South Carolina Bail Bonds Practice Exam

What must a bail bondsman do if a payment agreement has not been honored for two consecutive months?

1. Notify the court

2. Surrender the defendant to the proper detention facility

3. Contact law enforcement

4. Retry to negotiate the payment

The correct answer is: Surrender the defendant to the proper detention facility

A bail bondsman is responsible for ensuring the conditions of the bail bond agreement are met. If a payment agreement has not been honored for two consecutive months, the bail bondsman faces the obligation to manage the risk that comes with the financial guarantee they provided. Surrendering the defendant to the proper detention facility is a necessary action that reflects the breach of the payment terms, as it protects the bail bondsman's financial interests and adheres to the legal expectations of the bail bondsman’s role. In this scenario, when payments are not made as agreed, the bondsman is effectively looking at a situation where the defendant has defaulted on their obligations under the bond. This default opens the door for the bondsman to take action to mitigate their risk, and surrendering the defendant is an appropriate and often mandated step in such situations. Opting to notify the court, contact law enforcement, or attempt to renegotiate the payment, while potentially viable in different contexts, does not address the immediate obligation that arises from non-payment of the bond. The bondsman's priority is to ensure that the defendant is returned to custody to uphold the conditions of the bond agreement.