Winter Springs, FL asked in Gov & Administrative Law for Florida

Q: Florida statute 648.30 subsection 2, 3 are those separate statements or can 3 apply to 2?

most if not all bail bond agents would say that you cannot be a bounty hunter in florida but Im in a class to get my license and the instructor said that subsection 3 would allow any bounty hunter to arrest a principal in florida if the bond was written in the state they where licensed even though they would have to represent themselves as a bounty hunter when returning any principal to a jail or sheriff. Im just not sure how to read the statute if each subsection is its own statement or if they are more of a run on sentence kind of deal

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1 Lawyer Answer
Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
Answered
  • Freeeport, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: The subsections are not exactly run-on sentences, but they may be confusing because of the many redundant words used. Try reading it like this:

"648.30 Licensure ... required.—

(1) A person may not ... perform any of the functions,... prescribed for bail bond agents ... unless that person is ..., licensed, ...as provided in this chapter.

(2) A person may not represent himself... to be a ... bounty hunter... in this state.

(3) A person, ..., may not ... arrest a principal on a bond, ... , unless that person is ..., licensed, ... as provided in this chapter or licensed ...by the state where the bond was written.

(4) Any person who violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, ..."

So yes: if the bond was written in another state, a person licensed in that other state could arrest and return a principal in Florida.

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