Title 18 — Title 18 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

The legislature declares that the licensing of bail bond agents should be uniform throughout the state. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to preempt any local regulation of bail bond agents, including licensing fees, but not including local business license fees. Not…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Department" means the department of licensing.(2) "Director" means the director of licensing.(3) "Commission" means the criminal justice training commission.(4) "Coll…

Pursuant to RCW 43.24.086 and 43.135.055, the department may increase fees as necessary to defray the cost of administering *chapter 105, Laws of 2008 (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6347).[ 2008 c 285 s 29.]Notes:*Reviser's note: 2008 c 285 s 29 referenced Engrossed Substi…

An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to obtain a bail bond agent license:(1) Be at least eighteen years of age;(2) Not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction in the preceding ten years, if the director determines that the applicant's particular cr…

(1) In addition to meeting the minimum requirements to obtain a license as a bail bond agent, a qualified agent must meet the following additional requirements to obtain a bail bond agency license:(a) Pass an examination determined by the director to measure the person's knowledg…

(1) Applications for licenses required under this chapter shall be filed with the director on a form provided by the director. The director may require any information and documentation that reasonably relates to the need to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria, inc…

(1) The director shall issue a bail bond agent license card to each licensed bail bond agent. A bail bond agent shall carry the license card whenever he or she is performing the duties of a bail bond agent and shall exhibit the card upon request.(2) The director shall issue a lic…

The director shall immediately suspend any license issued under this chapter if the director receives information that the license holder has not complied with RCW 74.08.580(2). If the license holder has otherwise remained eligible to be licensed, the director may reinstate the s…

The director shall immediately suspend any license issued under this chapter if the holder has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order or a *residential or visitation order…

(1) The director shall adopt rules establishing prelicense training and testing requirements for bail bond agents, which shall include no less than four hours of classes. The director may establish, by rule, continuing education requirements for bail bond agents.(2) The director …

(1) No bail bond agency license may be issued under the provisions of this chapter unless the qualified agent files with the director a bond, executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state, in the sum of ten thousand dollars conditioned to recover against th…

(1) The provisions of this chapter relating to the licensing for regulatory purposes of bail bond agents and bail bond agencies are exclusive. No governmental subdivision of this state may enact any laws or rules licensing for regulatory purposes such persons, except as provided …

(1) A bail bond agency shall notify the director within thirty days after the death or termination of employment of any employee who is a licensed bail bond agent.(2) A bail bond agency shall notify the director within seventy-two hours upon receipt of information affecting a lic…

(1) Every qualified agent shall keep adequate records for three years of all collateral and security received, all trust accounts required by this section, and all bail bond transactions handled by the bail bond agency, as specified by rule. The records shall be open to inspectio…

In addition to the unprofessional conduct described in RCW 18.235.130, the following conduct, acts, or conditions constitute unprofessional conduct:(1) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter;(2) Failing to meet the qualifications s…

Entering into a contract, including a general power of attorney, that gives a bail bond agent full authority over a person's finances, assets, real property, or personal property creates a presumption of unprofessional conduct that may be overcome by a preponderance of the eviden…

In addition to those powers set forth in RCW 18.235.030, the director or the director's designee has the authority to order restitution to the person harmed by the licensee.[ 2007 c 256 s 3; 2002 c 86 s 252; 1993 c 260 s 13.]Notes:Effective dates—2002 c 86: See note following RCW…

Any person may submit a written complaint to the department charging a license holder or applicant with unprofessional conduct and specifying the grounds for the charge. If the director determines that the complaint merits investigation, or if the director has reason to believe, …

When a statement of charges is issued against a license holder or applicant under RCW 18.235.050, notice of this action must be given to the owner or qualified agent of the employing bail bond agency.[ 2002 c 86 s 253; 1993 c 260 s 15.]Notes:Effective dates—2002 c 86: See note fo…

(1) Any person who performs the functions and duties of a bail bond agent in this state without being licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, or any person presenting or attempting to use as his or her own the license of another, or any person who gives false …

The director, in implementing and administering the provisions of this chapter, shall act in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.[ 1993 c 260 s 21.]

Failure to fulfill the fiduciary duties and other duties as prescribed in RCW 18.185.100 is not reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of business. A violation of RCW 18.185.100 is an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce for the purpose of applying the…

A branch office may not operate under a business name other than the name of the principal bail bond agency and must have a qualified bail bond agent as manager of the office. The qualified agent shall comply with the provisions of RCW 18.185.100.[ 1996 c 242 s 2.]

If a licensee maintains a branch office, the licensee shall not operate that branch office until a branch office license has been received from the director. A bail bond agency may apply to the director for authority to establish one or more branch offices under the same name as …

The uniform regulation of business and professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter.[ 2002 c 86 s 255.]Notes:Effective dates—2002 c 86: See note following RCW 18.08.340.Pa…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***An applicant must meet the following requirements to obtain a bail bond recovery agent license:(1) Submit a fully completed application that includes proper identification on a form prescribed by the director;(2) Pass an examination determi…

(1) The director shall adopt rules establishing prelicense training and testing requirements for bail bond recovery agents, which shall include no less than thirty-two hours of field operations classes. The director may establish, by rule, continuing education and recertification…

(1) Each fugitive criminal defendant to be recovered will be treated as an individual contract between the bail bond agent and the bail bond recovery agent. A bail bond agent shall provide a bail bond recovery agent a copy of each individual contract. A bail bond recovery agent m…

(1) A person may not perform the functions of a bail bond recovery agent unless the person is licensed by the department under this chapter.(2) A bail bond agent may contract with a person to perform the functions of a bail bond recovery agent. Before contracting with the bail bo…

A bail bond recovery agent from another state who is not licensed under this chapter may not perform the functions of a bail bond recovery agent in this state unless the agent is working under the direct supervision of a licensed bail bond recovery agent.[ 2004 c 186 s 11.]Notes:…

(1) Before a bail bond recovery agent may apprehend a person subject to a bail bond in a planned forced entry, the bail bond recovery agent must:(a) Have reasonable cause to believe that the defendant is inside the dwelling, building, or other structure where the planned forced e…

An applicant with military training or experience satisfies the training or experience requirements of this chapter unless the director determines that the military training or experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of this state.[ 2011 c 351 s 12.]

This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993.[ 1993 c 260 s 25.]Notes:Implementation—1993 c 260: "The director of licensing …