4am, they won't open the door...

Good job. Speaking as a bondsman, thats exactly what I would want from a BEA. You gotta be careful who you hire if you wanna stay in this business. It would be my fault for not gettin it to you sooner.

Now, this may draw some fire, but Im speaking the truth. If that were my bond and here in rural MO in most of the counties we have agents in, knowing the cops, prosecutors and judges, I would possibly have hit the door right behind him. Damn sure would have if that bond had another 0 on it!! Thing is, depending on the location around here, the cops may have done it before I got the chance. Things work a little different around here.

But, like I said, in your situation, if I were the bondsman hiring you, I would be proud you did what you did. Limit my liability. Heck, even if it were my bond and I was picking him up myself and it was where you are, I would have done the same thing.

Good Job!!

I realize that nobody wants to be called a newbie or rookie, so no disrespect intended. Residents of the south side of Atlanta call the residents on the north side Yankees and they don't like it either!

That said, I want some feedback from you guys. Ask why the situation was handled like it was, if you don't understand the premise you could get jammed up in the same situation. No rocks will be thrown at you and you will gain some respect from the guys that pass the cases out.

I am getting old and tired and won't chase them forever, please send me someone who is dressed professionally, in street clothes, willing to learn who can communicate on a level that won't embarrass my organization and I will make you wealthy!

Scott

_________________
R.E. "Scott" MacLean III

"Leaders are like Eagles, you never see them in a flock, but one at a time"

Chesapeake Group Investigations, Inc.
Chesapeake Bail Bonds
877-574-0500
301-392-1100 (fax)
301-392-1900 (Office)

Sounds like you made the decision of an experienced professional, good job.
One question for you... We are in Michigan so things may be a little different, but the "color of the law" part pertaining to LE standing by. Did this change things as far as entry?
We have entered, sometimes forcefully with LE doing a "stand-by" and it has never affected our proceedure or created legal issues either criminally or civil. I know there has been talk on this forum of LE being present and how things change based on that. Could someone elaborate a little? Thanks,


Terry

From my experience, it depends on where you are.

Just a few examples. In a suburb of St Louis we had LE with us and there was no way entry was going to be made by us or them without us going to jail. In St Louis city, LE entered before we had time to say anything. The guy wasnt there and the owner of the house was raising hell and the LE came out laughing about it. Here locally, as I stated above, most likely one of the deputies will know, or we will know, the owner and in alot of cases we make entry.

As a rule of thumb, rural areas are more lax and likely to let you do what you think is appropriate and in alot of cases, they will do it for you. Cities are more strict. Thats just been my experience.

But, then again, the St Louis city example above and another similar experience in New Orleans one time kinda shoots holes in that. LOL

Unless Im damned sure Im right and no way Im getting in trouble for it, I err on the side of caution. I am in this for the long haul. It would have to be a mighty large bond for me to risk it all.

It definitely depends on jurisdictions:

Ms: State law allows for LE to accompany us when requested to do so.

Some jurisdictions, upon doing my LE check in and verification of a felony warrant in NCIC, simply told me to stay put at the police station while they went and did the investigation/apprehension.

Other jurisdictions thanked me for the check in, stated they couldn't get involved, and advised me to call them if I had any problems.

Ironically, in my own backyard, my own Sheriff and Police Chief have told me repeatedly to stop calling thier dpt's as they will not assist. I have explained to them, several times, I am not requesting assistance, I am advising them of intended activity at a given location. They don't care.

I continue to do it for my own safety, to attempt to mitigate liability for my client, and so if anything does happen, there is a permanent record on the 911 system.

Yet most of the time when I travel outside of Huntsville, I get exceptional assistance from LE's. It just amazes me.

_________________
River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601

In CT we're required to check in with the police..It just covers your rear end, God forbid something should happen. Normally they don't go with us, but if nothing is going on late at night, they'll just stand by in the neighborhood.

To better explain the "Color of Law" position.

You as a citizen know your rights. If you here a knock at your door and look out the window and see uniformed police officers or a marked poice car, you have every right and expectation to believe them to be in charge. You open your door and ask if they have a warrant to search your home, well within your rights. They say no, but these bounty hunters don't need one...breach the doorway absent being invited in and you have a civil rights violation on your hands. That is a Federal charge and the kind that gets lots of press.
It also gets real expensive.

The fact that the police officers may or may not be aware of that aspect of law is of no accord. We have all had LEO at our side telling them that these guys have the right to come in here and search, which is wrong, we don't.

I hope this has clarified my position.

Scott

_________________
R.E. "Scott" MacLean III

"Leaders are like Eagles, you never see them in a flock, but one at a time"

Chesapeake Group Investigations, Inc.
Chesapeake Bail Bonds
877-574-0500
301-392-1100 (fax)
301-392-1900 (Office)

Even for a new guy it sounds like you did a good thing and your right about the color of law.

I didn't know that I was new

Scott

_________________
R.E. "Scott" MacLean III

"Leaders are like Eagles, you never see them in a flock, but one at a time"

Chesapeake Group Investigations, Inc.
Chesapeake Bail Bonds
877-574-0500
301-392-1100 (fax)
301-392-1900 (Office)

Scott~ I am thinking that he was referring to him/herself as new

_________________


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