently quoted the figure for one and blindsided by the total. We add them up honestly on the first call, so the number you hear is the number.
If a firearm allegation is in the mix, get a defense attorney early. These cases turn on specific facts. Where the weapon was, who it belonged to, what else was alleged, and that's legal ground we don't step onto.
One stop, two charges
The most common weapons case in Denton County isn't someone carrying unlawfully on purpose. It's a traffic stop that turns up a firearm alongside something else, and suddenly there are two bails to post.
Common questions
Texas is constitutional carry. How is this a charge?
Permitless carry covers most adults in most situations, but the exceptions survived. Prohibited persons, prohibited places, and carrying while engaged in other criminal activity. Almost every arrest we see falls into one of those three.
It was in the glovebox, not on them.
Vehicle carry has its own rules and they've changed over the years. Whether a specific set of facts was lawful is precisely the argument a defense attorney makes. Our job tonight is release; that fight comes later.
There's a protective order in place.
Then possession alone may be the offense, and there may be additional conditions on any release. Protective orders and family violence findings interact with weapons law in ways that need an attorney's read. See also assault and family violence bonds.
There's a drug charge too. Which bond do we post?
Both, usually. Each charge carries its own bail and someone isn't released until all of them are satisfied. We'll confirm every hold on the record so the figure you're given is the real total, not a partial one.
Will they get the firearm back?
Seized property is handled by the court and the agency that took it, and the outcome depends on the case. That's an attorney question. It also has no bearing on getting someone released tonight, which is the part we can help with immediately.
How much is the bond?
Ten percent of the bail, as with any charge. A misdemeanor UCW bond is moderate; a felony possession bond is considerably more and may involve collateral. See bail bond cost, then call for your actual figure.
New to this? Bail 101 walks through the whole process, and the FAQ covers the questions we hear most.