Florida Statutes 1983, Volume 3 - Florida State University College of ...

Ch.648 BAIL BONDSMEN AND RUNNERS F.S.1983
648.25
648.26
648.27
648.29
648.30
648.31
648.32
648.33
648.34
648.35
648.36
648.365
648.37
648.38
648.388
648.39
648.40
648.41
648.42
648.421
648.43
648.44
648.441
648.442
648.45
648.46
648.48
648.49
648.50
648.51
648.52
648.53
648.55
648.56
648.57
648.571
Definitions for ss. 648.25-648.57.
Department of Insurance; administration.
Licenses, permits; general.
Deposits or build-up funds posted by
bondsman.
License required.
License tax and fee.
Effective date and initial period of license.
Bail bond rates.
Bail bondsmen; qualifications.
Professional bondsmen; qualifications.
Bail bondsman's records.
Statistical reporting requirements.
Runners; qualifications.
Examination; time; place; fee; scope.
Insurer must appoint general agent.
Notice of appointment of agents; termination.
Notice of appointment of professional
bondsmen; termination.
Notice of appointment of runners; termination.
Registration of bail bondsmen.
Notice of change of address.
Power of attorney; to be approved by department;
filing of copies.
Prohibitions.
Furnishing supplies to unlicensed bail
bondsmen prohibited; civil liability and
penalty.
Collateral security.
Actions against a license or eligibility to
hold a license.
Procedure for suspension or revocation of
eligibility or for denial, revocation, suspension,
or refusal to renew license.
Witnesses and evidence.
Duration of suspension or revocation.
Effect of suspension, revocation upon associated
licenses and licensees.
Surrender of license or permit.
Administrative fine.
Probation.
All bondsmen of same agency; licensed by
same companies.
Exemption.
Penalty.
Failure to return collateral; penalty.
1648.25 Definitions for ss. 648.25-648.57.
-The following words when used in ss. 648.25-648.57
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to
them in this section:
(1) "Department" means the Department of Insurance.
(2) "Insurer" means any domestic, foreign, or
alien surety company which has qualified to transact
surety business in this state.
(3) "Bail bondsman" means a limited surety agent
or a general lines agent engaged in the bail bond
CHAPTER 648
BAIL BONDSMEN AND RUNNERS
780
business or a professional bondsman as hereafter defined.
(4) "Limited surety agent" means any individual
appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute
or countersign bail bonds in connection with judicial
proceedings who receives or is promised money
or other things of value therefor.
(5) "Professional bondsman" means any person
who pledges United States currency, United States
postal money orders, or cashier's checks or other
property as security for a bail bond in connection
with a judicial proceeding and receives or is promised
therefor money or other things of value.
(6) "General lines agent" means a duly licensed
general lines agent as defined in s. 626.041.
(7) "Runner" means a person employed by a bail
bondsman, insurer, or general agent for the purpose
of assisting the bail bondsman in presenting the defendant
in court when required or employed by the
bail bondsman to assist in the apprehension and surrender
of the defendant to the court or keeping the
defendant under necessary surveillance. This does
not affect the right of a bail bondsman or insurer to
hire counselor to obtain the assistance of law enforcement
officers.
(8) "General agent" means any individual, partnership,
association, or corporation appointed or employed
by an insurer to supervise or manage the bail
bond business written by limited surety agents or
general lines agents of such insurer.
Hi.tory.-8. I, ch. 29621, 1955; 8. 2, ch. 57·63; 8. 6, ch. 65-492; 88. 13,35, ch.
69-106; 8. 177, ch. 70-339; 8. 272, ch. 71-377; 8.3, ch. 76-168; 8. I, ch. 77-457; ...
2, 3, ch. 81-318; 88. 1, 71,72, ch. 82-175; 8. 138, ch. 83-216.
'Note.-Expires October I, 1984, pursuant to 8. 72, ch. 82-175, and is 8chedu1ed
for review pursuant to 8. 11.61 in advance of that date.
Note.-Former 8. 903.37.
1648.26 Department of Insurance; administration.-
(1) The department shall have full power and authority
to administer the provisions of ss.
648.25-648.57, which regulate bail bondsmen and
runners, and, to that end, to adopt and promulgate
rules pursuant to s. 624.308 of the insurance code and
enforce such rules necessary and proper to effectuate
and enforce the purposes and provisions of such sections.
The department may employ and discharge
such employees, examiners, counsel, and other assistants
as shall be deemed necessary, and it shall prescribe
their duties; their compensation shall be the
same as other state employees receive for similar services.
(2) The department shall adopt a seal by which
its proceedings are authenticated. Any written instrument
purporting to be a copy of any action, proceeding,
or finding of fact by the department, or any
record of the department authenticated by the seal,
shall be accepted by all the courts of this state as prima
facie evidence of the contents thereof.
(3) The papers, documents, reports, or evidence
of the department shall not be subject to subpoena
without its consent until after the same has been
published at a hearing held under such sections, unless
after notice to the department and hearing, the