Bail Legislation Hearing - May 8, 2012. PLEASE ATTEND

The bill (HB 1323) is now in the Senate, and a hearing is scheduled for May 8, 2012 at 9:00 am in Senate Committee Room One (SCR1).  Please attend, if you are able, to show your support for this bill which is vitally important to the future of our industry.

Bail Legislation Update!

HB 1323, which incorporates the bail language contained in HB 1867, was unanimously passed by the House 138-0.  The bill would allow sureties to post cash bonds as if they were a secured bond. You can view the bills by clicking on them below.

HB 1323  PDF

HB 1867  PDF

Bail Legislation Proposed

Take a look at HB 1867. If passed, bondsmen would be allowed to post cash bonds as surety bonds.

Bondsmen Search for Fugitive Turns Deadly

According to media reports, President's Day didn't go so well for this bond jumper:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/pick-me-up-farmington-fugitive-whispers-minutes-before-deadly-shootout/article_c26e83ec-5cb5-11e1-9113-0019bb30f31a.html

Racy Advertising – Industry Disgrace or Good Business Practice?

As reported in the Towson Patch (http://towson.patch.com/articles/racy-bail-bonds-sign-draws-ire), a Maryland bail bonds company has drawn criticism over its advertising. So what do you think? Is this free expression, or should the industry regulate certain types of ads in the name of professionalism?