Working with a bail bondsman is serious. After using his services to post bail, you are required to pay him and make all scheduled court appearances. Failure to do so will be considered a breach of your contract with the bondsman and the agreement with the court. You may be rearrested or charged with a civil violation.
Your Agreement with the Bondsman
Anytime you request a bond, you enter into a contractual obligation with the bondsman. Bondsmen have a lot of freedom to structure the terms of the agreement. Most bondsmen will include a clause stating they can turn you over to authorities. They may also have additional terms that you must abide by.
Rearrest
If you fail to pay your bondsman, he has the right to revoke your bail. After your bail has been revoked, you will be arrested and sent back to jail. Bail bondsmen can legally make arrests themselves. Bail bondsmen are not government agents and do not need warrants to pursue or arrest fugitives. They can also send bounty hunters to seek defendants who may have fled the jurisdiction.
Bond Contracts Are Valid With Payee as Well
Any party who helped arrange the bond is under contract with the bondsman. If you use a bondsman to get a friend out of jail, you will both be entered into a contract with the bondsman. You are liable for making payments and are financially responsible if your friend fails to appear to court.
Civil Penalties
Bail bondsmen also have the right to take a defendant to court if the defendant is hopelessly delinquent on her bills. This situation arises more commonly when the defendant fails to show up to court and bail is revoked. Bondsmen can also sue for late payment fees.