Minnesota Changing Everything

So i figured i would update all who is interested:

Minnesota is currently going through quite a large ordeal regarding fugitive recovery and bail agents. If you are currently a bail agent in MN you probably already know most of this, but for those of you who do not, here are some of the things going on:

-Commerce department has been cracking down hard, even shut 1 company down a while back

-it has always been against rules and regs but soliciting business is against rules and is now being enforced. No agent shall solicit business inside any courthouse or courtroom, no agent shall where any clothing or posess anything with company insignia on it viewable by the general public in a courthouse or courtroom. Unless a prospective client comes and talks to you, it is against all regulations to solicit business.

-10% bail premium across the board with no discounting bail bonds is mandatory. This is also a current regulation, but is not be ing enforced, however commerce department is cracking down and soon will be the norm to charge 10%. For those of you who do not know, some agents in MN have been writing bail bonds for 3-5% total just to get the business.

-1 rule trying to go into affect is all FRA people need to be licensed bail bond agents with the state or acompanied by one while working.

-MN is now putting together a bail associating to try and regulate our own and get support from the commerce department. MNPBBA.com

-There are a lot more, however i do not have the actualy new rules in front of me, if anyone is interested, i can possibly scan them in and send a pdf copy of all the new regulations going around.

That is very interesting... the rules as you have posted seem fair and frankly should be implemented nationally... IMHO... of course, laws and regulations, especially in our industry, are extremely hard to enforce... the regulations can be imposed but the enforcement of the rules related to bondsmen and FRA's are difficult at best.

I speak from experience on this... I think I mentioned a competitive bondsman that several weeks ago in the courtroom... walked up to a client, handed her a card, shook her hand, put his arm around her and escorted her out of the courtroom... I was waiting outside to approach her off the property... and I saw all the aforementioned on the close circuit TV at the front desk of the officers station on the entry way of the courthouse... so I know it happened and does all the time... nothing is ever done although much has been said... DCJS makes the rules but does not enforce them, if you call their office, they just toss you off.

_________________
Bill Marx, Sr.
"FREE STATE BAIL BONDS"
"FREE STATE INVESTIGATIONS"
DCJS: 99-176979
Cell: 434-294-0222

"Endeavor to Persevere" "Lone Watie"

"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that , comes from bad judgment" "Will Rogers"

IMO Minnesota needs something soon, as bail bondsmans are not regulated hardly at all right now.

We recently had 1 company paying a few inmates in a county jail to make evry single bond go through them, if an inmate used a different company the paid inmates actually assualted the inmate trying to get bailed out.

Like i said, its crazy in thsi state, and i cant wait until rules and regulations are actually enforced. I watched a bondsman post a $100,000 bond for $2,500 with no collateral, no cosigner, and that was paid in full. How do the smaller companies compete with that? Its out of control, but hopefully the association and the commerce department figure out a method to weed out all of the loosers in this state and start making this business back to normal.

At this point its almost embarrasing to state what i do for a living because of all the crap going on.

Ryan...

Maintain your reputation, character and morals... stand firm... I know a bondsman in northern Virginia that stations his men outside the jail... they will write anything for $50 and worry about the rest later................. they are hungry... hopefully it will sort out soon... but many of us are under pressure in this economy... I am retired so if I don't write anything, I will still be able to eat and live... just might have to sell one of my toys... oooooooooooo don't want to think of that... I seem to always write a little fairly regularly and I have a good contract with a reputable surety, they know I am not a million dollar producer but I write clean stuff, keep my paperwork up to date and I clean up any messes that come up... and I have a pretty good reputation in the system... hopefully myself and my kids (son and daughter both in the business) can maintain our good names... that is worth more to me than making an extra few dollars 'snaking' a bond from another bondsman by undercutting him or doing something underhanded.... "it just isn't me..." is all I can say. I suppose that is why I will never be rich.

I hear it all the time... "it is difficult to make an 'honest' living.".. ever heard that before?

short story... some time ago I had occasion to be in one of my little jails out here in the country... writing a little $2500 DUI charge... I noticed a guy sitting in the waiting room quietly... while I was filling out the paperwork he.... I repeat... he ask if I was a bondsman... I said yes... he ask me about his son... under a $15,000 bond for possession w/ intent... I quoted him a price and then he said he had been waiting for another bondsman for over an hour... when he told me that... I really had a hard time... but I told him that I would complete the bond I was working on but in all fairness, give the other bondsman a little more time and if his deal didn't come together I would talk to him... Now I could have written that hands down and left... but I finished up my little bond and sat with him a bit... the other bondsman came in and I backed off... I reacted in that manner because I simply did not want the same situation to happen to me.... so I just let it go.... I could have written that bond very easily with no problems, put a slick $1500 cash in my pocket and left, but... it was a good bond and the kid went to all his appearances... but... that is an example....

The indemnitor told the other bondsman the situation and the other guy never even thanked me for backing off.... damn... I shoulda wrote it...........

_________________
Bill Marx, Sr.
"FREE STATE BAIL BONDS"
"FREE STATE INVESTIGATIONS"
DCJS: 99-176979
Cell: 434-294-0222

"Endeavor to Persevere" "Lone Watie"

"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that , comes from bad judgment" "Will Rogers"

Bill you run your Bail the very SAME way that I do.

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Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius

I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN

At least you know you did the right thing Bill,what is it they say about karma?
hopefully the saying is true but either way you kept your professionalism and that is very commendable.there is not alot of people that can say that they would have done the same thing which is pretty sorry in my book.Nicely done maintaining your morals and since that man didnt thank you I will.I am not even a bondsman and i appreciate when anyone shows that they have some sort of morals and respect for another.

_________________
Jay Crawford
Eagle Eye Fugitive Recovery
"based out of Bethpage Tn."
Cell:(931)551-5020

I agree morals and respect are hard to find these days. I heard one of the best saying the other day that i cannot get out of my head...

Common Sense isn't so common these days