BEA Licensing in Colorado?

I know this is a sensitive topic for some but wanted to throw it out there and get some feedback on what you think about Colorado State Licensing rather than Certification for BEAs.

I believe there needs to be some standards and uniformity within the industry. I think BEAs would be taken more serious by Law Enforcement and other agents if there was a standard of professionalism and less of a "Law Enforcement Wanna-be" look. What are your thoughts?

Not being from Colorado I have a question. I read the Colorado code and it seems that in order to be licensed as a BEA you have to be certified through training at an accredited school.

So it would seem you have to have one in order to have the other? Is that not so? I know that is the way it is in my state, Virginia.

Certification gets you the license. Seems simple enough to me. IMHO the license gets you in the business, it does not in itself make you a professional... that comes with a lot of hard work and experience in the field along with a lot of additional training.

In Virginia, you have to be licensed as a BEA as well as a bondsman but the paper is the start of the process... BEA's only recently came under the laws of DCJS and I personally believe that this is the first step of a long process to raise the standards of professionalism in our industry. There are many that think that the input of DCJS is just the opposite... the road to our demise. This is a matter of opinion that is another topic for discussion.

As in the bonding industry... anyone, for the most part, can pass the test... anyone can fill out the paperwork... but the job, to be done correctly, profitably and professionally takes a lot more than those simple steps and so it is with the BEA field.

How about it Kathy, what's your take on this since the question is aimed at your state, Colorado?

_________________
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"

There is NO licensing for BE in Colorado. What is required is to take the 16 hour certification class. What the state requires to be listed for the instructor is that they submit a form stating that they will provide the required course materials, and will supply the required certficate to anybody that does the required study and proves that they understand the laws. In simple terms, all you have to do is prove that you have read the statutes, and understand them to be certified as a BEA. Instructors are not held liable in any way for those that they certify because the requirements are so lax as to negate personal opinions as to the person's capabilities. The only addtional requrement is that the person submit fingerprints to the CBI, who then submits them to the FBI to ensure that the person has been felony free for 15 years.

I agree that there should be more stringent regulations to weed out the idiots, but my state is so lax that they don't even enforce the laws that we have. When James and I first started out in BE, we had to shove our credentials down bondsmen's throats. They didn't care for anything other than than they didn't have to pay the bond. It is still the same. Most bondsmen don't care who they hire as long as they don't have to pay the bond, and only have to pay the BEA a minimal amount. Since most don't collect anywhere near the 15% premium we are allowed, they use that as their excuse for not paying a fair amount to enforce the bond. You can expect to get paid very little, because the bondsman has already paid large amounts for research, and for their other people to screw things up for you. They don't care that maybe it is you and your assets that finally bring the person in, they are only looking at what they collected as their premium versus what you want for your efforts.

That is the problem wth charging less than the state allowed amount. We can charge up to 15%, BUT WHAT WE CHARGE IS UP TO US, and not the problem to the person that is hired to collect on the bond, or to bring the person in. Be fair, but don't get screwed!

_________________
Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

Kathy,
Exactly what are the requirements for an out of state BEA to come to CO for a skip? Does being NSIN certified fall into that 16 hour course catagory?

Good question... Personally I am assuming based upon how the law is written that in order to do Bail Enforcement in Colorado you have to take the test or hire a Colorado BEA to do the job for you... Just a guess since neither of the courses I took really touched on this topic.

The laws here are very lax... In fact, I had a friend who recently became certified to do Bail Enforcement through my company, C.B.I didn't require the Certificate to run him through the system as a Fugitive Recovery / BEA. Hell, until they tighten up on the laws you could prob just jump into C.B.I , do the background check and be on your way.

Take what I say with a grain of salt... I really don't know it would be best to consult an attorney or someone who has been in the biz for a while but it seems to be a gray area as with all the Colorado BEA laws.

It is rather confusing since as you say, Kathy, there is no licensing for BEA in Colorado and no regulations for "bounty hunting" in Colorado, but the wording of the code starts out by using the sentence...

"2. Licensing Requirements for Agents."

not specifying bonding agents or bail recovery agents... and then goes into a list of regulations and qualifications for both bondsmen and BEA per the following sentence:

"COLORADO REVISED STATUTES ANNOTATED TITLE 12. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS GENERAL ARTICLE 7. BAIL BONDING AGENT § 12-7-105.5. Bail recovery services--requirements"

and then the very last sentence after all other info has been read.... you get this:

"Bounty Hunter Provisions."At this time, there appear to be no specific regulations for "Bounty Hunters" in the Colorado statutes.

Am I the only one that thinks this is just a bit confusing? I do of course see that two different words are used here.... regulations vs. requirements are not the same but still somewhat confusing. huh?

and just one other question as relates to item:

"A licensed bail bonding agent may not hire, contract with, or pay any compensation to any individual for bail recovery services if the inquiry to the Colorado bureau of investigation required by this section indicates that the bureau has not completed a background check on the individual or if the bail bonding agent knows, through the inquiry to the Colorado bureau of investigation or through any other source, that such individual has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony under federal or state law during the previous fifteen years.

Do bondsman in Colorado, have access to the CBI investigation results or can you call in to check the status of the CBI check to determine such?

and based on the above item, how can Mr. Chapman operate in Colorado unless it has been over 15 years.... must be the thing....

_________________
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"

Here is the link to the requirements: http://www.dora.state.co.us/insurance/B ... 102507.pdf.

Todd, there are no requirements for outside agents to work here. Just come get your criminals out of our state .

Bill, Doggie's felony was well over 15 years ago. Bondsmen are required to submit a request to CBI (and pay a fee) to determine if a BEA meets the legal background check to work here. Other bond agents are excluded from this requirement since their licensing shows that they have met it.

CS, you are correct that CBI does not care and are not required to confirm any requirements other than the background. Some course providers suggest or require that the fingerprint check be done before providing the course. Most at least ask about the person's background before wasting either of their time and the student's money.

_________________
Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

Kathy,
Don't get mad at me. I didn't send them there. They probably want one last look at some beautiful scenery before they're staring at walls!

Todd, I'll only be mad if you don't come see me while you are here. Bring your girlfriend. She and I can hold you captive until LuVonda arrives . Then us girls can teach you how it's really done . Oh yeah, don't bother running. WE can find you .

_________________
Kathy Blackshear
Blackshear Investigations
Blackshear Bail Bonds
Sales Associate, Prepaid Legal Services, Inc.
Walsenburg, CO

Proud Member of the AB Reject Club

Come and see you? Hell, I'm going to stay at your house! Wait for LuVonda? I've got news for you. I'm an avid outdoorsman and I can survive in the mountains for a long long time! Catch me if you can! My girlfriend would just tell you two to let me go so the three of you could tear up the town!

Just kidding LuVonda. I'm can't wait to meet you! You too Kathy!