Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: FLORIDA LAW: Bounty Hunter

  1. #1
    Anthony Bridgestone's Avatar
    Anthony Bridgestone is offline Professional Services Dept

    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Founded in 1989
    Join Date
    Jan 2001
    Location
    Washington DC
    Posts
    41

    FLORIDA LAW: Bounty Hunter

    No person in Florida shall represent himself or herself to be a "bail enforcement agent", "bounty hunter", or similar title in (Florida) .

    Official titles can be an elite group of:

    • Florida Surety Agents
    • Florida Bail Bondsman
    • Florida Bail Bonds Investigators

    ARREST CAN BE MADE BY:
    In Florida an arrest can be made by a licensed and appointed Florida Surety Agent, a Licensed Agent from another state where the bond was posted provided that the agent has a certified copy of the bond, or a law enforcement officer.

    Recommendations for Licensing:
    We suggest:

    • Licensed Florida Surety Agents, Private Investigators, Extradition Agents, and hold appointments from all the major insurance companies as required by Florida law.

    • If you do not have a state issued Private Investigators "C" License, you can become a Lifetime Corporate Member of the International Private Investigators Union and request free aid in securing a licensed private investigator to SPONSOR your own PI Agency in Florida. The process for pre-approval generally takes 4-5 weeks. For details, Click Here, or call 406-534-0251


    • If you do not presently have a corporation and are operating as an individual, we strongly recommend you request an Agency Corporation as a National Office before you apply for any additional licenses. Our team of professionals wil insure your personal name and personal address will not appear on any national corporation public record through our unique process of incorporating your business through an anonymous proxy. After the original setup amount of $299, the annual renewal for your national corporation license drops to $99/year. For details, CLICK HERE. Or call 406-534-0251

    • All task force agents specialize in high risk operations in Florida and nationwide.

    • Fugitive retrieval, prisoner transportation and criminal extradition services

    • Agents can be prior-law enforcement, military contractors, and ex-military professionals, with a screening selection process that is thorough and rigid.

    • Develop a special unique team of agents who will never stop in the pursuit of the wanted (fugitive).

    • When a defendant fails to appear for their scheduled court dates, it is the duty of the agent to arrest and surrender that defendant to the custody of the court as instated in the contract with the court. Agents should keep up with federal extradition and the bail bonds laws locally and also federally and coordinate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies at all times.


    STATUTES:

    "All bail runners must be licensed, and work only for one bond agent (i.e., eliminating free lance bounty hunters), be over 18, a resident of the state, have no criminal record, and pass a certification course, Fla. Stat. § 648.37.

    "One cannot make an arrest on an out of state bond unless the person is licensed in the state or the state where the bond was written. Fla. Stat. § 648.30."

    Statutes:
    http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...atuteYear=2001

    APPLICATION PROCESS:

    In order to be a Bail Recovery Agent, commonly called a "Bounty Hunter," in Florida, requires a Limited Surety Agent license.

    The Florida bail bond industry is regulated by the Department of Financial Services. This agency handles all applications for the process of obtaining your Limited Surety Agent license.

    The Department has qualifications that must be met in order to apply for this license. These qualifications can be obtained by calling the Department's Agent and Agency Licensing Division at 850.413.3137 ext 1101, or by visiting the Department of Financial Services Agent Qualifications website page. If you meet these qualifications you can then take the following steps to obtain your license. Please note that steps 1 and 2 can be taken in either order, or at the same time.

    Successfully complete a Department approved 120-hour basic certification course. These courses are provided by multiple agencies including the Florida Surety Agents Association.

    Successfully complete the Department approved correspondence course for bail bond agents. This course is available through the University of Florida, and is a home course. The cost for this course is $350.00 and can be obtained by calling the University of Florida at 800.327.4218 and asking for the INS 3 - Bail & Bail Bond Insurance course or by going to the University of Florida Correspondence Study website page then clicking the registration link.

    Complete an application for a Temporary Limited Surety Agent license by accessing the Department of Financial Services Agent Application website page. Please note that this page requires the use of the Internet Explorer Browser version 5.0 or higher.

    • Read and follow the instructions and qualifications information carefully. Once the online application is submitted, a summary sheet will be provided that lists documents and information that you must submit to the Department in order for your application to be processed. You will not be eligible for your temporary license until all documents requested are received and processed by the Department.

    • All residents of Florida must submit their fingerprints to the Department via the LiveScan method at the Department's fingerprinting sites. These sites can be located by visiting the Department of Financial Services Electronic Fingerprinting Locations website page. All non-residents will be mailed a fingerprint card when your application is received with instructions on how those are to be submitted. Fingerprint payments must be made by calling 888.717.5699 or online at the Department of Financial Services Fingerprinting Application website page.

    • Once all the documentation is received and processed, the Department will issue an Authorization for Temporary Limited Surety Agent license. You can check for this authorization online at the Department of Financial Services Open Authorizations Search website page. When the authorization is completed, you must contact Pearson Vue to obtain your license. You can call Pearson Vue at 888.274.2020 or visit the Pearson Vue Test Takers website page and choose Insurance and Florida Department of Insurance from the lists to schedule your appointment. A test is only required to obtain your Limited Surety Agent license, not the Temporary.

    Once you receive your Temporary Limited Surety Agent license, and only once it is received, you may begin conducting bail bond business under the supervision of a Limited Surety Agent. For more information regarding the Florida Statutes about a Temporary Limited Surety Agent license view Florida State Statute 648.355. You must complete a one year internship under the supervision of a Limited Surety Agent before you can get a Limited Surety Agents License.

    After the internship is complete, you can apply for your Limited Surety Agent license by accessing the Department of Financial Services Agent Application website page. The Department will issue an authorization for examination, which can be checked at the Department of Financial Services Open Authorizations website page, once the application is processed. When the authorization is issued, you can contact Pearson Vue to schedule your examination. You can call Pearson Vue at 888.274.2020 or visit the Pearson Vue Test Takers website page and choose Insurance and Department of Financial Service from the lists to schedule the exam.

    Disclaimer: Comments are not intended to be and should absolutely not be taken as legal advice. Unless you have entered into a written agreement with an attorney for legal services, signed by both you and an attorney, and paid the attorney a retainer in good funds, then comments are not, nor intends to be, your legal advice.

  2. #2

    Bounty hunter

    does anyone know of any bail bond companies in florida willing to aid in the matter of becoming a bouty hunter im interested .

  3. #3
    Omar Castro's Avatar
    Omar Castro is offline ** Certified

    Sr. Member - Private Investigators Forum:
    Union Member of the International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    455

    Lightbulb There are many, have you looked within IPIU?

    Bounty Hunter Student Book Library!

    The link above is within IPIU you need to make sure you have access.

    Let me know if you need any more, also you can try the local yelllow pages in your area, this way you know what's around you...

    Good luck and keep me informed as to how it goes.
    Last edited by Omar Castro; 04-19-2004 at 09:02 AM.
    O.A.C.V. Sr.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    31
    MR Castro

    will the Kit that IPIU is offering at a discount rate for Bounty hunters provide me with the certification needed for Florida?
    or basically If I purchase the bounty Hunters Kit and pass the test will this make me a certified bounty hunter for FLorida?

  5. #5
    Omar Castro's Avatar
    Omar Castro is offline ** Certified

    Sr. Member - Private Investigators Forum:
    Union Member of the International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    455

    Ms. Kim & Mr. Andrew

    Sorry I took too long in answering but I did not place an email notification on this.
    Yes and no Ms. Kim unfortunately FL. requires that you do an internship type of position before you actually get licensed. So the certification may help some but not completely! How much I don't know. You can contact either IPIU legal affairs or FL state Dept of Licensing in order to see actually how much you can transfer over or qualifies to be for the actual training for that license.
    Mr. Andrew, this is really up to you and who you are! Many people are not meant for the PI or BailBondsman or BEA field. It has to do alot with timming and the place and what else is going on for you to take off with this career. Experience or education can really help you but you can actually have no experience what so ever nor education. Just the actaul ambition is enough for one to get started. The rest is up to you and how you conduct yourself which should be in a professional manner...
    Otherwise good luck and keep me posted.

    Omar
    Last edited by Omar Castro; 04-19-2004 at 09:01 AM.

  6. #6
    Sounds like a good deal. Hope you still have it later. I would definately be interested.

  7. #7
    John Sanderson is offline Lifetime Member

    Corporate Agency Member of:
    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    4,492

    Re: FLORIDA LAW: Bounty Hunter

    Please note: The Admins knows better then I, how to help you. I too get frustrated at times but is usually due to a mis-understanding. You are undoubtedly receiving less then 100% assistance because you are not a full member. Immense assistance awaits full members, of any membership level. If you have any questions about this, please post them in your intro and I as well as others will answer them. I really can help you more, but in the appropriate level 4 areas.

    I found the laws for 2009. The 2010 amendments have not been posted yet, so tread cautiously if you pursue this field.

    Insurance
    Title XXXVII

    Bail bond Agents
    Chapter 648

    The 2009 Florida Statutes

    Title XXXVII
    INSURANCE Chapter 648
    BAIL BOND AGENTS View Entire Chapter

    CHAPTER 648

    BAIL BOND AGENTS

    648.24 Declaration of public policy.

    648.25 Definitions.

    648.26 Department of Financial Services; administration.

    648.27 Licenses and appointments; general.

    648.279 Scope of license.

    648.285 Bond agency; ownership requirements.

    648.29 Build-up funds posted by bail bond agent.

    648.295 Reporting and accounting of funds.

    648.30 Licensure and appointment required.

    648.31 Appointment taxes and fees.

    648.315 Number of applications for licensure required.

    648.33 Bail bond rates.

    648.34 Bail bond agents; qualifications.

    648.35 Professional bail bond agent; qualifications.

    648.355 Temporary limited license as limited surety agent or professional bail bond agent; pending examination.

    648.36 Bail bond agent's records.

    648.365 Statistical reporting requirements; penalty for failure to comply.

    648.38 Licensure examination for bail bond agents; time; place; fees; scope.

    648.381 Reexamination.

    648.382 Appointment of bail bond agents and temporary bail bond agents; effective date of appointment.

    648.383 Renewal, continuation, reinstatement, and termination of appointment; bail bond agents.

    648.384 Effect of expiration of appointment; bail bond agents.

    648.385 Continuing education required; application; exceptions; requirements; penalties.

    648.386 Qualifications for prelicensing and continuing education schools and instructors.

    648.387 Primary bail bond agents; duties.

    648.388 Insurer must appoint managing general agent.

    648.39 Termination of appointment of managing general agents, bail bond agents, and temporary bail bond agents.

    648.40 Application for appointment of professional bail bond agents; termination.

    648.41 Termination of appointment of temporary bail bond agents.

    648.42 Registration of bail bond agents.

    648.421 Notice of change of address or telephone number.

    648.43 Power of attorney; to be approved by department; filing of copies; notification of transfer bond.

    648.44 Prohibitions; penalty.

    648.441 Furnishing supplies to unlicensed bail bond agent prohibited; civil liability and penalty.

    648.442 Collateral security.

    648.4425 Notice.

    648.45 Actions against a licensee; suspension or revocation of eligibility to hold a license.

    648.46 Procedure for disciplinary action against licensees.

    648.48 Witnesses and evidence.

    648.49 Duration of suspension or revocation.

    648.50 Effect of suspension, revocation upon associated licenses and licensees.

    648.51 Surrender of license.

    648.52 Administrative fine.

    648.525 Civil assessment.

    648.53 Probation.

    648.55 All bail bond agents of same agency; licensed by same companies.

    648.57 Penalty.

    648.571 Failure to return collateral; penalty.

    648.58 Injunctive proceedings.

    I am sorry my friend, I definately don't have the time to go through all of this tonight. lol. I hope this gives you a start though.

  8. #8
    Steven D Mahan -'s Avatar
    Steven D Mahan - is offline *** Certified SPI
    Sr. Member: Private Investigators Forum

    Professional Management Member of:
    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    523

    Re: TEXAS LAW: Bounty Hunter

    Florida has Bounty Hunting as a third degree felony,are there any loop holes to get around this?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    National Office
    Posts
    732

    Re: TEXAS LAW: Bounty Hunter

    Quote Originally Posted by Steven D Mahan View Post
    Florida has Bounty Hunting as a third degree felony,are there any loop holes to get around this?
    Yes.

    You can upgrade your IPIU Union Membership so that we can provide you with a Florida Licensed Private Investigator to sponsor your own license in Florida to perform both Bounty Hunting and advertise openly for PI cases. It would also upgrade your PI Agency Corporation in Colorado to become fully licensed in Florida using the same sponsor.

    For details, call Tim at 406-534-0251 or 800-548-1526 before the office closes for the holidays.

    Brad
    Brad Foster
    IPIU Support

    START WITH TRUST
    When you see the Better Business Bureau Seal, it means the
    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU) has agreed to:

    TELL THE TRUTH, KEEP ITS PROMISES, BE RESPONSIVE
    www.ipiu.org | IPIU Web Store
    BBB A+ Rating Link | Contact IPIU
    Founded in 1989 - Celebrating our 28th Year Serving 47,932 Members
    CALL IPIU TODAY TO JOIN: 406-534-0251

  10. #10
    Richard Moschetti Jr's Avatar
    Richard Moschetti Jr is offline *** Certified
    Licensed Private Investigator, Retired LEO

    Professional Member of:
    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    335

    Re: FLORIDA LAW: Bounty Hunter

    I don't remember if Fugitve Recovery is covered under the Florida (C) Private Investigator License.

  11. #11
    Liz Mason - is offline Private Investigator Forum Member
    Sponsored by:
    International Private Investigators Union (IPIU)
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Martindale Eastern Cape, South Africa
    Posts
    1,097
    Blog Entries
    1

    Re: FLORIDA LAW: Bounty Hunter

    Hi Richard,

    I have looked up some information for you, which I hope will assist you in your post:

    Florida bail laws

    1. Applicable Statutes.

    1. FLORIDA STATUTES (FS) Chapter 648, Chapter 903
    2. FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE (AR),
    Chapter 4-221



    1. Governance by Local Rule. Does not appear to allow local jurisdictions to modify statutes or regulations.

    2. Licensing Requirements.

    In order to undertake bail in Florida, a person must have a license [AR 4-221.001, FS 648.26, 648.30]. Florida law specifies two kinds of bail bond agent:

    (1) a limited surety agent, defined as a person appointed by an insurer to execute bail bonds [FS 648.25(6)],

    (2) a professional bail bond agent, defined as a person who pledges US currency as security for a bail bond [FS 648.25(7)].

    A. Qualifications for License.

    1) Bail bond agents [FS 648.34] must comply with the following for licensure:

    - an application submitted on forms prescribed by the Department of Insurance (DOI) [FS 648.34(1)],

    - have complied with FS 648.355 and obtained a temporary license,

    - be 18 years of age [FS 648.34(2)(a)],

    - be a resident of Florida [FS 648.34(2)(b)],

    - place of business must be located in a Florida county where records will be maintained and business actively conducted, accessible to the public during reasonable business hours [FS 648.34(2)(d)],

    - of good character with no convictions on a felony, crime of moral turpitude, or crime punishable by 1 year or more [FS 648.34(2)(e)],

    - passage of required examination (written [FS 648.38(1)-(10)]) [648.34(2)(f)],

    - payment of fee for background checks and credit report [FS 648.34(3)],

    - furnish photo and fingerprints with applications [FS 648.34(4)],

    - completion of 14 hours of continuing education courses every two years [FS 648.385].

    2) Professional bail bond agents have the same requirements as in FS 648.34, but in addition shall:

    - file with application a detailed financial report [FS 648.35(1)],

    - file a rating plan proposed for use in writing bail bonds which must be approved by the DOI [FS 648.35(2)].

    B. The regulatory body is the Department of Insurance (DOI) [FS 648.26].

    3. Notice of Forfeiture [FS 903.26]

    A. Conditions of a forfeiture

    - breach of the conditions of the bond and/or failure of defendant to appear [FS 903.26(2)(b)],

    - clerk of the court must mail a notice of forfeiture to surety agent and surety company within 5 days [FS 903.26(2)(a)].

    4. Forfeiture to Judgement.

    - forfeitures must be paid within 60 days of date of notice [FS 903.26(2)(a)],

    - if forfeiture is not paid within 60 days, the clerk of the court shall within 10 days furnish the DOI and the surety with a certification of the judgement docket [FS 903.27(1)],

    - if judgement is not paid within 35 days, the clerk informs the DOI and sheriff of jurisdiction a statement that the judgement is unsatisfied [FS 903.27(1)],

    - no sheriff can approve surety bail bonds from subject agent or company until such a judgement has been paid [FS 903.27(3)],

    - the surety/agent has 35 days to file a motion to set aside a judgment or stay [FS 903.27(5)],

    A. Tolling. If the defendant is returned to the court of jurisdiction, whenever a motion to set aside is filed, the operation of this section is tolled until the court makes its disposition [FS 903.27(1)].

    5. Forfeiture Defenses.

    - Unless the indictment is filed within 6 months of the arrest [FS 903.26(1)] and the clerk of the court gives 72 hours notice (exclusive of weekends and holidays) to surety of time of the defendant’s required appearance [FS 903.26(1)(b)], the bond cannot be forfeited,

    - the court at its discretion may determine that a defendant’s FTA may not warrant a forfeiture [FS 903.26(2)(b)],

    - impossible for defendant to appear because of circumstance beyond his control [FS 903.26(5)(a)],

    - defendant was confined in an institution, hospital, or prison [FS 903.26(5)(b)],

    - surrender or arrest of defendant if the delay has not thwarted prosecution [FS 903.26(5)(c)],

    - discharge of defendant [FS 903.26(5)(c)],

    - if defendant is arrested and returned to court of jurisdiction prior to judgement [FS 903.26(8)].

    6. Remission

    [FS 903.28] Remission can be granted up to two years subject to the following:

    - if defendant is returned with 90 days, remission may be up to 100% [FS 903.28(2)], within 180 days, remission up to 95% [FS 903.28(3)], within 270 days, up to 90% [FS 903.28(4)], within 1 year, 85% [FS 903.28(5)], within 2 years, 50% [FS 903.28(6)].

    7. Bail Agents Arrest Authority

    [FS 903.20]. A surety may arrest a principal for surrender to official custody before a forfeiture [FS 903.22] or within 2 years of the forfeiture date [FS 903.29].

    8. Other Noteworthy Provisions.

    1.

    All insurers shall have a licensed and appointed managing general agent who shall supervise their bail bond agents [AR 4-221.003, FS 648.388].
    2.

    Qualifications for prelicensing and continuing education classes and instructors [FS 648.386].

    9. Noteworthy State Appellate Decisions. (To be added.)

    10. Bounty Hunter Provisions. Florida does not allow bounty hunters.

    Apprehension of bail fugitives is only allowed as set forth in FS 648.30(2)&(3):

    (2) No person shall represent himself or herself to be a bail enforcement agent, bounty hunter, or other similar title in [Florida].

    (3) No person, other than a certified law enforcement officer, shall be authorized to apprehend, detain, or arrest a principal on a bond, wherever issued, unless that person is qualified, licensed, and appointed as provided in this chapter or licensed as a bail bond agent by the state where the bond was written.

    Violation of this is a 3rd class felony. [FS 648.30(4)].
    I hope this will help to answer your question. I wish you much success in your endeavors.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •