Bail Bond Information

Bail is an amount of money requested of a defendant by a court if pretrial release is granted. It is used for the purpose of insuring that the accused person returns to face trial all required court appearances. If the bail amount is paid in full, and if an accused person meets all obligations to the court and is exopnerated, the full amount of bail will be returned to them. At BailCo Bail Bonds Manchester, we provide surety bonds. The bond allows an arrested person (defendant) to be released from jail for the duration of their case.

The amount of bail set by a court is often too much for someone to be able to pay in cash at short notice. Instead, most people turn to a bail agent or bail bondsmen. In doing so, they can attain pretrial release while only paying a small part (normally 10%) of the amount of bail set, rather than the full amount, while also providing security via assets or cosigners. The bail amount is guaranteed the bail bondsmen, who pays the bail as a surety bond and assumes the risk of defendant not returning to face trial; in return, the bail bondsman keeps the percentage of the bail as compensation for the service provided.

Any person can post their own bail if they have enough cash on hand. If the defendant can’t afford to bail themself out of jail, any other person age 18 or older can post bail for them. Do not post a cash bond if you can’t afford to lose the money! Most people’s preferred alternative is to use a bail bond from a reputable bondsman. Using a bondsman can save time, money and if need be there are payment plans available.

If you post bail in its full amount, if all obligations are met and if the defendant is exonerated, then you will get your money back. Even if the defendant is convicted it should be returned in most instances. HOWEVER, it can take the state months– sometimes years– to return your money, and fees can be deducted which can often drastically reduce the amount returned. The law lets courts use bail money to pay any fine or costs which might be accrued by the defendant.

If you use a bondsmen, you will not get your money back. It is kept by the bondsmen as compensation for their service. It’s a small percentage of the total bail amount, though, and should provide payment plan options. A reputable bail bond provider like BailCo Bail Bonds Manchester will also provide other valuable services: advice, support, advocacy, reminders of court dates and much more.

This is decided by a judge during a bail hearing, and is not something bail bondsmen have control over in any way. The value of bail is determined by a series of factors, not limited to but including:

• The nature and severity of the accused offence;
• The accused’s criminal record;
• Ties to the community (e.g. employment, property ownership)

If you want to find out more, or if you want us to estimate how much your bail will be, please visit our new page “How Much Will Bail Be?”

Bail bond value is calculated as a proportion of the bail amount. This calculation is regulated by Connecticut state law. rates are as follows:

Bail Amount	Bond Amount
Up to $500	$50 (fixed rate)
$501-$5000	10% of bail amount
$5001+	7% of bail amount

Click here to use our convenient bail bond calculator and find the approximate cost of your bond.

Depending on a number of circumstances surrounding the defendant’s case, it is possible to get out of custody without bail. However, it is not possible to post bail or a bond for free, and it is in fact illegal to do so. Click here to learn more about what options are available when you are tight on cash. Additionally, BailCo Bail Bonds Manchester can and will provide those unable to afford the cost of a bond upfront with a payment plan.

After the paperwork has been completed, it’s a matter of how long it takes for their release documents to be processed. This generally takes several hours, and even longer at some correctional facilities. Naturally, one of our jobs as your bondsmen will be to do everything we can to make this process as fast as possible.

Where the defendant is being held depends on what police department arrests them, and how soon their bond is posted. If their bond is not posted soon enough, the defendant may be transported to court. The bond can still be posted at court (or jail, should the worst come to pass), but the bond amount may change by that time. Visit our “Locations” directory to find more detailed information on courts and jails in specific towns and counties.

We highly recommend at least seeking legal advice from an attorney via a free consultation when you’re charged with a criminal offense. Click here for a wealth of information when it comes to choosing the right attorney, whether or not you decide to hire one to represent you in court.

If you believe you have a warrant in Connecticut, you can confirm your suspicions in the following ways:

• Call the police department, state police, or probation officer that may have the warrant
• Check the Connecticut Judicial website to verify warrants for FTAs (failure to appear) and VOP (violation of probation): https://www.jud2.ct.gov/VOP/

Click here to learn more about arrest warrants in the state of Connecticut.

• Sec. 38a-660. Bail bond insurance and agents. Licensing. Examinations. Fees.
• Sec. 38a-660a. Notice to courts and police departments of names of licensees.
• Secs. 38a-661 and 38a-662.

Sec. 38a-660. Bail bond insurance and agents. Licensing. Examinations. Fees.

1. As used in this section:
   1. “Commissioner” means the Insurance Commissioner;
   2. “Insurer” means any domestic, foreign or alien insurance company which has qualified generally to transact surety business in this state under the requirements of chapter 698 and specifically to transact bail bond business in this state;
   3. “Surety bail bond agent” means any person who has been approved by the commissioner and appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds for the insurer in connection with judicial proceedings;
   4. “License” means a surety bail bond agent license issued by the commissioner to a qualified individual as provided in this section;
   5. “Solicit” includes any written or printed presentation or advertising made by mail or other publication, or any oral presentation or advertising in person or by means of telephone, radio or television which implies that an individual is licensed under this section, and any activity in arranging for bail which results in compensation to the individual conducting that activity;
   6. “Disqualifying offense” means: (A) A felony; or (B) a misdemeanor if an element of the offense involves dishonesty or misappropriation of money or property.
2. An insurer shall not execute an undertaking of bail in this state except by and through a person holding a license issued as provided in this section.
3. A person shall not in this state solicit or negotiate in respect to execution or delivery of an undertaking of bail or bail bond on behalf of an insurer, or execute or deliver such an undertaking of bail or bail bond on behalf of an insurer unless licensed as provided in this section. Any person who violates the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a class D felony.
4. Only natural persons who are licensed under this section may execute bail bonds. A firm, partnership, association or corporation, desiring to execute an undertaking of bail in this state must do so by and through a person holding a license issued as provided in this section.
5. Any person desiring to act within this state as a surety bail bond agent shall make a written application to the commissioner for a license in such form and having such supporting documents as the commissioner prescribes. Each application shall be signed by the applicant and shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable filing fee as determined by the commissioner. The applicant must also submit with the application a complete set of the applicant’s fingerprints, certified by an authorized law enforcement officer, and two recent credential-sized full-face photographs of the applicant. At the time of application, each applicant for a license shall forward a copy of the applicant’s complete application and supporting documents to the bond forfeiture unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney.
6. Every applicant for a license must file with the commissioner a notice of appointment executed by an insurer or its authorized representative authorizing such applicant to execute undertakings of bail and to solicit and negotiate such undertakings on its behalf. Each appointment shall, by its terms, continue in force until: (1) Termination of the surety bail bond agent’s license; or (2) the filing of a notice of termination by the insurer or its representative or by such surety bail bond agent.
7. An applicant for a license shall be required to appear in person and take a written examination testing the applicant’s competency and qualifications to act as a surety bail bond agent. The commissioner may designate an independent testing service to prepare and administer such examination, provided any examination fees charged by such service shall be paid by the applicant. The commissioner shall collect the appropriate examination fee, which shall entitle the applicant to take the examination for the license, except when a testing service is used, the testing service shall pay such fee to the commissioner. In either case, such examination shall be as the commissioner prescribes and shall be of sufficient scope to test the applicant’s knowledge of subjects pertinent to the duties and responsibilities of a surety bail bond agent, including all laws and regulations of this state applicable thereto.
8. In addition to all other requirements prescribed in this section, each applicant for a license shall furnish satisfactory evidence to the commissioner that: (1) The applicant is at least eighteen years of age; (2) the applicant is a citizen of the United States; and (3) the applicant has never been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor under section 21a-279, 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-173, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d. The commissioner shall require each applicant to submit to a background investigation, including an investigation of any prior criminal activity, to be conducted by the Division of Criminal Justice. The Division of Criminal Justice shall require each applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. Such criminal history records checks shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a.
9. Upon satisfying himself that an applicant meets the licensing requirements of this state and is in all respects properly qualified and trustworthy and that the granting of such license is not against the public interest, the commissioner may issue to such applicant the license applied for, in such form as he may adopt, to act within this state to the extent therein specified.
10. The commissioner may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 relating to the approval of schools offering courses in the duties and responsibilities of surety bail bond agents, the content of such courses and the advertising to the public of the services of these schools.
11. To further the enforcement of this section and to determine the eligibility of any licensee, the commissioner may, as often as he deems necessary, examine the books and records of any such licensee.
12. A license may, in the discretion of the commissioner, be renewed or continued upon payment of the appropriate fee as the commissioner deems necessary without the resubmittal of the detailed information required in the original application.
13. The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement subsections (a) to (l), inclusive, of this section.
14. Any individual aggrieved by the action of the commissioner in revoking, suspending or refusing to reissue a license or in imposing a fine or penalty may appeal therefrom, in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district of Hartford. Appeals under this section shall be privileged in respect to the order of trial assignment.
15. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting an individual’s ability to operate as a professional bondsman in this state pursuant to chapter 533 provided such individual is in compliance with all requirements of said chapter.
    (P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; P.A. 96-164, S. 1; P.A. 97- 287, S. 15; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 28–30, 121; P.A. 99-240, S. 24; P.A. 01-175, S. 30, 32.)

History: (Revisor’s note: P.A. 88-230, 90-98, 93-142 and 95-220 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in 1996 public and special acts, effective September 1, 1998); P.A. 97-287 amended Subsec. (c) to add penalty provision; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 substituted “or” for a comma in Subdiv. (f)(2), amended Subsec. (j) to substitute “responsibilities of” for “responsibilities to” re surety bail bond agents and amended Subsec. (n) to delete reference to appeals under Sec. 54-65a, effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-240 amended Subsec. (h) by eliminating exceptions to disqualification based on time elapsed since conviction and by listing the misdemeanors that would disqualify an applicant; P.A. 01-175 amended Subsec. (h) by replacing requirement that each applicant submit to a background investigation with provision re commissioner’s requiring each applicant to submit to a background investigation, and replacing provision re Federal Bureau of Investigation and fees with provision re criminal history records checks pursuant to Sec. 29-17a, effective July 1, 2001.

Sec. 38a-660a. Notice to courts and police departments of names of licensees.

The Insurance Commissioner shall furnish to all courts and to all organized police departments in the state, the names of all persons licensed as surety bail bond agents under this chapter and shall forthwith notify such courts and all such police departments of any change in any such agent’s status or of the suspension or revocation of the license of any such agent to engage in such business.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 7.)

Secs. 38a-661 and 38a-662.

Reserved for future use.

• Sec. 29-144. Definition.
• Sec. 29-145. Bondsmen to be licensed.
• Secs. 29-146. Investigation of applicant for license. Fee. Term of license.
• Secs. 29-147. Renewal, revocation or suspension of license.
• Secs. 29-147a. Suspension of license for failure to pay forfeited bond.
• Secs. 29-148. Statement of assets and liabilities.
• Secs. 29-149. Notice to courts and municipal departments of names of bondsmen.
• Secs. 29-150. Oath of bondsmen. Form.
• Secs. 29-151. Maximum commission or fee. Reports to Commissioner of Public Safety.
• Secs. 29-152. Penalty.
• Secs. 29-152a to 29-152d.

Sec. 29-144. Definition.

Any person who makes a business of furnishing bail in criminal cases or who furnishes bail in five or more criminal cases in any one year, whether for compensation or otherwise, shall be deemed a professional bondsman and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. Any resident elector of the state of Connecticut who is of good moral character and of sound financial responsibility may, upon obtaining a license therefor in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, engage in the business of professional bondsman within this state.
(1949 Rev., S. 3728.)

Expressly exempts state from showing defendant received compensation. 25 CA 643–645.Sec. 29-145. Bondsmen to be licensed.

Any person desiring to engage in the business of a professional bondsman shall apply to the Commissioner of Public Safety for a license therefor. Such application shall set forth under oath the full name, age, residence and occupation of the applicant, whether the applicant intends to engage in the business of a professional bondsman individually or in partnership or association with another or others, and, if so, the identity of each. It shall also set forth under oath a statement of the assets and liabilities of the applicant, and whether the applicant has been charged with or convicted of crime, and such other information, including fingerprints and photographs, as said commissioner from time to time may require. The commissioner shall require the applicant to submit to state and national criminal history records checks. The criminal history records checks required pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with section 29-17a. No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be licensed to do business as a professional bondsman in this state. No person engaged in law enforcement or vested with police powers shall be licensed to do business as a professional bondsman.
(1949 Rev., S. 3729; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 01-175, S. 24, 32.)

History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 01-175 added language re criminal history records checks in accordance with Sec. 29-17a and made a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2001.

Cited. 25 CA 643–645.Sec. 29-146. Investigation of applicant for license. Fee. Term of license.

The Commissioner of Public Safety shall, upon receipt of such application, cause an investigation to be made of the character and financial responsibility of the applicant and, if he finds that such applicant is a resident elector of good moral character and of sound financial responsibility, he shall, upon payment by such applicant to the state of a license fee of one hundred dollars, issue a license to such applicant to do business in this state as a professional bondsman. Each such license shall be for such term not exceeding one year as said commissioner determines.
(1949 Rev., S. 3730; P.A. 96-180, S. 154, 166.)

History: P.A. 96-180 substituted “The Commissioner of Public Safety” for “Said commissioner”, effective June 3, 1996.Sec. 29-147. Renewal, revocation or suspension of license.

Each professional bondsman licensed under the provisions of this chapter may apply for a renewal of his license upon renewal application forms provided by the Commissioner of Public Safety and requiring the disclosure of such information as said commissioner requires in determining whether or not such professional bondsman’s financial responsibility remains unimpaired or whether for any other reason such bondsman’s fitness to continue in such business has been otherwise altered since the issuance of any prior license. Said commissioner may suspend for a definite term or revoke any license issued under the provisions of this chapter if it appears to said commissioner that such licensee has been convicted of a felony in this state or elsewhere or is engaged in any unlawful activity affecting his fitness to continue in the business of professional bondsman or that his financial responsibility has been substantially impaired.
(1949 Rev., S. 3731; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610.)

History: P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979.

Sec. 29-147a. Suspension of license for failure to pay forfeited bond.

The Commissioner of Public Safety may suspend any license issued under the provisions of this chapter of any professional bondsman when he finds that such surety has failed to pay a forfeited bond. Such license shall remain so suspended and shall not be reinstated nor shall any such license be issued to such surety until such person pays such forfeited bond.
(P.A. 80-312.)

Sec. 29-148. Statement of assets and liabilities.

Each professional bondsman licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall forthwith inform the Commissioner of Public Safety in writing of any material change in his assets or liabilities affecting his responsibility as a bondsman and shall at any time, upon request of said commissioner, furnish him with a statement under oath of his assets and liabilities, including all bonds on which such bondsman is obligated.
(1949 Rev., S. 3732; P.A. 96-180, S. 155, 166.)

History: P.A. 96-180 substituted “the Commissioner of Public Safety” for “said commissioner”, effective June 3, 1996.

Sec. 29-149. Notice to courts and municipal departments of names of bondsmen.

The Commissioner of Public Safety shall furnish to all courts and to all town, city and borough departments in the state, having authority to accept bail, the names of all professional bondsmen licensed under the provisions of this chapter and shall forthwith notify such courts and all such town, city and borough departments of any change in any such bondsman’s status or of the suspension or revocation of any bondsman’s license to engage in such business.
(1949 Rev., S. 3733; P.A. 96-180, S. 156, 166.)

History: P.A. 96-180 substituted “The Commissioner of Public Safety” for “Said commissioner”, effective June 3, 1996.

Sec. 29-150. Oath of bondsmen. Form.

Each professional bondsman shall, when furnishing surety for recognizances of any person charged with crime, take oath to the sufficiency of his security upon a uniform form furnished for such purpose by the clerk of the Superior Court and approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety. No person who offers himself as surety on bail in any criminal case shall falsely represent that he is the legal or equitable owner of any stated property.
(1949 Rev., S. 3734; 1961, P.A. 129; 1969, P.A. 57; P.A. 74-183, S. 265, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 228, 681; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610.)

History: 1961 act provided for furnishing of forms by state police commissioner in lieu of superior court clerk; 1969 act required use of “uniform” form and transferred responsibility for furnishing form from state police commissioner to clerks of superior or circuit courts; P.A. 74-183 replaced circuit court with court of common pleas; P.A. 76-436 deleted reference to court of common pleas, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979.

Sec. 29-151. Maximum commission or fee. Reports to Commissioner of Public Safety.

No such professional bondsman shall charge for his commission or fee more than fifty dollars for the amount of bail furnished by him up to five hundred dollars, nor more than ten per cent of the amount of bail furnished by him from five hundred dollars up to five thousand dollars, nor more than seven per cent of the amount of bail furnished by him on sums in excess of five thousand dollars. When a professional bondsman has furnished bail to an accused in a criminal proceeding, the fee which he receives therefor shall be credited on account of his fee for any subsequent bail in an increased amount which he may furnish for the same person in the same criminal proceeding; but this provision shall not apply to bail furnished on appeal of a conviction or bindover of an accused. Each professional bondsman licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall annually, during the month of January, on forms furnished by the Commissioner of Public Safety, report to said commissioner in detail the names of the persons for whom such bondsman has become surety during the year ended December thirty-first preceding, with the date, the amount of bond and the fee charged and paid and such further information as said commissioner requires.
(1949 Rev., S. 3735; 1969, P.A. 206; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 83-163; P.A. 86-183.)

History: 1969 act increased bondsman’s commission (1) from five to twenty dollars on bail amounts up to three hundred, rather than one hundred, dollars, (2) from five to seven per cent for changed three hundred dollar lower range up to five thousand dollars and (3) from two and one-half to five per cent for amounts exceeding five thousand dollars; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of state police with commissioner of public safety, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 83-163 increased bondsman’s commission from a maximum of seven per cent to a maximum of ten per cent for amounts of bail furnished from three hundred dollars up to five thousand dollars; P.A. 86-183 increased maximum fee from twenty to fifty dollars on bail up to five hundred dollars, ten per cent of amount of bail from five hundred to five thousand dollars and changed percentage from five to seven per cent of amount of bail in excess of five thousand dollars.

Cited. 147 C. 1.

Statute upheld as constitutional. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 83. Defendant, after accepting license under statute and acting thereunder, cannot then claim statute is unconstitutional. Id.

Sec. 29-152. Penalty.

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than two years or both and his right to engage in the business of a professional bondsman in this state shall thereupon be permanently forfeited.
(1949 Rev., S. 3736.)

Secs. 29-152a to 29-152d.

Reserved for future use.

• Sec. 29-152e. License required.
• Sec. 29-152f. Application for license.
• Sec. 29-152g. Issuance of license.
• Sec. 29-152h. Renewal of license.
• Sec. 29-152i. Suspension or revocation of license.
• Sec. 29-152j. Notice to courts and police departments of names of professional bondsmen and bail enforcement agents.
• Sec. 29-152k. Notice to law enforcement agency prior to apprehension of principal.
• Sec. 29-152l. Wearing, carrying or display of uniform, badge or other insignia of governmental official or employee prohibited.
• Sec. 29-152m. Permit to carry firearm required.
• Sec. 29-152n. Penalty.
• Sec. 29-152o. Regulations.

Sec. 29-152e. License required.

No person shall, as a surety on a bond in a criminal proceeding or an agent of such surety, engage in the business of taking or attempting to take into custody the principal on the bond who has failed to appear in court and for whom a rearrest warrant or a capias has been issued pursuant to section 54-65a unless such person is licensed as a professional bondsman under chapter 533, a surety bail bond agent under chapter 700f or a bail enforcement agent under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 1.)

Sec. 29-152f. Application for license.

Any person desiring to engage in the business of a bail enforcement agent shall apply to the Commissioner of Public Safety for a license therefor. Such application shall set forth under oath the full name, age, date and place of birth, residence and occupation of the applicant. It shall also set forth under oath a statement of whether the applicant has been charged with or convicted of crime, and such other information, including fingerprints and photographs, as required by the commissioner. The commissioner shall submit the applicant’s fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. Within five years prior to the date of application, the applicant shall have successfully completed a course in the criminal justice system consisting of not less than twenty hours of study approved by the commissioner. No person who has been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor under section 21a-279, 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-173, 53a- 175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d, shall be licensed to do business as a bail enforcement agent in this state. No person engaged in law enforcement or vested with police powers shall be licensed to do business as a bail enforcement agent.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 2; P.A. 99-240, S. 18.)

History: P.A. 99-240 added fingerprinting requirement and listed misdemeanors disqualifying applicants.

Sec. 29-152g. Issuance of license.

Upon being satisfied, after investigation, that the applicant is a suitable person to receive a license as a bail enforcement agent, and that the applicant meets the licensing requirements of section 29-152f, the Commissioner of Public Safety may issue a license to such applicant to do business in this state as a bail enforcement agent. The fee for such license shall be one hundred dollars. Each such license shall be for such term not exceeding one year as said commissioner determines. Any bail enforcement agent holding a license issued pursuant to this section or section 29-152h shall notify the commissioner within two business days of any change of address. The notification shall include the bail enforcement agent’s old address and new address.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 3; P.A. 99-240, S. 19.)

History: P.A. 99-240 replaced “good character, competency and integrity” with “a suitable person” and added requirement of notification of change of address.

Sec. 29-152h. Renewal of license.

Each person licensed as a bail enforcement agent under the provisions of sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, may apply for a renewal of such license upon renewal application forms provided by the Commissioner of Public Safety and requiring the disclosure of such information as said commissioner requires in determining whether or not such agent’s suitability to continue in such business has changed since the issuance of any prior license. The fee for renewal of a bail enforcement agent’s license shall be one hundred dollars.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 4; P.A. 99-240, S. 20.)

History: P.A. 99-240 replaced “such agent’s fitness” with “such agent’s suitability”.

Sec. 29-152i. Suspension or revocation of license.

The Commissioner of Public Safety may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the license of any bail enforcement agent, provided notice shall have been given to the licensee to appear before the commissioner to show cause why the license should not be suspended, revoked or refused renewal, upon a finding by the commissioner that: (1) The licensee has violated any of the terms or provisions of sections 29-152e to 29-152m, inclusive, or section 38a-660a or any of the regulations adopted under section 29-152o; (2) the licensee has practiced fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; (3) the licensee has made a material misstatement in the application for issuance or renewal of such license; (4) the licensee has demonstrated incompetence or untrustworthiness in the conduct of the licensee’s business; (5) the licensee has been convicted of a felony, a misdemeanor specified in section 29-152f, or other crime affecting the licensee’s honesty, integrity or moral fitness; or (6) the licensee is unsuitable. The suspension or revocation of, or the refusal to renew, any bail enforcement agent’s license shall also constitute the revocation of the bail enforcement agent’s firearms permit issued pursuant to section 29-152m. Any bail enforcement agent who fails to surrender such license within five days of notification in writing of the suspension or revocation of, or refusal to renew, such license shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. Any party aggrieved by an order of the commissioner under this section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district of Hartford.
(P.A. 88-230, S. 10, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 46; P.A. 97-287, S. 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 91, 121; P.A. 99-240, S. 21.)

History: P.A. 88-230, 90-98, 93-142 and 95-220 authorized substitution of “judicial district of Hartford” for “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” in public and special acts of 1997, effective September 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98- 1 made technical changes, effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-240 gave the commissioner the authority to refuse to renew a license, added unsuitability as a basis to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a license, provided that suspension, revocation or refusal to renew a license also revokes the firearms permit, made failure to surrender a license a class C misdemeanor and made provisions gender neutral.

Sec. 29-152j. Notice to courts and police departments of names of professional bondsmen and bail enforcement agents.

The Commissioner of Public Safety shall furnish to all courts and to all organized police departments in the state, the names of all persons licensed as professional bondsmen under chapter 533 or bail enforcement agents under the provisions of sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, and shall forthwith notify such courts and all such police departments of any change in any such bondsman’s or agent’s status or of the suspension or revocation of the license of any such bondsman or agent to engage in such business.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 6.)

Sec. 29-152k. Notice to law enforcement agency prior to apprehension of principal.

Prior to taking or attempting to take into custody the principal on a bond, a professional bondsman licensed under chapter 533, a surety bail bond agent licensed under chapter 700f or a bail enforcement agent licensed under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, shall notify the police department or resident state trooper for, or state police troop having jurisdiction over, the municipality in which the principal is believed to be located of such bondsman’s or agent’s intentions.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 8.)

Sec. 29-152l. Wearing, carrying or display of uniform, badge or other insignia of governmental official or employee prohibited.

No professional bondsman licensed under chapter 533, surety bail bond agent licensed under chapter 700f or bail enforcement agent licensed under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, shall wear, carry or display any uniform, badge, shield or other insignia or emblems that purport to indicate that such bondsman or agent is an employee, officer or agent of the state or any political subdivision of the state or of the federal government.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 9.)

Sec. 29-152m. Permit to carry firearm required.

1. No professional bondsman licensed under chapter 533, surety bail bond agent licensed under chapter 700f or bail enforcement agent licensed under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, shall carry a pistol, revolver or other firearm while engaging in the business of a professional bondsman, surety bail bond agent or bail enforcement agent, as the case may be, or while traveling to or from such business unless such bondsman or agent obtains a special permit from the Commissioner of Public Safety in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. The permit required under this section shall be in addition to the permit requirement imposed under section 29-28.
2. The Commissioner of Public Safety may grant to any professional bondsman licensed under chapter 533, surety bail bond agent licensed under chapter 700f or bail enforcement agent licensed under sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive, a permit to carry a pistol or revolver or other firearm while engaging in the business of professional bondsman, surety bail bond agent or bail enforcement agent, as the case may be, or while traveling to or from such business, provided that such bondsman or agent has proven to the satisfaction of the commissioner that such bondsman or agent has successfully completed a course, approved by the commissioner, of training in the safety and use of firearms. The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 concerning the approval of schools, institutions or organizations offering such courses, requirements for instructors and the required number of hours and content of such courses.
3. Application for a permit issued pursuant to this section shall be made on forms provided by the commissioner and shall be accompanied by a thirty-one-dollar fee. Such permit shall have an expiration date that coincides with that of the state permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-28. A permit issued pursuant to this section shall be renewable every five years with a renewal fee of thirty-one dollars. The commissioner shall send, by first class mail, a notice of expiration of the bail enforcement agent firearms permit issued pursuant to this section, together with a notice of expiration of the permit to carry a pistol or revolver issued pursuant to section 29-28, in one combined form. The commissioner shall send such combined notice to the holder of the permits not later than ninety days before the date of the expiration of both permits, and shall enclose a form for renewal of the permits. A bail enforcement agent firearms permit issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for a period of ninety days after the expiration date, except this provision shall not apply if the permit to carry a pistol or revolver has been revoked or revocation is pending pursuant to section 29-32, in which case the bail enforcement agent firearms permit shall also be revoked.
   (P.A. 97-287, S. 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 92, 121; P.A. 99-240, S. 22.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 99-240 amended Subsec. (c) by providing for identical expiration dates on the two firearms permits required for bondsmen or agents and made provisions of entire section gender neutral.

Sec. 29-152n. Penalty.

Any person who violates any provision of sections 29-152e to 29-152m, inclusive, and 38a-660a shall be guilty of a class D felony.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 11; P.A. 99-240, S. 23.)

History: P.A. 99-240 replaced stated fine and imprisonment with classification of violation of section as class D felony.

Sec. 29-152o. Regulations.

The Commissioner of Public Safety shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of sections 29-152f to 29-152i, inclusive.
(P.A. 97-287, S. 12.)