1. What are the types of bail bondsmen licensed in South Carolina?
There are three (3) types of bail bondsmen licensed in the State of South Carolina:
Professional Bondsman
A Professional Bondsman is any person who is approved and licensed under the provisions of Chapter 53, and who has pledged cash or approved securities with the Clerk of the Court as security for bail bonds written in connection with a judicial proceeding and receives or is promised money or other things of value for the pledge. [SC Code Section 38-53-9]Surety Bondsman
A Surety Bondsman is any person who is approved and licensed by the Department of Insurance as a Surety Insurance Agent, appointed by an insurer by Power of Attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds for the insurer in connection with judicial proceedings, and receives or is promised money or other things of value for the execution or countersignature.
[SC Code Section 38-52-10(12)]Runner Bondsman
A Runner Bondsman is any person employed by a bondsman for the purpose of assisting the bail bondsman in presenting the defendant in court when required, assisting in the apprehension and surrender of the defendant to the court, and keeping the defendant under necessary surveillance.
[SC Code Section 38-53-10(10)].
2. What are the requirements to become licensed as a bail bondsman in the State of South Carolina?
An applicant must be eighteen (18) years old or older, a resident of the State of South Carolina, and a person of good moral character who has not been convicted of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude within the last ten years, has knowledge, training, or experience of sufficient duration and extent to satisfy reasonably the Director of Insurance that he or she possesses the competence necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of a licensee.
[SC Code 38-53-90]
