40-11-316 - Maximum premium Initiation fee. - Tennessee Statutes

40-11-316. Maximum premium Initiation fee.

(a)  Professional bondsmen and agents of insurance companies making appearance bonds of a criminal nature shall not assess more than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the face value of the bond for premium fee and related charge or charges, and the premium fee and related charge or charges shall not be assessed but one (1) time during the first twelve (12) months of the pendency of the charge or charges and indictment or indictments in either the trial court or any lower court. If a premium renewal fee and any related charge or charges are assessed after the first twelve (12) months of the bond, the renewal fee and charge shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the original fee and charges. In the event the case is appealed to the court of criminal appeals or the supreme court of Tennessee, there may be charged only one (1) additional premium fee which also shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the face value of the appearance bond for that court or courts.

(b)  In addition to the charge authorized in subsection (a), professional bondsmen and agents of insurance companies making appearance bonds of a criminal nature may assess a one-time bond initiation fee of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

[Acts 1976, ch. 549, § 1; T.C.A., § 40-1416; Acts 1985, ch. 279, § 1; 1987, ch. 423, §§ 1, 3.]