Bail bondsman goes mobile, parks trailer on 3rd Avenue Bridge

CEDAR RAPIDS - Lord Stephen Range was tired of being at the bottom of the bail bonds list posted at the Linn County Jail, so he's taking his business to the streets.

His new office is mobile and he had a prime spot to help clients - in front of the courthouse.

'I'm over at the courthouse and jail all the time,” Range, owner of Discount Bail Bonds and Process Server, 222 Third Ave SE, said. 'A lot of people that need this don't know where to go. They're usually in jail or at the courthouse. I want to be the first one they see.”

Range started parking his mobile unit, a camper, across from the Linn County Courthouse on the Third Avenue bridge Wednesday. He came up with the idea after being deleted from the jail's list. He said he was deleted because he complained about another bail bonds business topping his.

'There's a lot of competition and I want to catch people's attention,” Range said.

The beige-colored camper is only a shell for advertisement at the moment with the name painted all over it, including contact information, and an invitation to 'knock on the door” for service. There's no heat in the camper at this point but it's set up like an office.

Range found out he's required to get a permit to conduct business and exchange cash in the mobile office. He plans to get one.

Emily Muhlbach, City of Cedar Rapids' communications coordinator, said Wednesday Range must have a 'Transient Merchant License” to conduct business, but he is legally parked in the space according to parking officials, as long as he continues to pay for parking.

Range said he continues to have an office on Third Avenue but will be available at the camper when he gets his license. The camper will remain parked in the location 24 hours a day, seven days a week.