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Bounty hunter regulations to be reviewed
The News Tribune Published: September 22nd, 2007 01:00 AM
The head of the state Department of Licensing says she plans to review state regulations governing bounty hunters following a News Tribune story that highlighted loose oversight of the profession.
Increased training and education, a ban on forced entries, clearer rules regarding identification, and limiting the use of dogs are among the issues the state will examine, according to Liz Luce, licensing director. Her statements appeared on the Commentary page of Friday’s News Tribune.
“Bounty hunters provide a service that is useful to law enforcement and Washington citizens by tracking down and arresting fugitives, but we must ensure they do not put innocent bystanders in harm’s way,” Luce wrote.
State Sen. Mike Carrell, who sponsored legislation in 2004 to strengthen oversight of bounty hunters, is less willing to call for more regulation. In an editorial submission scheduled to run in Sunday’s News Tribune, he suggested that some of the issues raised by the story resulted from ineffective enforcement of existing law.
“I do think further changes in bail enforcement laws may be in order,” he wrote. “I would be glad to address the issue at the state level.”
Last Sunday’s story – “Guns drawn, through the doors they come” – noted that licensing requirements for bounty hunters are minimal and oversight is limited. The Department of Licensing has received 12 complaints against bounty hunters since the agency began regulating the profession last year. Four of the cases, including one in Pierce County, remain under active investigation.
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