Anthony Bridgestone
01-15-2001, 08:00 PM
[b]All "bail bond enforcers" must register with the West Virginia state police.
That registration must:
(1) identify at least one bond agent for whom the enforcer is authorized to act,
(2) include written authorization from that bonding agent,
(3) include the enforcer's certified fingerprints, and
(4) include one photograph.
To register, an enforcer must be at least 21 years old, a citizen of the U.S., and have no felony convictions.
A bonding agent can grant an ongoing 2-year authorization to an enforcer who is a West Virginia citizen to seek all defendants for whom the bonding agent acts as surety. The bonding agent otherwise can grant a 60 day authorization to an enforcer, in which case the enforcer must notify the state police of the time and place of any proposed action, and if the enforcer is not a state resident, he also must notify the police the date he will enter the state.
Out of state bounty hunters must abide by the same requirements of in-state (including written authorization from in-state bonding agent).
An enforcer is to be considered the legal agent of the bonding agent.
An enforcer cannot:
(1) enter an occupied residential structure (i.e., a house or apartment) without the consent of the occupants who are then present,
(2) arrest a defendant without written authorization from the bondsman,
(3) wear or carry any uniform or badge that implies that the enforcer is a state agent or employee (but "may display identification that indicates his or her status as a bail bond enforcer only"), and
(4) must exercise due care to protect the safety of third parties. H.B. 4481 (Enacted April 4, 2000).
That registration must:
(1) identify at least one bond agent for whom the enforcer is authorized to act,
(2) include written authorization from that bonding agent,
(3) include the enforcer's certified fingerprints, and
(4) include one photograph.
To register, an enforcer must be at least 21 years old, a citizen of the U.S., and have no felony convictions.
A bonding agent can grant an ongoing 2-year authorization to an enforcer who is a West Virginia citizen to seek all defendants for whom the bonding agent acts as surety. The bonding agent otherwise can grant a 60 day authorization to an enforcer, in which case the enforcer must notify the state police of the time and place of any proposed action, and if the enforcer is not a state resident, he also must notify the police the date he will enter the state.
Out of state bounty hunters must abide by the same requirements of in-state (including written authorization from in-state bonding agent).
An enforcer is to be considered the legal agent of the bonding agent.
An enforcer cannot:
(1) enter an occupied residential structure (i.e., a house or apartment) without the consent of the occupants who are then present,
(2) arrest a defendant without written authorization from the bondsman,
(3) wear or carry any uniform or badge that implies that the enforcer is a state agent or employee (but "may display identification that indicates his or her status as a bail bond enforcer only"), and
(4) must exercise due care to protect the safety of third parties. H.B. 4481 (Enacted April 4, 2000).