The limit varies from state to state, and some states may not have any statutory limits. For example, in California, there is no statutory limit for most crimes. However, in some states, such as Alabama, there are caps on bail amounts for certain types of offenses.
Although the Eighth Amendment protects against excessive bail, there is not an absolute right to bail, as noted in The Bail Reform Act, 18 USC Chapter 207. Section 3142 of the Act denies bail to certain defendants pending trial, specifically denying bail to defendants likely to flee or pose a danger to society.
Eighth Amendment: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Id. at 4–5.
The bail amount is usually determined at the person's first court appearance, commonly referred as the arraignment stage. A judge has the option to either release a person on their own recognizance (OR) with a promise to appear at their next court appearance, or deny a person's OR and set bail.
The law that limits the right to bail for certain kinds of offenders is the Bail Reform Act of 1984. The Bail Reform Act of 1984 is a United States federal law that restricts the right to bail for specific types of offenders and mandates non-monetary release conditions for pretrial detainees.
In criminal law, bail is the process of releasing a defendant from jail or other governmental custody with conditions set to reasonably assure public safety and court appearance.
The decision to post bail for someone should not be taken lightly. Financially, you risk losing the bail amount or collateral if the defendant fails to appear in court. Legally, the defendant's absence can lead to arrest warrants and additional charges, complicating their legal situation further.
Leaving California on Bail with a Bond Posting bail via a bondsman doesn't impact the travel limitations of your bail agreement. However, you should still inform the bail bondsman about your travel plans as they are currently responsible for your court appearances and the finances used to secure your freedom.