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So, I recently received a referral from one of my numerous family members, asking me if we could issue bonds. My natural response is, sure. What kind of bond do they need? To which I was told, "I don't even know what a bond is for, they just asked if you could do that so I'm asking you if you can." It got me thinking that we may want to touch on this subject.
As per usual this will be a high level view of bonds, if you want to know more about anything specifically, just ask me. I will get you the info! There are 2 basic forms of bonds, surety and fidelity bonds. Keep in mind however there are numerous different miscellaneous types of bonds available to a variety of different needs! Fidelity bonds- A fidelity bond is a form of insurance protection that covers policyholders for losses that they incur as a result of fraudulent acts by specified individuals. It usually insures a business for losses caused by the dishonest acts of its employees. While called bonds, these obligations to protect an employer from employee-dishonesty losses are really insurance policies. These insurance policies protect from losses of company monies, securities, and other property from employees who have a manifest intent to cause the company loss. There are also many other forms of crime-insurance policies (burglary, fire, general theft, computer theft, disappearance, fraud, forgery, etc.) to protect company assets. Surety Bonds- A surety bond or surety is a promise to pay one party (the obligee) a certain amount if a second party (the principal) fails to meet some obligation, such as fulfilling the terms of a contract. The surety bond protects the obligee against losses resulting from the principal's failure to meet the obligation. Surety bonds are the most common form, or at least the most commonly referred to form of bond. They guarantee one party to fulfill it's obligation to another in monetary terms. Long story short, an insurance company is backing a contractor for $50,000 to do a job. This means our company has bonded that contractor for that $50k, and if he falls through the insurance company will cover the costs to get the job done up to the bonded amount. They do not do this all willy-nilly if you will, the contractor will be vetted by the company before they're backed. Contract bonds are the most widely used term for the word bond. However there are many other forms of surety bonds such as: License and Permit Bonds:
Commercial Bonds- Commercial bonds represent the broad range of bond types that do not fit the classification of contract. They are generally divided into four sub-types: license and permit, court, public official, and miscellaneous. Court Bonds- Court bonds are those bonds prescribed by statute and relate to the courts. They are further broken down into judicial bonds and fiduciary bonds. Judicial bonds arise out of litigation and are posted by parties seeking court remedies or defending against legal actions seeking court remedies. Fiduciary, or probate, bonds are filed in probate courts and courts that exercise equitable jurisdiction; they guaranty that persons whom such courts have entrusted with the care of others’ property will perform their specified duties faithfully.Examples of judicial bonds include appeal bonds, supersedeas bonds, attachment bonds, replevin bonds, injunction bonds, Mechanic's lien bonds, and bail bonds. Examples of fiduciary bonds include administrator, guardian, and trustee bonds. Public Official Bonds- Public official bonds guaranty the honesty and faithful performance of those people who are elected or appointed to positions of public trust. Examples of officials sometimes requiring bonds include: notaries public, treasurers, commissioners, judges, town clerks, law enforcement officers, and Credit Union volunteers. Miscellaneous Bonds- Miscellaneous bonds are those that do not fit well under the other commercial surety bond classifications. They often support private relationships and unique business needs. Examples of significant miscellaneous bonds include: lost securities bonds, hazardous waste removal bonds, credit enhancement financial guaranty bonds, self–insured workers compensation guaranty bonds, and wage and welfare/fringe benefit (Union) bonds.
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So one of our most common questions, is how ticket/accident will affect your rate. Below is the stipulations set forth by the state of NC. They're not all inclusive nor do they apply specifically to any carrier, because carriers will charge different insurance points based on the violation itself. But it's a great rule of thumb!
Traffic and Insurance Points Whenever a North Carolina motorist receives a traffic ticket in North Carolina they can be assessed two different types of points, driver's license and insurance points. Driver's License Points The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles maintains a record of convictions and automobile accidents (for those in which the police are called) for every person licensed or required to be licensed. The NC DMV will assign points for convictions of North Carolina's Motor Vehicle Laws in accordance with the schedule below. If you accumulate 12 or more points within a three-year period, the NC DMV may suspend your license. The first suspension of your driver's license under the point system shall be for no more then 60 days. The second suspension shall not exceed 6 months and any subsequent suspension shall not exceed one year. If you are in danger of losing your license because you have accumulated too many driver's license points, the NC DMV may allow you to attend the Driver Improvement Clinic and have three points removed from your record. This, however, does not remove the points from your insurance. You can only take this Driver Improvement Course once every 5 years. Once your license has been suspended, you can face a second suspension of your license if you accumulate 8 or more points during the three-year time period immediately following the reinstatement of your license. If you are convicted of two or more traffic offenses which were committed on a single occasion, then you will only be assessed driver's license points for the offense having the greater point value. 20-16. Authority of Division to suspend licenseThis link will open in a new window This link will open in a new window03-04-2005 Schedule of Driver's License Points
If you have an out of state license and commit an offense which is suspendible or revocable in North Carolina, the NC DMV cannot suspend you driver's license but can suspend or revoke your privilege to drive in North Carolina. They will also notify your licensee state which may take additional action. If you receive a notice from the NC DMV concerning suspending or revoking your driving privilege in North Carolina, you are entitled to a hearing if you follow the guidelines and procedures set out in the notice. Some offenses are suspendible without an opportunity for a DMV hearing. If that is the case, there is the possibility of obtaining a limited driving privilege through the court system. Insurance Points: The automobile liability insurance rates which are paid by licensed drivers in North Carolina are determined by five factors:
Table of Insurance Points
Insurance Surcharge Table One - 25% Two - 45% Three - 65% Four - 90% Five - 120% Six - 150% Seven - 180% Eight - 220% Nine - 260% Ten - 300% Eleven - 350% Twelve - 400% For 1 point accidents ($1800.00 or less) there is no surcharge assessed if: 03-04-2005
The Reinsurance Facility After points, the second major factor affecting the cost of liability insurance is whether a motor vehicle owner has been transferred (through a process known as "ceding") to the North Carolina Motor Vehicle Reinsurance Facility. The Reinsurance Facility is a nonprofit legal entity consisting of all insurers engaged in writing motor vehicle insurance in North Carolina. Its purpose is to provide liability insurance for drivers or vehicle owners whom companies do not wish to insure as part of their regular voluntary business. In brief, it is a method of transferring the risk of loss from the individual insurance company to all insurance companies. North Carolina law makes no provision regarding which individuals are to be ceded to the Reinsurance Facility. The decision belongs entirely to each particular insurance company. If an applicant for motor vehicle liability insurance is, for any reason, considered an undesirable risk by the company, it may cede the applicant to the Reinsurance Facility even though the person has a clean driving record. In other words, it is possible for a person who has never received a traffic citation or had an accident to be ceded to the Reinsurance Facility. Obviously, those with bad driving records are prime candidates, but a company may transfer anyone it considers a bad risk for any reason. Reportedly young drivers, the elderly, and some occupational groups often fall within this category. There is no appeal process, but applicants may seek coverage with another company that would not cede them to the Reinsurance Facility. Because the Reinsurance Facility has many high-risk drivers, the SDIP provides that it may charge a higher base rate than is allowed in the voluntary market. But insureds ceded to the Reinsurance Facility who are clean risks--meaning, for this purpose, that no one on the policy has any points and no driver on the policy has less than two years' driving experience--pay the same as other policy holders with clean driving records who have not been ceded. However, a driver in the Reinsurance Facility who had insurance points were more than 50 percent higher. And those drivers pay the surcharge for their points on top of that higher rate. Table 3 shows the base cost for insurance before any surcharge for points is added when the insurance is handled as regular business (that is, not ceded to the Reinsurance Facility). Table 4 shows the comparable base cost for an owner with points whose policy has been ceded to the Reinsurance Facility. Territory The third factor determining a person's automobile liability insurance costs is where the person lives in North Carolina. The state is divided into nineteen territories, each with its own base rate. The cost of insurance varies considerably from territory to territory. For example, the base cost for $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury coverage for a motor vehicle owner with no points is $170 in Asheville (Territory 11), while the identical coverage in Charlotte (Territory 52) is $311. For a vehicle owner whose policy has been ceded to the Reinsurance Facility (and who has even one point, therefore paying the higher Reinsurance Facility base rate), the cost for the same coverage would be $252 in Asheville and $521 in Charlotte (plus, in each case, the surcharge for the points). Table 5 lists the areas covered in the nineteen territories. Age and Sex A fourth factor that can raise an insured's liability insurance cost is inexperience as a driver, which usually correlates closely with age. The 1975 Session of the North Carolina General Assembly enacted legislation intended to prohibit insurance rates from being based on the ages or sex of the insured. Specifically, G.S. 58-3-25 provides: "No insurer shall . . . base any standard or rating plan for private passenger automobiles or motorcycles, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, upon the age or sex of the persons insured." But the youngest drivers typically pay higher insurance rates (or have their parents pay the higher rates for them), because the surcharge is added to policies that cover drivers who have fewer than three years' driving experience as a licensed driver. (The surcharge is not added when a member of the household begins driving under a learner's permit; and time spent driving on a learner's permit does not count toward the three years). For most drivers, the surcharge is applied from age sixteen to nineteen, causing its impact to be felt most by young people and those who pay the insurance for young people, but the same rule would be applicable to a fifty year old if that person had no previous driving experience. This Surcharge approximately doubles the cost of liability insurance on the car the inexperienced driver "principally operates".  Renters insurance can help protect you from fire, smoke, vandalism, and theft-related losses. It also provides liability protection in the case that you are sued for bodily injury or property damage. There are two types of renters insurance: actual cash value and replacement cost. Although replacement cost policies are a bit more expensive than actual cash policies, they help reimburse you for the full cost of replacing your belongings — that is, the policy does not take depreciation into account.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), only 31% of renters have renters insurance. This low percentage is likely caused by the common misconception that landlord's insurance covers damage to personal possessions. The truth is, your landlord's policy probably covers only damage to the building. Renters insurance is a smart idea if you're a college student living away from home or a recent graduate, as you may not be fully covered by your parents' homeowners policy. This not only differs by policy, but also by carrier. To be on the safe side, double-check with your agent about specific policy details. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you look into renters insurance:
Once you find a policy that fits your needs, you'll finally be ready to begin living in your new apartment — with a lot more peace of mind. Best of luck!  A Prayer for Judgment or a PJC is unique to North Carolina Law. Only a judge may grant you a PJC in the state of North Carolina, and it is usually reserved for traffic violations or petty misdemeanors. It essentially allows a defendant to plead guilty to a crime, without having the plea entered against them. It is a win-win situation generally, because the prosecutor can count it as a conviction, but in general it does not count as a conviction against the defendant, but there are some exceptions. When a person is granted a PJC they need only pay the costs of court, there are no fines or other fees.
In dealing with clients who are trying to decide what to do about hiring an attorney, many of them tell me they are just going to ask for a PJC. While many times this may be successful, there are some pitfalls to watch out for. There are some situations that judges cannot grant a PJC on. A judge cannot grant a PJC for a speeding ticket if the charge is in excess of 15 mile per hour. Additionally, a judge cannot grant a PJC for a charge of DWI. Many defendants go into court without an attorney, and ask the prosecutor for a PJC. Their typical response is, "I won't oppose it, but you'll have to ask the judge." This is generally a setup. Often a prosecutor knows full-well that a Judge is not going to offer a PJC but they will allow a defendant to plead guilty and ask for one anyway. Remember, prosecutors are there to move cases and get convictions. If you are about to do something on your own, that may be harmful to your future, they will not intervene. If you are charged with speeding in excess of 15 mph or charged with a DUI, please talk with an attorney. There are many that offer free consultations, use those free consultations to get a sense of your rights. Even if granted a PJC on a traffic violation, you still are not out of the woods yet. Both the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Insurance Companies have their own policies regarding PJCs. Currently in North Carolina the DMV will recognize two PJCs per driverevery 5 years. If you plead guilty and are granted a third PJC within that 5 year period, DMV will not recognize it and the conviction will affect you just like any other guilty plea. Currently, Insurance Companies in North Carolina will recognize one PJC every 3 years per insurance policy. If you are asking for a PJC you need to make sure that nobody on your insurance policy has been granted one in the last three years, or your insurance rates will be affected as if you had not been granted the PJC. As stated earlier, in some ways a PJC counts as a conviction against you and in some ways it does not. For example, a PJC will not count against you as a moving violation for the purposes of a DMV suspension. If your license is suspended, and you are convicted of a moving-violation during that suspension, your suspension is extended an additional year. If you are a granted a PJC on that moving violation, the suspension is not extended. However, for the purposes of determining a sentencing level, PJC count as convictions against you. In North Carolina sentencing is based on your level, which is based on prior convictions. Each day you are convicted of something adds a point to your sentencing level, and although in some situations a PJC does not count as a conviction, a PJC will give you a point for sentencing level purposes. This can prevent you from being considered a first offender. In General, I advise my clients to save their PJCs. There are many counties that reduce speeding charges to non-moving violations. It is a bad idea to waste a PJC in such a county. If you merely have to do some traffic school or pay a high fine, it is generally worth it to save your PJC. There are many counties in North Carolina that never reduce speeding tickets to non-moving violations. These are the types of counties you want to use your PJCs in. However, each speeding charge is its own unique situation, and the advise I have given here is designed to be general, and not specific. In summary, be careful in assuming you will get a PJC. If you do not get a PJC you have already plead guilty. Remember you cannot get a PJC on a DWI or a speeding charge of 15 mph or over. You get two PJCs per person from the DMV every 5 years. You get one PJC per policy from Insurance Companies every three years. If you can get a reduction and avoid a moving violation without using a PJC that is generally the best way to go. Content provided by Randall Ross Howell  One of the most disheartening experiences is to find flooding or extreme water damage to your treasured home.
At Carolina Insurance Alliance, we know you want to protect what’s important. That’s why we’re offering these tips to help you prevent many of the most common causes of water damage. Just a little time and some effort can prevent a lot of heartache and hassle.
 Most people would say their car is one of the most valuable assets they own — if not the most valuable. Despite that, however, some people make it downright easy for thieves to drive off in their pride and joy.
We don’t want you walking out the door to an empty driveway or parking space, so take care to avoid these five mistakes.
Whether you’re still practice driving or driving on your own, you and a parent (or other trusted adult) should work together to help you become a safe skilled driver. You should expect and advocate for support in driving from a trusted adult. Here are some tips to get you started:
 Tornadoes have caused severe and irreparable damage to tens of thousands of Americans and their property in recent years. On top of the physical and emotional fallout, many have also lost their lives as a direct result of a tornado.
Although you can never control the weather or the outcome of a destructive storm, there are steps you can take to help you and your family remain protected in the event of a tornado. Those steps of action begin with knowing fact from myth. Here are a few tornado truths that could help keep you and those you love safe:
 If you’re like most people, there are certain items you own that you can’t imagine ever losing — possessions you deeply cherish or those that would be impossible to replace due to the cost of re-purchasing them or simply because they’re irreplaceable. While your homeowners insurance is invaluable for covering the loss or destruction of many of your belongings (as well as damage to your home’s structure), your policy might provide only partial coverage for your most cherished items. The good news is that you can still protect the things that matter to you most, even if they’re not fully covered under your homeowners insurance, with a scheduled personal property endorsement that is tailored to meet your specific needs. Not an easy name, but it can help you sleep better at night A scheduled personal property endorsement is not something that everyone talks about, but a local Safeco agent can help you determine if it would be a good fit for you. The first step begins with you. Look around your home and make a list of your cherished possessions. Be sure to consider the following:
Keep in mind that it is wise to complete an inventory every year or so, because it’s easy to acquire new items over time that should be added to a scheduled personal property endorsement. It could be tragic to find yourself in a situation rendering you unable to replace what matters most to you. You might think you drive just as well at night, but consider this: Even though nighttime driving accounts for just 23% of vehicle miles traveled, more than 50% of fatalities for vehicle occupants 16 and older occur between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to the National Safety Commission (NSC).
Because we’re big advocates for safety, we thought it would be helpful to take a look at why night driving is more dangerous, and what you can do to decrease that danger. What’s dangerous about night driving?
Sometimes, there’s no way around driving at night. So here are some tips to help you make it a safe trip.
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Jason Thompson-Agent/Founder 
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