Florida Statutes

Fla. Stat. § 648.30 (2025)

Licensure and appointment required; prohibited acts; penalties.

✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session

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648.30 Licensure and appointment required; prohibited acts; penalties.—

(1)(a) A person or entity may not act in the capacity of a bail bond agent or bail bond agency or perform any of the functions, duties, or powers prescribed for bail bond agents or bail bond agencies under this chapter unless that person or entity is qualified, licensed, and appointed as provided in this chapter.

(b) A bail bond agent may not sell a bail bond issued by an insurer for which the agent and the agent’s bail bond agency do not hold a current appointment.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person or entity, other than a bail bond agency or an employee of a bail bond agency, may not perform any of the functions of a bail bond agency without a bail bond agency license.

(2) A person may not represent himself or herself to be a bail enforcement agent, bounty hunter, or other similar title in this state.

(3) A person, other than a certified law enforcement officer, may not apprehend, detain, or arrest a principal on a bond, wherever issued, unless that person is qualified, licensed, and appointed as provided in this chapter or licensed as a bail bond agent or bail bond enforcement agent, or holds an equivalent license by the state where the bond was written.

(4) Any person who violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(5) Any licensee under this chapter who knowingly aids or abets an unlicensed person in violating this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

History.—s. 4, ch. 29621, 1955; s. 177, ch. 70-339; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 6, 71, 72, ch. 82-175; ss. 50, 51, ch. 84-103; s. 5, ch. 87-321; ss. 8, 46, 47, ch. 90-131; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 7, ch. 96-372; s. 6, ch. 2002-260; s. 30, ch. 2021-113; s. 56, ch. 2023-144; s. 35, ch. 2024-140.

Note.—Former s. 903.40.

Arrestable Offenses under F.S. 648.30

M = misdemeanor · F = felony · degree: F=1st S=2nd T=3rd

§648.30(1)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9480F · 3rd

§648.30(1)FRAUD-IMPERSONRENUMBERED. SEE REC # 9848F · 3rd

§648.30(2)FRAUD-IMPERSONIMPERSONATE BAIL BOND AGENT BOUNTY HUNTERF · 3rd

§648.30(3)PUBLIC ORDER CRIMESUNAUTH PERSON APPREHEND BOND PRINCIPALF · 3rd

§648.30(5)FRAUDAID ABET UNLICENSED ACTIVITYF · 3rd

§648.30(1a)FRAUD-IMPERSONACT AS BAIL BOND AGENT/AGENCY W/O LICENSEF · 3rd

§648.30(1b)FRAUD-IMPERSONSELL BAIL BOND W/O CURRENT APPOINTMENTF · 3rd

§648.30(1c)FRAUD-IMPERSONPERFORM BAIL BOND FUNCTIONS W/O LICENSEF · 3rd

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: Moncrief v. State, Com'r of Ins., 415 So. 2d 785 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982).

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Moncrief v. State, Com'r of Ins., 415 So. 2d 785 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982). · cites it 3× “The licensing requirement is all inclusive by virtue of Section 648.30, Florida Statutes, which indisputably provides that all runners shall be licensed.”

Green v. Abony Bail Bond, 316 F. Supp. 2d 1254 (M.D. Fla. 2004). · cites it 3× “that a bond for which fees or premiums are charged must be executed by a bail bond agent licensed pursuant to this chapter in connection with the pretrial or appellate release of a criminal defendant and shall be construed as a commitment by and obligation upon the bail bond…”

Raulerson v. State of Florida (Fla. 1st DCA 2025). · cites it 2× “(authorizing a security officer to temporarily detain a person, until arrival of a law enforcement officer, if there is probable cause to believe the person is committing a crime against a “critical infrastructure facility,” authority that terminates upon arrival of a law…”

— 648.30(1) — 1 case

Green v. Abony Bail Bond, 316 F. Supp. 2d 1254 (M.D. Fla. 2004). “that a bond for which fees or premiums are charged must be executed by a bail bond agent licensed pursuant to this chapter in connection with the pretrial or appellate release of a criminal defendant and shall be construed as a commitment by and obligation upon the bail bond…”

— 648.30(3) — 1 case

Raulerson v. State of Florida (Fla. 1st DCA 2025). “(authorizing a security officer to temporarily detain a person, until arrival of a law enforcement officer, if there is probable cause to believe the person is committing a crime against a “critical infrastructure facility,” authority that terminates upon arrival of a law…”

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